The installation of the second woman president of the Law Society, Elma Lynch, may be a signal that the coming year could be a big one for women in the law. Lynch, a Dublin solicitor, commenced her year of office last week; the last woman president of the prestigious society was Moya Quinlan in 1980. Next year's president will also be a woman: Geraldine Clark.
There is much speculation that the replacement for Justice Freddie Morris (who is retiring as president of the High Court) is likely to be Justice Susan Denham, who is greatly praised for her work on court reform.
There was talk that Denham might opt to stay put in the Supreme Court in the expectation of the top job, as Chief Justice, when Ronan Keane retires in two years, but it is felt that a term, however short, in the second-highest legal job in the land would be an asset.
Fellow Supreme Court Justice John Murray and High Court Justice Ricky Johnson are also mentioned as possibilities. The appointment will be decided by the Government shortly.