Richard Finglas

Richard Finglas (died 1574) was an Irish barrister and Law Officer of the sixteenth century.

He was appointed Principal Solicitor for Ireland in 1550, and his tenure in that office was renewed by patent in 1561. As Principal Solicitor he served as deputy to the Solicitor General for Ireland. He was appointed Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) in 1554. Some sources state that he was appointed Solicitor General in the same year, but this may reflect the confusion between the two similarly named offices of Solicitor General and Principal Solicitor. He played a part in the development of the King's Inns as Ireland's first law school, and is listed as one of the lessees of the property at Blackfriars in the 1567 lease from the English Crown.

As Queen's Serjeant he earned praise from the Irish Government for his devotion to duty: he was awarded a special annuity of £10 for his "labour and diligence" in attending the Court of Castle Chamber (the Irish Star Chamber) and the Privy Council of Ireland; this seems to have been a special reward over and above the normal fees attached to his office.

Despite his merits, he never became a High Court judge: this probably reflected the low opinion which Queen Elizabeth I had of most of her Irish Law Officers, whom she refused to promote, and where possible replaced with English lawyers.

He died, still in office, in 1574.

Sources

• Hart, A. R. History of the King's Serjeants at law in Ireland Four Courts Press Dublin 2000
• Kenny, Colum King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland Irish Academic Press 1992
• Smyth, Constantine Joseph Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland London 1838