The Law Society of Northern Ireland, the professional membership body representing solicitors across Northern Ireland, has welcomed the appointment of Sir Chris Bryant MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, using the occasion to set out its key advocacy priorities for the incoming minister and reaffirm its commitment to constructive engagement with the Northern Ireland Office.

As reported by Irish Legal News, the society noted it had worked constructively with outgoing Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP and the Northern Ireland Office on the legal framework for addressing the legacy of the past and maintaining support for the rule of law during his tenure.

Mark Borland, president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, said: "We welcome the appointment of Sir Chris Bryant MP as secretary of state for Northern Ireland and wish him well as he takes on the unique set of challenges facing our society. We look forward to working constructively with the secretary of state to improve access to justice, address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland and maintain support for the rule of law."

Sir Chris Bryant said: "I am really pleased to be the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland. It's certainly daunting. It comes with heavy responsibility, and I am looking forward to getting properly stuck in. I want to be very clear from the outset: my door will be open to all parties and all communities. We are going to work together constructively to keep building a stable, prosperous future for everyone in Northern Ireland."

Bryant identified three priorities for his tenure: maintaining political stability, promoting economic growth, and ensuring devolved government delivers for people in their everyday lives, with a particular focus on creating economic opportunity for young people in Northern Ireland.

The society's statement reflects a well-established model among professional membership bodies of using high-profile government transitions as a moment to restate institutional priorities and signal intent to engage with incoming ministers across the legislative and policy agenda most relevant to members.

For legal professional bodies, the change in Secretary of State carries particular significance given the Northern Ireland Office's role in overseeing legacy legislation, access to justice frameworks, and the broader constitutional and legal architecture within which solicitors in Northern Ireland operate.