CAREER PROSPECTS IN LAW

Information on

•Becoming a Solicitor•Becoming a Barrister

BECOMING A SOLICITORWhat is a Solicitor

Solicitors are professionally trained to provide clients with skilled legal advice and representation on all legal matters.

Where can you work as a Solicitor? Most solicitors work in private practice, but,

commercial and industrial organisations also employ solicitors, as do the Civil Service and the public sector generally.

HOW DO I QUALIFY?

Qualifying as a Solicitor is a 4 step process

1. The Preliminary Examination

2. The Final Examination – First Part (Fe1 Exams)

3. The Training Contract ( 24 months)

4. The Professional Practice Courses

1. THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

This is an exam held for non-graduates (i.e. those who do not hold a degree.)

Exam Papers English Irish Government and Politics General Knowledge

Important Information Pass mark is 50% 3 Attempts Max Candidate must be 21 years of age

2. THE FINAL EXAM – FE1 EXAM

The Fe1 exam is the Law Society of Ireland’s entrance exam.

Exam Papers Company Law Constitutional Law Law of Contract Criminal Law European Union Law Equity Real Property Law of Tort

3. THE TRAINING CONTRACT

Involves a period of in-office training.

Must provide evidence of good character and disclose any criminal convictions.

Applicants may be interviewed. 24 month contract Must be secured before applying

for the next stage – PPC.

4. PPC COURSES

Full time practice oriented course. Focus on continuous assessment and end of year exams.

PPC 1 Subjects Foundation Course Applied Land Law Probate and Tax Litigation (Civil and Criminal)

PPC 2 Subjects Professional Practice Conduct and Management Electives

BECOMING A BARRISTERWhat is a Barrister? A Barrister represents his or her client in

court. Barristers are expert in presenting and arguing your case in court. They also provide you with independent legal advice whether about your case in court or almost any other legal issue.

HOW DO I QUALIFY?Qualifying as a Barrister is a 3 stage

process

1. Academic

2. Vocational

3. Pupilage

1. ACADEMIC You must obtain a Law Degree from a

university or other approved third level institution.

If you have a non-law degree, you can study for a two year Diploma in Legal Studies at King's Inns instead of a third level law degree.

Students over 25 with no degree can also take the Diploma course.

2. VOCATIONAL When you have your law degree or diploma, you

must pass an entrance examination (usually 5 legal subjects) into the King's Inns.

5 Subjects Law of Contract Criminal Law Constitutional Law Law of Torts Law of Evidence

If you pass, you may enrol in a one year full time course or a two year part time course in the King's Inns leading to the degree of Barrister-at-Law.

3.PUPILAGE Having passed the Barristers-at-Law

degree from the King's Inns, students are called to the Bar of Ireland by the Chief Justice of Ireland.

Before being allowed to practice on their own, barristers are required to do on the job training with a suitably qualified barrister in an established practice for a period of 12 months.

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Fe1 Exams King’s Inns