The two main branches of the legal profession are solicitor and barrister, with each of these subdividing further into a vast number of specialisms. The two professions offer very different career paths.

Solicitors are often referred to as general practitioners of the law. They handle a wide range of work and have a lot more client contact than barristers. Barristers are instructed by a solicitor to give their expert opinion of a point of law or advise on the best course of action for a client’s case. Barristers also represent clients in the higher courts of law, although the instructing solicitor will already have done much of the preparation in advance.

The qualifying process

Solicitors

The Law Society of Ireland is responsible for the training of solicitors in Ireland. Those wishing to become a solicitor much attend law school. Entry is dependent upon:

• Holding a degree from an Irish or British university. Those who don’t must complete the Preliminary Examination.
  
• Passing the First Irish Examination – a Irish language exam.
  
• Passing the Final Examination – First Part (FE–1) – eight papers (tort; contract; property; equity; constitutional; company; criminal; and European Union law).
  
• Having secured an apprenticeship with a practising solicitor – best to arrange during final year at university.

During law school, students will have to sit the Professional Practice Course. The course is normally followed by a period of in-office training with the assigned solicitor. Once the FE-2 examinations have been passed, an apprentice may then apply to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors and take up their two-year apprenticeship with a practising solicitor.

Barristers

The Honourable Society of King’s Inns is the body that governs entry to the profession of Barrister-at-Law. The course of education and training leading to the degree of Barrister-at-Law runs for two years and the entrance exam requirements include:

• A degree in Irish law or a diploma in law from King’s Inn for non-law graduates, covering five core subjects: land; contract; torts; European; and equity and trusts law.
  
• Exams in the following areas: jurisprudence; criminal; company; Irish constitutional law; and law of evidence.

The course structure includes lectures and tutorials, and students must attend an allocated number of dining sessions. They must also pass an oral and written examination in Irish before they the degree of Barrister-of-Law can be conferred on them. A newly-qualified barrister must then spend a year’s pupillage (or devilling) with a junior counsel before they can start their own practice.

The money and location myths

The legal profession and huge salaries are synonymous to many but this isn’t always the case. While there are opportunities to earn a generous wage, it can take a while to get there.

Solicitors have the safety of a secured wage. Those working in large corporate and commercial firms can expect to be paid quite generously, compared to a solicitor in a smaller, more mainstream practice. That said, regional living costs are lower than the capital and apprentices can expect to receive early responsibility and a more varied workload in return.

Barristers are self-employed and it can take a while to build up a reputation and start earning the big money. Many young barristers sustain their income through lecturing or publishing endeavours. A lot of the big cases are heard in Dublin, yet there is equally exciting and challenging work for young barristers on the country’s circuits.

Further information

For more information see the gradireland sector career guide, gradireland Law, available to download from our Publications page.

Related articles

Your area of study: law, legal services and law enforcement for information on postgraduate study.

Your degree in law for information on career options.