Buncrana firm makes a strong case for the next generation of solicitors
Veteran lawyer Ciaran MacLochlainn encourages more Inishowen people to pursue careers in law
A Buncrana law firm is playing its part in encouraging a new generation of solicitors into the profession, with two of just three trainee solicitors in Donegal currently working at CS Kelly & Co LLP.
Solicitor Ciaran MacLochlainn, who leads the long-established Buncrana firm, has praised trainees Michelle Doherty from Clonmany and Elaine Quinn from Burnfoot for their dedication and hard work.
He is also encouraging more young people to consider a career in law, amid concerns over the low number of new solicitors entering the profession in Donegal.
According to data published by the Law Society of Ireland, there were just three trainee solicitors in Donegal last year.
That represented only 0.5 per cent of the 581 trainee solicitors across the country. Meanwhile, there were 148 practising solicitors in Donegal.
Mr MacLochlainn said he was committed to helping address the shortage by providing opportunities for young people to train locally.
“Despite the shortage of solicitors, our firm, CS Kelly & Co, is encouraging young people to join the profession,” he said.
He said Michelle and Elaine were both “very dedicated and hard-working” and that he was looking forward to seeing them qualify and join the firm as fully trained solicitors.
“The local community will greatly benefit from them when they join the ranks of Donegal solicitors,” he added.
Michelle Doherty, from Clonmany, began working with CS Kelly & Co in 2001 as a legal secretary before returning to education and qualifying as a Legal Executive in 2020/21.
She is currently completing the Hybrid PPC1 course at Blackhall Place in Dublin, which began in December 2025. The course combines online learning with periods of on-site study in Blackhall.
Michelle said the hybrid format has given her the opportunity to pursue her ambition of becoming a solicitor while working full-time, raising three children and living with her long-term partner.
Elaine Quinn, from Burnfoot, attended St Aengus National School in Bridgend and Crana College in Buncrana before completing a BCL Law degree and an LLM Masters in Law at University College Cork.
She subsequently completed her FE1 examinations and is now also completing the Hybrid PPC1 course in Blackhall, with her in-office training taking place at CS Kelly & Co LLP in Buncrana.
The firm is also looking further ahead, with a further three student trainee solicitors currently on its books. They are Aisling Doherty from Quigley’s Point, Vladimira Pavuckova from Buncrana and Nicole Duffy from Ballymagan.
Inishowen has a long-standing tradition of producing some of the finest solicitors in the country, and Mr MacLochlainn is keen to ensure that tradition continues.
With just three trainee solicitors recorded across Donegal, the Buncrana solicitor believes encouraging more young people into the profession is vital to maintaining the availability of legal services in the county into the future.