Mary Keane, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland

The Euro-American Committee of Digital Law - CEA Digital Law warmly congratulates Mary Keane.

Mary Keane has been appointed interim Director General of the Law Society. She is the first woman to hold the post in the Society’s 191-year history.

Mary Keane, a qualified solicitor and graduate of University College Dublin, has worked for the Law Society since 1992, most recently as Deputy Director General and Director of Policy and Public Affairs.

The Law Society tweeted: ‘Congratulations to Mary, who becomes the first female Director General in the Society’s history.’

From Swinford, Co Mayo, Keane was educated at the Convent of Mercy in Claremorris, completed her BCL at UCD in 1985 and qualified as a solicitor in 1989.

She began her working life at the Department of Industry and Commerce (1980–1982), taking time out to complete her law degree.

She moved to the Companies Registration Office in Dublin Castle (1985–1990) and entered the private sector when she joined the tax department of Craig Gardner / Price Waterhouse (1990–1992).

Keane joined the Law Society in 1992 as a policy development executive, working alongside the then Director General, Noel Ryan.

Glass ceiling

At the age of 34, she was appointed Deputy Director General in December 1996, breaking her first glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to be appointed a director in the Society’s history.

She was appointed Director of the Policy, Communications and Member Services Department in December 1997. She is currently Director of the Policy and Public Affairs Department and continues to hold that post.

Keane is also chair of the National Gallery of Ireland: she has sat on its 17-member board since 2014 and will take up the chair in May 2020. She lives in Carne, Co Wexford.