Role: Senior Partner & President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland
Company: Cunningham & Dickey Solicitors
Track Record:
“It never occurred to me at the time, but it seems my father’s influence on me and his concern for others continues to permeate through me at every level,” said Michael.
How did you get into this line of work?
I obtained my primary law degree at Queen’s University in Belfast and undertook vocational training at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.
After completing that I began work in the practice of Harrison, Leitch & Logan based in Belfast where I then trained and ended up specialising in defence litigation.
In 1986 I was invited to join Cunningham & Dickey in Belfast city centre and I’ve remained there since then, becoming a partner in 1989.
What prompted you to become president?
I have always felt a strong sense of collegiality with my colleagues and a commitment to doing the best for clients.
I think my sense of wanting to make a difference led me to consider running for election to the Law Society Council in 2005.
Thankfully I was elected by my solicitor colleagues to serve as a council member for two years.
In 2011, I became junior vice president and in November 2012, I became president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
As president what does your job entail?
As president of the Law Society you’re constantly on the move between your own law practice dealing with client’s issues and then to Law Society House for Law Society business.
In any given day as president I am called upon to represent the society at events, to offer guidance and advice on key issues to the profession and to chair meetings.
Sometimes the day goes in far too quickly.
Is your job 9am to 5pm?
Most solicitors would normally work late at their offices or certainly take their work home with them. Solicitors don’t do nine-to-five hours as the demands from clients and the need to be on call means you could be representing clients late at night or simply meeting with them at times convenient to them.
Few people realise that if a solicitor isn’t doing their ‘normal’ job then they are usually involved in the community on a board of governors or as a local chamber of commerce member, working with community groups or in the local church.
As president I generally work late into the evening which often means representing the society at important events.
I think Dolly Parton must be the only person who works nine-to-five that I know of.
What qualities are required for your job — personal and professional?
When I decided to become president I thought I had the perfect qualities for the job.
Little did I realise you need more than the ability to listen and there is more to being president than wearing a chain of office.
You have to be diplomatic when necessary and forceful when required, certain of your convictions and position but willing to accept the other side’s viewpoints, willing to learn and prepared to take the advice and guidance of others, and never assume you know it all as you never will.
As a practising solicitor you tend to see people when they are facing the most difficult or uncertain times in their lives.
That’s hard not only for them but also for you.
I have learnt over the years that you need to be empathetic always to your client and their position.
You need to listen to what is being said to you as opposed to thinking you know best.
Professionally speaking I think it’s important that you have the necessary skills and abilities to ensure your client is fully represented — a big part of that is, knowing the law and understanding how it applies to your client’s situation in particular.
What are the most rewarding aspects of being president?
The most rewarding aspects of being president are working with colleagues and trying to ensure their interests with decision makers and making a contribution on issues of public interest.
It’s about making sure that the public see solicitors not as simply legal service providers but as small businesses, employing people, contributing to the local economy and integral to the community.
I am in many ways an ambassador not only for my profession but also for this country when I am abroad promoting and, at times, cajoling people to come to Northern Ireland and to invest here.
The society has long been committed to actively promoting Northern Ireland.
What are the biggest challenges of your work?
There are many challenges facing the solicitor profession and there is insufficient space to list them all here.
If I can single one issue out it would undoubtedly be the future of legal aid funding in Northern Ireland and the inevitable impact on the most vulnerable and those in need within our community.
That genuinely concerns me and my colleagues as we encourage the public to value legal aid as a public resource which helps those most in need, most vulnerable and those who can’t afford legal assistance.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Outside of my work I am the registrar at The Cathedral Church of St Anne in Belfast.
It’s something I am very proud of and would love to devote more of my time to but work commitments prevent me.
I also passionate about the arts and have served as board member and chairman of Kabosh, an award-winning independent theatre company.
I am a board member and director of Ulster Youth Orchestra — the national youth orchestra in this jurisdiction.
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I am on itunes and you can download songs that I have recorded.
I keep telling myself I’m the next Van Morrison and who knows perhaps after this my recordings may enter the top 40 chart.
Who has inspired you most in your life?
My father.
He managed a tea plantation in India before I was born and he brought back with him to Northern Ireland a deep understanding and respect for people from different political and ethnic backgrounds.
At the start of this year, as president of the Law Society, I developed a series of lectures highlighting the role of diversity in our community and the need for minorities to speak to the legal community when they have issues of concern.
Reflecting on it now it never occurred to me at the time but it seems my father’s influence on me and his concern for others continues to permeate through me at every level.