Kildare sees third highest number of complaints against legal practitioners
86 complaints during 2025
A total of 86 complaints were made about legal practitioners based in County Kildare during 2025, according to the latest Annual Report from the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA).
The figure was the third highest of any county in Ireland, behind only Dublin and Cork, and forms part of a nationwide increase in complaints received by the independent regulator.
The LSRA said it received 1,788 complaints in total during 2025, representing a 21 per cent increase on the previous year.
Despite the rise, the authority closed a record 1,933 complaints during the year, marking the highest number of complaint closures in a single year and the third consecutive annual increase in complaints resolved.
The regulator also stepped up its enforcement activity during 2025, making 27 applications to the High Court to enforce directions issued following complaints investigations, along with 101 applications to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
LSRA Chief Executive Officer Niamh Muldoon said the increase in complaints reflected greater public awareness of the organisation's role.
"The increase in complaints received reflects growing awareness of the LSRA's role as the independent regulator of legal services and the availability of an independent complaints process for consumers," she said.
"At the same time, the record number of complaints closed demonstrates the ongoing work of LSRA staff and members of our regulatory committees to improve processes and deliver timely outcomes."
Ms Muldoon added that complaints handling, research, legal education and public engagement all played important roles in maintaining standards and consumer confidence within the legal services sector.
The Annual Report also highlighted progress in other areas of the LSRA's work, including the establishment of a Legal Education and Training Committee, continued implementation of recommendations arising from the Breaking Down Barriers report, and ongoing growth in solicitor Limited Liability Partnerships.
During 2025, the LSRA authorised 34 new solicitor LLPs, bringing the national total to 541.
LSRA Chairperson Tom Boland said the authority continued to operate effectively in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
"2025 was a year of sustained delivery across the LSRA's core areas of activity," he said.
"The Authority continued to oversee a regulatory environment that is growing in scale and complexity while ensuring that its systems and processes remained robust, proportionate and responsive."
The full 2025 Annual Report is available from the LSRA website.