The OUTLaw Network was founded in 2018 and is being officially launched in early 2019. The aim of OUTLaw is to generate discussion and debate, through various social and educational events, and in doing so to promote and foster the inclusion of LGBT+ individuals and allies across the legal sector in Ireland.
OUTLaw’s objectives are to bring together LGBT+ individuals and allies working in the Irish legal sector in order to:
- share best practices, insights and initiatives specific to the legal sector;
- enable LGBT+ individuals and allies to build their professional networks;
- provide career and leadership development opportunities;
- to empower organisations and individuals working in the legal sector in Ireland to work together on shared goals connected with our aim; and
- promote and develop Ireland’s legal sector as a destination of choice for LGBT+ individuals.
OUTLaw was founded and is run by a volunteer committee, the members of which have a proven track record in advocating on behalf of and bringing together LGTB+ individuals and allies working in the Irish legal sector. The committee is currently chaired by Peter Ryan, the Network’s founder. You can meet the committee and read their profiles on the OUTLaw Network page. The committee’s terms of reference can be found here. While the committee currently consists of solicitors from larger Dublin law firms, the goal is to broaden participation to include regional and bespoke firms, barristers, trainee barristers and solicitors and in-house counsel.
