how does becoming a lawyer in ireland work

Becoming a lawyer in Ireland

• 1 Law Society entrance examination. Sit and pass the Law Society entrance examination, the Final Examination – First...
• 2 Secure a two-year training contract. Your two-year training contract – or Indentures of Apprenticeship – will need to...
• 3 Professional Practice Course I. Apply to start Professional Practice Course I. Courses run in...

Full Answer

What qualifications do you need to become a lawyer in Ireland?

The qualifications needed to work as a professional in law in Ireland are quite similar, although the candidate will, of course, need to study Irish law. As in the UK, you cannot become a judge in Ireland unless you have a background as a solicitor or barrister. A law degree is a prerequisite.

How to become a solicitor or barrister in Ireland?

Usually, your first step would be to get a professional qualification as described above and qualify as either a Solicitor or Barrister in Ireland. Then you can apply for recognition of this qualification to the regulatory body for legal practice in the relevant member state.

Can a lawyer from outside the Republic of Ireland practise in Ireland?

If you are a lawyer who holds a qualification from outside of the Republic of Ireland and you would like to practise in the Republic of Ireland jurisdiction, see below for the steps you need to follow.

Where can I study law in Ireland?

Where to study. There are many options for studying law in Ireland, with Trinity College, UCD, NUI Galway, UCC, Maynooth University and UL all offering general law degrees. Griffith College, a private third-level college, also has a strong reputation for the quality of its law courses.

Is there a demand for lawyers in Ireland?

In Ireland, like in many of the prominent jurisdictions there continues to be a strong demand for lawyers across a number of practice areas which include: Corporate/M&A. Funds. Banking and Finance.

How do you qualify as an Irish lawyer?

Steps to qualificationSit and pass the Law Society entrance examination, the Final Examination – First Part (FE-1). ... Secure a two-year training contract (Indentures of Apprenticeship) with an eligible solicitor who has been practising for at least four years. ... Apply to start Professional Practice Course I.More items...

How many years does it take to become a lawyer in Ireland?

How long does it take to become a solicitor in Ireland? The process takes 24 months in total.

How much does a lawyer make a year in Ireland?

How much does a Lawyer make in Ireland? The average lawyer salary in Ireland is € 70 500 per year or € 36.15 per hour. Entry-level positions start at € 69 119 per year, while most experienced workers make up to € 98 725 per year.

Is there a bar exam in Ireland?

In order to secure a place, students must sit an entrance examination in five subjects: Contract Law, Criminal Law, Irish Constitutional Law, Law of Torts, and Law of Evidence. The King's Inns provides the course in two ways, to help those students who may have work commitments or are unable to move to Dublin.

What do they call lawyers in Ireland?

A barrister (also called "counsel") is a type of lawyer who specialises in court advocacy and giving legal opinions. To become a barrister, you must pass the exams set by the Kings Inns. The Kings Inns is the body which governs entry to the profession of barrister-at-law in Ireland.

Is a solicitor the same as a lawyer?

A solicitor is a type of lawyer that provides expert, tailored legal advice for clients, often from the earliest stages of a potential case.

Do trainee solicitors get paid?

A trainee solicitor must be paid a salary of at least the Statutory Wage during his/her two year in-office training period. This is €367.20 per week based on the Education Committee's recommendation of a 36 hour work week.

Is it worth becoming a solicitor?

As a solicitor, there is a lot of highly engaging work to become involved with. Often, the cases are high-profile, some even on the front page of newspapers. Therefore, a solicitor's work can be really meaningful and high value. Solicitor salaries are high.

What is the highest paid job in Ireland?

Of all the best-paid jobs in Ireland, the #1 highest-paid position is Chief Executive Officer (or CEO). Those who run their own businesses have a lot of opportunities to earn generous salaries and typically live very comfortably.

What type of lawyer gets paid the most in Ireland?

Lawyer - Pay by Experience Level in Ireland A mid career Lawyer with 4-9 years of experience earns an average compensation of €56,000, while a Senior Lawyer with 10-20 years of experience makes on average €77,000. Lawyers with more than 20 years of experience may earn more than €104,000.

Is it difficult to become a solicitor?

Becoming a solicitor takes a lot of commitment. You must study and train for at least six years full time, and competition for training contracts is high. Try to find out as much as you can about what a career in the law is like by: talking to solicitors, for example at careers fairs.

What is QLTT in Ireland?

The QLTT is a conversion test which enables lawyers qualified in certain countries outside the Republic of Ireland to qualify as solicitors in this jurisdiction. There are two exam sittings of the test each year in Dublin.

Do you have to take a training contract to become a solicitor in Ireland?

Once on the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland, you are not required to undergo any further examinations/undertake a training contract.

Do all lawyers have to go through the standard solicitor training process?

All other lawyers (not qualified in the European Union or subject to a reciprocal agreement) are required to undergo the standard solicitor training process.

Do solicitors need to pass QLTT?

Unless the Society otherwise determines, solicitors qualified in England & Wales are not obliged to pass any subject in the QLTT. However, you need to apply for a Certificate of Admission.

How to become a solicitor in Ireland?

In Ireland to qualify for legal practice , you must qualify as a Solicitor with the Law Society of Ireland https://www.lawsociety.ie/ or qualify as a Barrister with the Honourable Society of the King’s Inns https://www.kingsinns.ie/

How to practice law in the European Union with an Irish law degree?

Most commonly you can practice law in other countries of the European Union with a degree from University College Cork or other Irish universities in two steps:

How to get a certificate of qualification in Canada?

In order to obtain a Certificate of Qualification you must demonstrate your competence to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). The NCA is a committee working under the National Requirements of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The assessment of whether or not foreign law graduates can be accredited in Canada is carried out exclusively by this institution. The NCA will assess the legal qualifications you have obtained outside of Canada, taking into account your educational and professional backgrounds. After reviewing your application, the NCA will issue you with an assessment result that lists any subjects and/or legal education that you are required to undertake to ensure that your legal knowledge and skills are comparable to that of someone who got their law degree through an approved Canadian law school program.

What is the law society?

The Law Society is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland. It is located in Blackhall Place in Dublin 8 so you will hear students referring to it colloquially as ‘Blackhall Place’.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?

The essential difference between being a solicitor and a barrister is that the former will practice in direct contact with clients in all sorts of areas of law ranging from Family law, to Property law, to Commercial and Company law and so on; and the latter specialises in advocacy in the courts (litigation) or operates by providing specialist advice in particular areas of law. The Barrister’s practice relies to a large extent on being briefed by Solicitors acting on behalf of clients, whereas the Solicitor’s practice involves providing advice directly to clients. These are your steps towards a successful career with an Irish law degree:

What is the final exam for a solicitor?

While there are no subject-specific pre-requisites to gain entry to the Law Society’s solicitor training course, graduates who wish to qualify as a solicitor must first pass an entrance examination, also known as the Final Examination - First Part ( FE-1 ).

When will the national solicitors exam be held in England?

The system in England and Wales is changing. From autumn 2021, there will be a single, national licensing examination that all prospective solicitors will take before qualifying. We will update this page with further information shortly, but in the meantime you can find out more at https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/policy/sqe/solicitor-persona/.

How long does it take to become a solicitor?

Trainee solicitors must undertake a two-year apprenticeship under a supervising solicitor (called a ‘master’). The practical component comes first, with a four-month period of office-based training.

How long does it take to get a masters in legal science at QUB?

Non-law graduates must complete a two-year master's in legal science at QUB before they can progress to their apprenticeship.

Can a Welsh solicitor move to Northern Ireland?

There is a reciprocal arrangement whereby English and Welsh-qualified solicitors may transfer to Northern Ireland without taking further qualifications or examinations. They need only complete an application form, provide two character references, supply any proofs asked for and pay a fee.

How long does it take to become a solicitor?

Be aware that the process can take two years or more to complete. If becoming a solicitor has always been a dream or passion, here are the steps you will need to take to help you achieve your goals.

How long is the Professional Practical Course 1?

Professional Practical Course I. The first of these two courses is about 5 months in length (September-March). The items tested on this course are: Applied Land Law, Probate & Tax, Business Law, Litigation (Civil & Criminal), Legal Practice Irish (LPI) and Legal Skills such as research, presentation and writing. Students will be provided with classroom instruction and skills courses to help them attain the necessary qualifications. To sit for this exam, you must also have found a training solicitor.

How many courses are required for a roll?

There are four required courses and three elective courses to choose from in the portion of the required schooling. Admission to the Roll.

What colleges offer law degrees in Ireland?

There are many options for studying law in Ireland, with Trinity College, UCD, NUI Galway, UCC, Maynooth University and UL all offering general law degrees. Griffith College, a private third-level college, also has a strong reputation for the quality of its law courses. DIT, WIT, Letterkenny IT and Dublin Business School private college also offer them, while Athlone IT and IT Carlow have business and law degrees.

What do law students learn?

Law students learn the arts of analysis, research and logical reasoning. They find creative and imaginative ways around problems. They also become excellent oral and written communicators.

What is the job of a barrister?

The most obvious employment routes are those of solicitor and barrister; put simply, a solicitor offers legal advice and prepares a case for court, while the barrister represents the client in court and argues on their behalf.

What do law graduates do after graduation?

Many law graduates go on to work in banking or tax or they become accountants after a postgraduate conversion course.

Can a law student become a lawyer?

Law students don’t just get their degree and become lawyers ; they have to pass further exams if they want to become a barrister or solicitor. It has become more difficult for newly qualified lawyers to walk straight into work.

Is the fat cat lawyer unfair?

The stereotype of fat cat lawyers rolling in dosh is unfair. Barristers in Ireland are self-employed, so while the best rise to the top and can command high fees, it can be a struggle, particularly in the early years. Many leave the profession.

The vocational stage

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns is the body that provides education and training for those wishing to become barristers. It runs the Barrister-at-Law degree, the only professional practice course for barristers in the Republic of Ireland. The course is full time and lasts one year.

Republic of Ireland

Qualification as a barrister takes place in three stages: the academic stage, the vocational stage and the practical training stage.

The academic stage

This refers to the primary degree that the barrister holds. The vocational stage The Honorable Society of the King’s Inns is the body that provides education and training for barristers. It runs the Barrister-at-Law degree course in Dublin. Law graduates with an approved degree must apply by late May

Pupillage

Newly qualified barristers have to train with an experienced Dublinbased barrister (Master) for a minimum of one year following their call to the Bar. This work is commonly known as ‘devilling’, and the training period known as ‘pupillage’.