Dr. Brian Doherty:

If they are providing legal services as a barrister, they have to be on the roll of practising barristers. It is a criminal offence for someone to provide legal services if they are not on the roll. This is a consumer protection issue. If someone is seeking the services of a barrister, they can check our roll, which available online and searchable, to see if someone is entitled to provide legal services in the State. There have been occasions when members of the public have contacted us to ask if a person is on the roll of practising barristers. In at least one instance, we referred the matter to the Garda because it became apparent that someone may have been providing legal services as a barrister and was not on the roll. If they are providing legal services and they are on the roll, they are subject to a levy and also professional indemnity insurance in those circumstances.