2017• opportunities in Ireland, north and south • includes further study advice, as well as

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gradireland Law 2017

gradireland Law is published by the Association of HigherEducation Careers Services and GTI Media Ltd (Ireland).

We would like to thank all third level careers services inIreland and Northern Ireland and our publishing partnersAHECS for their help with this publication.

Editor Ruairi KavanaghDesignMaya LittleProofreader Eric HillisCommercial director Gavan O’BrienAdvertising Gavan O’Brien, Davey Farrell, Louise Keegan,the GTI Media sales teamProduction Katie Burns, Ciarán HallPublisherMark MitchellMarketing and distribution Edel PrendergastEvents manager Aisling Ní MhuiríEvents coordinator Alannah McGheeProduction director Jane Anderson

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© September 2016 the Association of Higher EducationCareers Services and GTI Media Ltd (Ireland). All rightsreserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced byany means including, but not limited to, photocopying orstored in a retrieval system in any form without priorwritten consent of the Association of Higher EducationCareers Services. This is subject to the single exception ofphotocopying by the Association of Higher EducationCareers Services member institutions. All items so usedshould be fully acknowledged. The views expressed inarticles are those of the author and their publication doesnot necessarily imply that such views are shared by theAssociation of Higher Education Careers Services and GTI.Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of thispublication, the author and publishers cannot acceptresponsibility for any inaccuracies,or for consequential loss arisingfrom such inaccuracies, or for anyother loss, direct or consequential,arising in connection withinformation in this publication.

* Available as downloads only fromgradireland.com/publications

•Arts, Humanities &Social Sciences*•IT•Construction•Engineering•Finance•Hospitality &Tourism*•Journalism &Media*

•Law•Languages•Property*•Psychology*•Retail*•Science*•Social Work*•Teaching &Education*•Work Experience &Time Out*

Titles in this series

Employers and professionalbodies

A&L Goodbody..........................................26

EY ..........................................................28 (29)

PwC................................................................30

William Fry ....................................31 (OBC)

ICSA: The Governance Institute ........32

OBC = outside back cover

ContentsYour career in lawIntroducing your legal career ..........2Law graduates are in demand........4

Areas of workAreas of work: solicitors ....................6Areas of work: barristers ..................8Employment and volunteeringopportunities ......................................10Alternative careers............................11A career as a company secretary ..12

Top employersTop employers in law ......................13

People at workMy legal career ..................................14

Entry and trainingEntry and training ............................16Entry and training: barristers ......17Entry and training: solicitors ........20The legal sector and diversity ......23

EmployersA–Z of employers and professionalbodies ..................................................25

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YOUR CAREER IN LAW

gradireland.com/law

A career in lawLaw is a dynamic and stimulatingprofession with a varied range ofcareer possibilities. After all, thelaw influences every aspect of ourlives: business, finance, property,family and employment.

While law is one of the mostexciting career fields to be part of,it can be competitive: law degreesand follow-on professionalqualification routes require highacademic standards in order tosecure a place. But for thoseinterested in pursuing this career,the rewards are many if you enjoychallenges and are prepared towork hard.

The legal profession is dividedinto two professional practiceareas: solicitor and barrister. Thereare also many opportunities forlaw graduates who do not wish topractise, as a law degree is wellregarded by non-legal employers.

An international careerOnce someone has obtained their legalqualification, it is possible for them towork in another jurisdiction. Theeasiest countries to do this are oneswith similar legal systems, such asGreat Britain, Australia, New Zealandand Canada.

Some graduates opt to gain theirprofessional practice in the US, througheither the New York or California BarAssociations. They will then bequalified to practice in the state wherethey gained their experience. After ayear of practising, they will also beeligible to practise in Ireland, providedthey obtain a Certificate of Eligibilityand sit the Qualified Lawyers TransferScheme.

The EU Legal Services Directivesallow legal practitioners qualified inone jurisdiction to practise in anotherEU state. Under one of the directives,lawyers can gain access to the locallegal profession of an EU membercountry after three years’ post-qualification practice experience. Theywill need to apply to have theirqualifications recognised in anothermember state; most member statesalso have aptitude tests to allow for themobility of lawyers.

There are also opportunities for lawgraduates to work within one of the EUinstitutions, although proficiency in atleast a second EU working language is amust. Law graduates without a practicequalification can apply through EPSO,the European Personnel SelectionOffice, for jobs in one of the EUinstitutions in areas such asadministration, management, law,finance and economics. There are alsoopportunities for qualified legalpractitioners with two to three years’post-qualifying experience.

Introducing your legal career

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Legal careers in Northern IrelandThe legal profession in Northern Ireland is divided intotwo distinct branches, the Bar (which comprisesbarristers) and the Law Society of Northern Ireland(which comprises solicitors). There are currently over700 barristers in independent practice in NorthernIreland and more than 2,300 (currently availablefigures) solicitors currently practising.

Most solicitors will work in small to medium-sizedprivate firms. There are approximately 550 firms ofsolicitors located across Northern Ireland, the majorityof which provide general legal advice across all areas.Most opportunities arise in small practices: almost 50per cent of firms are single partner and less than 30per cent of solicitors work in firms of five partners ormore. Belfast has the largest number of firms of allsizes. Large practices comprising several specialiseddepartments are few in number but are on theincrease as the demand for corporate legal servicesgrows.

In the last few years, there has been significantgrowth in the number of solicitors’ firms in NorthernIreland. The number of practising barristers hasdoubled in the last 15 years.

Legal careers in theRepublic of IrelandThere are currently 9,055(currently available figures)solicitors in the ROI. Around athird of those have qualified since2000. There are also 2,243(currently available figures)practising barristers in ROI.

The numbers qualifying assolicitors and barristers in theRepublic of Ireland haveundergone a significant increasein recent years. This trend is nowlevelling off, as the currentchanges in economic growth pointto a corresponding adjustment inthe legal sector. Despite recenteconomic setbacks, however, thelegal profession remains strong,and the continued development ofan increasingly complex economymeans the legal system is evolvingto meet its needs.

New specialist areas of law areemerging: intellectual propertylaw is developing in response tothe massive investment inresearch and development inscience and technology, whilecontinued breakthroughs inmedicine and health have createda need for legal expertise inbioethics. Other growth areasinclude immigration law andhuman rights, EU law, family lawand environmental law.

The Irish-Language Bill 2007 hasled to the establishment of aregister of Irish-speaking legalpractitioners in Ireland. There areincreased and significantopportunities for competentbilingual graduates across a widerange of professional services inIreland.

What if I don’t have a law degree

It is also possible for graduates from non-lawdisciplines to successfully pursue a professionalpractice qualification as a solicitor or barrister – seepage 16 for some other ways to enter the profession.

Graduates without a law degree can work inadministrative roles in legal practices as legalexecutives (legal professionals who usually specialisein a specific area of law), paralegals (qualifiedindividuals who assist lawyers in their work) andclerical, administrative or executive officers. There aresimilar jobs available in the public sector, with themain employers including the Attorney General’sOffice, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutionand the Department of Justice & Equality.

YOUR CAREER IN LAW

The past 18 months has seen a continuousimprovement in the market for newcomers to thelegal profession, or junior legal professionals. Over

recent years, law firms have been aggressively seeking toobtain the best available talent. In particular demand, arecommercial property lawyers and corporate mergers &acquisitions (M&A) lawyers, with demand also high forbanking lawyers. 2016 also saw a surge in opportunitiesfor legal professionals involved in funds. Niche specialityopportunities are definitely on the increase; specialists inareas such as IP, derivatives, private equity, debt capitalmarkets, energy, construction, pensions, competition andEU law have all been the focus of substantial recruitmentefforts by large commercial firms.

This represents an interesting divergence from thetraditional four core legal disciplines of finance, litigation,real estate and corporate law. The reason is the low level ofrecruitment during the economic crisis, from 2009–2011.This has resulted in a sizeable skillset shortage in theseareas, which is becoming apparent now that the economicrecovery continues to gather pace.

Specialists in the area of legal recruitment alsoanticipate a ‘significant’ increase in construction lawopportunities within larger law firms, particularly as therewill be a deficit until more graduates train in that area.

The attraction of major global law firms in the UK,particularly in London, has meant that Irish employershave had to work harder to attract and retain talent.However, legal sector experts say that the traffic is not allone way, and that Irish firms perform well in terms ofattraction and retention and that talented lawyers arereturning to Ireland in sizeable numbers to take advantageof opportunities here.

The legal sector is currently experiencing a significant recruitment upturn, with specialitylegal services very much in demand.

Law graduates are in demand

Northern Irelandhas a growingreputation as acentre for legalservices

Legal sector experts saythat the traffic is notall one way, and thatIrish firms perform wellin terms of attractionand retention

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The graduate viewA recent survey (Trainee Solicitor SurveyIreland 2015) asked law graduates aquestion; if the decision was entirely yourown, what would be your first choice ofpractice area upon qualification as asolicitor?

Responses varied according to the size ofthe firm. For respondents from small firms(less than 50 employees) technology and IPlaw was the first choice practice area, with22% expressing this preference ahead of themore traditional commercial law disciplines(14%). 18% wanted to qualify into generalpractice, with 16% wishing to practice ingeneral civil litigation. Only 9% ofrespondents wished to qualify into familylaw and 9% wanted to go into commerciallitigation.

Amongst trainees working in firms withbetween 50–300 employees, commerciallitigation and banking law were the mostpopular choices, both at 19%. Amongsttrainees working in the largest firms, withmore than 300 employees, 27% ofrespondents would choose to qualify intocommercial litigation, 17% into technologyand IP law and 17% into banking law. Afurther 7% sought roles in corporate law andonly 3% in real estate.

Opportunities in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland’s growing reputation as acentre for legal services was underscored in2011 with the announcement that Allen &Overy LLP – one of the world’s largestinternational law firms – located a newsupport and legal services centre in Belfast.The announcement followed fellow lawgiant Herbert Smith’s decision to set up anoutsourcing operation in Northern Ireland,becoming the first top UK law firm to do so,and this has been followed by US law firms,such as Axiom Law. Other popular legalrecruiters in Northern Ireland include Citi,who have a compliance and transactionscentre of excellence in Belfast, employingover 1,000 staff in the Titanic Quarter, withplans to expand employment to 2,100 in thecoming years.

Specialists in the area of legalrecruitment anticipate a ‘significant’increase in construction lawopportunities within larger law firms

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Solicitors could be described as general practitioners ofthe law. Their role is to provide a broad service toindividuals, families, businesses, large companies,

corporations, and organisations and establishments of everynature. As consultants to their clients, they dispense legaladvice and information; as executors and administrators,they process and implement legal procedures andtransactions. The work is generally very varied. Somesolicitors’ firms will specialise in a few areas, while otherpractices will deal with every conceivable legal issue.

Solicitors’ firms can range hugely in size, from one solepractitioner (rare) to very large international firmsemploying hundreds of legal practitioners. Larger firms aremore likely to specialise, either in legal areas such ascorporate mergers, acquisitions or tax, or in certainindustry sectors such as IT, construction or banking.Smaller firms often work very much as generalpractitioners, dealing with family members, smallbusiness owners, farmers, property owners and so on.

Core activities• Undertaking consultations with clients• Advising clients on the law and how it may affect theircase

• Researching and applying relevant points of law to solveclients’ legal problems and needs

• Drafting legal documents to protect clients’ interests.• Briefing barristers to represent clients in court or appearin court on behalf of clients.

Key areas of work• Advising private clients: dealing with all aspects of theirneeds (marital break-up, consumer complaints, personalinjury, planning inquiries, etc.)

• Business and corporate: advising clients on companylaw, partnerships, mergers, arbitration, insolvency,intellectual property, e-commerce, etc

• Litigation: initiating or defending proceedings in courtor settling claims or disputes ‘out of court’

• Conveyancing: buying and selling property, preparationof title deeds, leases and other legal documentsassociated with the buying and leasing of private orcommercial properties

As a solicitor, you can enjoy varied work and the opportunity to specialise, along with a goodstarting salary and excellent long-term prospects.

Areas of work: solicitors

AREAS OF WORK

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Where can I work?Qualified solicitors can find work in a variety ofenvironments. The two fundamental choices are thepublic/state sector or the private/commercial sector.

In the Republic of Ireland, public sector employersinclude the Office of the Attorney General, which ismade up of different offices: the Advisory Counsel,responsible for legal advice and consultation to allgovernment departments and offices; the Office of theParliamentary Counsel to the Government, responsiblefor drafting legislation and statute law revision; andthe Chief State Solicitors Office, where solicitors whorepresent the Attorney and the State work. The Officeof the Director of Public Prosecution also employs ateam of solicitors. Occasional opportunities also arisewith the Law Reform Commission and the CourtsService. Qualified solicitors can also work with theLegal Aid Board, which has law centres all over Irelandproviding civil legal aid and a refugee legal service.

In Northern Ireland, the Public Prosecution Serviceemploys approximately 165 solicitors as both PublicProsecutors and Senior Prosecutors, whose role it is toconsider all files and cases submitted by the Police andgovernment departments and decide and advise as toprosecution. Recruitment is via the local press and theNorthern Ireland Civil Service Recruitment website.

There are also opportunities for solicitors in theNorthern Ireland Courts Service and the NorthernIreland Legal Services Commission. Otherorganisations such as the Human Rights Commissionemploy legal officers.

Employment opportunities in the private sector arefar more plentiful. The choices range from large tomedium city-based firms to small firms in rural towns.Larger firms with a strong corporate/commercial focus– mostly Dublin-based – employ large numbers ofsolicitors. There are also jobs available for in-housecompany solicitors, mainly within multinationalcorporations.

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Further information• The Law Society of Ireland www.lawsociety.ie• The Law Society of Northern Ireland www.lawsoc-ni.org• Chief State Solicitor’s Office www.csso.ie• Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

www.dppireland.ie• Office of the Attorney General

www.attorneygeneral.ie• Legal Aid Board www.legalaidboard.ie• Public Prosecution Service (Northern Ireland)www.ppsni.gov.uk

• Northern Ireland Civil Service Recruitment websitewww.nicsrecruitment.gov.uk

• Northern Ireland Legal Services Commissionwww.nilsc.org.uk Public body responsible for theprovision of publicly funded services in NorthernIreland

• British and Irish Legal Information Institutewww.bailii.org Provides freely available public legalinformation

• www.legal.ie Directory of solicitors’ firms and practiceareas for all 32 counties

• The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europewww.ccbe.org

• Wills, probates and administration of estates:advising on and preparing assets for tax;administration and distribution of estates throughdeath or contained in a trust.

SpecialismsBig firms with larger staff resources have departmentsdedicated to specialist areas, and the requirement forspecialised legal services is on the increase. Typical examplesof groups of legal teams and departments include bankingand financial services, planning and environment,intellectual property, corporate, regulatory, risk managementand compliance. All large firms engage extensively in workfor corporate and commercial clients, and solicitors providingthese services need to be fully attuned to the latestdevelopments in the legal and business world. Keyspecialisms include corporate law, property law, family lawand criminal law.

Starting outMost newly qualified solicitors remain with the firm theyhave trained with for the first year. Despite recent economicdifficulties, research shows that an increasing number oftrainees are being retained, particularly in large firms.

Young solicitors can expect to work very hard, ideallygaining a broad range of practice experience whilebeginning to define themselves professionally, taking

opportunities to gain more in-depth experience in law fieldsthey are particularly interested in. Adapting to the changingmarket for legal services involves acquiring experience innew growth areas within law, and commitment tocontinuing professional development opportunities.

SalariesLess than one year after qualifying, solicitors can expect toearn generally over €30,000 outside Dublin and between€35–50,000 approximately in Dublin. Partners in large firmscan earn over €100,000. Solicitors in large firms can earnapproximately 20 per cent more than those in small firms.Bonuses vary: broadly speaking, solicitors receive between10 and 30 per cent of fees generated. In Northern Ireland,newly qualified solicitors can earn between £18,000 and£25,000 while partners can earn up to £90,000.

Who would it suit?The essential qualities and skills for a fulfilling andsuccessful career as a solicitor include:• well developed communication and interpersonal skills• the ability to work effectively as part of a team• research, analytical and evaluative skills• initiative• willingness to work hard• the ability to work well under pressure• common sense.

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If you enjoy research and debate, are a confident communicator and are able to thinkon your feet, this could be the career for you.

Areas of work: barristers

Barristers are professional advocates who deal withcourt work at all levels. They are sole practitioners,which means they depend entirely on themselves

for work and income. They largely rely on solicitors for work. A barrister’s role is to specialise in providing an

advisory and/or advocacy service for which they are‘briefed’ by a solicitor (or professional body etc.). Barristerstherefore can be seen as consultants to solicitors. A lot ofthe work involves conducting research. Some barristersspecialise in specific areas of law. Criminal, commercialand family law are the most common, while otherspecialisms can include employment or labour law andhuman rights law, personal injury and litigation.

Many legal cases are settled out of court. However,when a case is brought to court, a barrister will thenappear to argue the case on behalf of the client, defendingor prosecuting. In the Irish and UK legal system, courthearings in contested cases are conducted in anadversarial manner. Each side presents its case and seeksto challenge that of its opponent through the evidence ofits own witnesses, cross-examination and legal argument.This forms the core work of the barrister.

HoursThe working hours can vary greatly for a barrister,depending on how many cases they juggle in any givenweek. The hours spent in court reflect a very small portion

of the number of hours actually worked. Long hours arespent researching and preparing cases, in addition toconducting briefs with solicitors.

LocationBarristers in the Republic of Ireland are based at the LawLibrary in Dublin. The Irish legal jurisdiction is divided intocircuits (the geographical areas where a circuit court judgeresides). Barristers are attached to certain circuits,although they are not confined to practising in theircircuit. Newly qualified barristers will attach themselvesto one circuit and will generally remain based there for theduration of their professional career.

In Northern Ireland, barristers are based at the BarLibrary in Belfast, which provides office and libraryfacilities. They also work at a number of other courts andtribunals around Northern Ireland. Like all barristers, theywill also do much preparation work at home.

Core activities• Pleading cases in courts• Representing individuals and organisations who appearbefore public enquiries and tribunals

AREAS OF WORK

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Further information• The Law Library www.lawlibrary.ie• The Bar Council www.lawlibrary.ie• Irish Courts Service www.courts.ie• The Bar Council and Bar Library of Northern Ireland.

www.barlibrary.com• The Northern Ireland Court Service

www.courtsni.gov.uk

• Giving advice on legal matters, drafting legaldocuments and giving expert legal opinions onparticular issues.

Starting outQualification as a barrister takes place in three stages: theacademic stage, the vocational stage and the trainee stage(see page 17).

Life as a newly qualified barrister is guaranteed to beprecarious and insecure for the first four to five years. It can be difficult to become established, and financialsupport from family or another source of income may beessential in those first years.

The costs of getting started are considerable. In theRepublic of Ireland all barristers must pay an annualsubscription to the Law Library; in Northern Ireland, newbarristers pay an annual ‘practising certificate’ fee to the Bar Library.

The first briefs that a new barrister takes on are vitallyimportant. Solicitors and more experienced colleagues willclosely watch the way they are handled and presented incourt. If they are impressed by what they see, more briefsmay be offered.

Career developmentWhen a newly qualified barrister is called to the Bar, theyare known as a Junior Counsel. A Junior Counsel can applyto become a Senior Counsel after gaining 12 or moreyears’ experience as a Junior. Senior Counsel will generallypractise only in the High Court and Supreme Court. It ismost common for Senior Counsel to specialise in aparticular area of law. High Court work involves givingmore time to preparation and presentation of cases andprovision of specialised legal opinions. The morespecialised nature of the work of a Senior Counsel isreflected in the fees charged.

In Northern Ireland, the most senior barristers areknown as Queen’s Counsel. Other barristers (who may alsobe very experienced) are known as Junior Counsel.

Barristers have a long tradition of public service; in theRepublic of Ireland many have become members of theDáil and the Seanad, and the Attorney General is always amember of the Bar. Senior judges are selected from theranks of members of the Bar.

Who would it suit?A barrister needs to display evidence of thorough,organised and well researched preparation and, mostimportantly, the ability to think and act on his or her feet.

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Since barristers depend almost entirely on solicitors forwork, they need to be able to network effectively andbuild on any contacts they already have. Successfulnetworking requires confidence, initiative and awillingness to push oneself beyond one’s personalboundaries of shyness. Life as a barrister is mostdefinitely not for the meek. Some of the most successfulbarristers are those who enjoyed and excelled at debatingduring second and third-level education.

Essential qualities for a successful career at the Bar are:• articulate communication• excellent research skills• confidence• resilience• the ability to work under pressure• initiative.

Where can I work?The choices largely fall into two categories: go intopractice and work in what is essentially a self-employedcapacity or work in the public sector.

Practising barristers in the Republic of Ireland canwork in one of seven circuits (geographically definedlegal practice areas): Munster circuit – which in practicecan be divided into the Cork circuit and the SouthWestern circuit – Northern circuit, Western circuit,Midlands circuit, Eastern circuit and Dublin circuit.Barristers will normally practise in one circuit.

In Northern Ireland, barristers are based at the BarLibrary in Belfast, which provides office and libraryfacilities. Barristers work from a new library building inChichester Street and the old library at the Royal Courtsof Justice. They also work at a number of other courtsand tribunals around Northern Ireland.

In the public sector, barristers in ROI can find work inthe Office of the Attorney General, the Office of theDirector of Public Prosecution, the Law ReformCommission, the Courts Service, and the Legal Aid Boardwww.legalaidboard.ie. They may also take onprosecution work on behalf of the state.

The Civil Service has been a traditional career path formany qualified barristers, who can enter atAdministrative Officer level or higher, working in anygovernment department. A few in-house legal counselpositions arise with corporations and large organisations,and are usually open to barristers or solicitors.

In Northern Ireland, there are a limited number ofopportunities for barristers in the public sector. In mostcases, they will need to have between three and fiveyears’ experience to be eligible to apply. The AttorneyGeneral’s Office and the Public Prosecution Serviceprovide the main opportunities for barristers.

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AREAS OF WORK

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Free Legal Advice CentresFree Legal Advice Centre (FLAC) Internships are availablewith FLAC from time to time. These internships offer anopportunity to join the organisation for a specified period.An intern is usually a law student or law graduate whoengages in a variety of roles, including informationprovision, legal research and events organisation. Checkthe FLAC website at: www.flac.ie

Irish Penal Reform TrustIrish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) employment opportunitiesarise with the Irish Penal Reform Trust from time to time.See www.iprt.ie for further details

Irish Council for Civil LibertiesIrish Council for Civil Liberties: an independentorganisation which lobbies primarily in the arenas ofhuman rights and equality. Visit www.iccl.ie for furtherdetails.

Non-governmental organisationsInternships in non-governmental organisations (NGO’s)Many NGO’s advertise for internships each year, forexample, Amnesty International. These are voluntarypositions for approximately four to six months. Vacancieswith Amnesty International become available from timeto time in Ireland and in other offices abroad. Theeligibility requirements for these positions vary from jobto job. A background in law and in particular human rightslaw is normally a requirement for positions advertised. Formore information visit: www.amnesty.ie/get-involved/work-with-us.

Internships may be very helpful in assisting graduates with career choices. A number ofvoluntary organisations employ or place law graduates to support their work. Some ofthese organisations may also run internship programmes. The following is an overview ofsome of these organisations.

Employment and volunteeringopportunities for law graduates

Northern IrelandChildren’s Law CentreThe Children’s Law Centre is one of the leadingchildren’s charities in NI. It works to protect the rightsof all children living in NI but in particular those whoare the most disadvantaged, especially children whoare living with disabilities, have special educationalneeds, mental health problems and are experiencingdiscrimination. The Centre welcomes professionalvolunteers, such as those with legal training. Visitwww.childrenslawcentre.org.uk for more details.

Law Centre (NI)The Law Centre runs the Legal Support Project (LSP),which can provide help by way of advice orrepresentation in social security appeals andindustrial tribunals to claimants who do not haveaccess to alternative representation. The LSP is lookingfor volunteers from a wide variety of legal/advicebackgrounds and experience. The project will be ofparticular interest to experienced advisers, lawgraduates and newly qualified lawyers who want togain valuable representation experience. Visitwww.lawcentreni.org/lsp/about-lsp.html for moredetails.

Work opportunities in the EuropeanCommissionIf you have a second language you can work withinone of the EU Institutions. There are twice yearlytraineeship intakes, see: www.ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm

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Not all law graduates choose to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, but there are many othercareers which can make use of their degree.

Alternative careers

Not all law graduates choose to practise, as theknowledge and skills gained through a law degreemake them highly employable in other areas. Law

graduates emerge from university with an ability to analyse,interpret, evaluate, assimilate and synthesise large amountsof information. As such, they are usually goodcommunicators and have well developed problem-solvingability. These are all valuable skills that transfer well.

Some of the most popular alternative careerdestinations for law graduates are finance, accountancyand tax. The sector career guide ‘gradireland Finance’ willhelp you find out more about some of these careers.

BankingMost banks recruit from all disciplines. Graduateopportunities extend across different areas. Typical trainingoptions include retail banking, capital markets, commercialand corporate banking, and accountancy (chartered ormanagement). Banks start their recruitment process early inthe year so getting organised in the first few weeks of yourfinal year is essential. You need to have an impressive CV andeffective online application skills. Be prepared forassessment centres and interviews before Christmas.

AccountancyAccountancy is one of the most popular ‘change of direction’routes for graduates from all disciplines. A qualification inaccountancy offers a future full of career developmentopportunities across all areas of finance, business andindustry. There are four main qualification routes withinaccountancy. Many employers also opt to add a taxationqualification while training or on completion of finalaccountancy exams. It is possible to gain a qualificationwhile training in a business environment or practice.

Tax consultancyThe core work of the tax consultant is to ensure that theirclients pay their tax and comply with all tax regulations. Thework involves combining technical knowledge, businessacumen and legal knowledge to inform and advise clients.The work is very varied: clients can include individualsmaking decisions about pensions, investments, buying or

selling a property, or setting up or restructuring a business.Corporate clients could be large multinational firms, banks oreven government departments. Tax consultancy can have astrong European and international element, given thecontinuing development of European Union legislation andthe large international investment in Ireland. There is aconsiderable overlap between law and tax consultancy,much of the work requiring legal expertise.

Tax consultants can find work with a range ofemployers: accountancy firms, large financial institutions,big law firms, multinational organisations and the CivilService. The Irish Taxation Institute (ITI) is the training andqualifying body in Ireland (www.taxinstitute.ie). Lawgraduates apply for an exemption from certain parts of theITI qualification. ITI-qualified tax consultants can also workin all other EU member states.

The professional body for the UK is the CharteredInstitute of Taxation, which has a Northern Ireland branch(www.tax.org.uk).

Management training programmesMany employers recruit new graduates each year,providing intensive training and mentoring designed toequip trainees with the skills for management. Manyorganisations offer specific graduate managementprogrammes in areas such as marketing, HR, IT andgeneral management. Many recruiters visit campusesduring the autumn milkround season and will also attendrecruitment fairs on campus, providing an effective andinformal way of finding out what life might be likeworking for them. While some application deadlines areopen, most employers have fixed application deadlinedates. The gradireland directory and the websitegradireland.com/further-study include details of manyemployers offering graduate training programmes.

Postgraduate conversion coursesA postgraduate conversion course can help you to move ina different direction. There is increased mobility acrossdisciplines. The gradireland.com/further-studywebsitehas a database of available courses.

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If you are a law graduate looking to do something more diverse than purely working as asolicitor or barrister, a career as a company secretary could be the perfect option. Not only isthe work more varied, it can also offer more responsibility and influence earlier in your careerand often allows for a better work/life balance.

Responsibility and diversity: a careeras a company secretary

Valued strategic advisers,company secretaries giveindependent, impartial advice

and support to directors, trustees andother key decision makers across theprivate, public and not-for-profitsectors about the legal, governance,accounting and tax implications ofproposed policies. It is a dynamic andwell remunerated role and you canwork in-house, for a professionalservices firm or in public practice,undertaking company secretarialduties for a range of clients for a fee.

Specific responsibilities varydepending upon the level of the role,the size of the organisation and thesector in which it operates. However,duties typically include preparingpacks of information for boardmembers to ensure that informationflows securely to the right people;making sure board meetings andAGMs are effective, and that properrecords are kept.

The knowledge and skills gainedthrough a law degree are the perfectfit: good communications skills andthe ability to problem-solve.Company secretaries need to be ableto liaise effectively on a variety ofsubjects and communicate with arange of people, from board members

to shareholders, staff, otherstakeholders and regulators so goodjudgement, tact and discretion arekey. Financial literacy is alsoimportant.

Those with a background in lawwho change their career path tobecome company secretaries believethat the role offers a broader andricher experience. Lorraine Clover,Legal Counsel at Shawbrook Bank,says, “I didn’t want to carry on doingthe same thing all the time. After tenyears of being a transactional lawyer,I looked to company secretarial as away to branch out for more varietyand to get different businessexperience. I started here in March

last year and we’ve just floated tobecome a PLC.”

Practising lawyers with a companysecretarial or governance remit formore than five years can qualify as achartered secretary via ICSA: TheGovernance Institute’s Fast TrackProfessional (FTP) scheme. Under FTP,you only need to sit two of the usualeight modules that make up theChartered Secretaries QualifyingScheme (CSQS) – company secretarialpractice and the case study. As suchyou could complete CSQS in just oneyear.

CSQS is recognised across theglobe and with governance seen asbeing increasingly importantthroughout the world, there areplenty of opportunities to work at aninternational level.

ICSA: The Governance Institute is the

professional body for governance. They

have members in all sectors and are

required by their Charter to lead ‘effective

governance and efficient administration of

commerce, industry and public affairs’.

With 125 years’ experience, they work with

regulators and policy makers to champion

high standards of governance and provide

qualifications, training and guidance.

Website: www.icsa.org.uk

The knowledge and skillsgained through a lawdegree are the perfectfit: good communicationsskills and the ability toproblem-solve.

Law 2017 | 13

TOP EMPLOYERS

gradireland.com/law

Top employers in law

1 A&L Goodbody

2 Arthur Cox

3 McCann FitzGerald

4 William Fry

5 Mason Hayes & Curran

6 Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors

7 Maples & Calder

8 Beauchamps Solicitors

9 = Byrne Wallace

9 = Eversheds

Make yourself heard

Vote for your favourite employer at www.trendence-gradbarometer.iebetween September and early January.

Every year, we carry out a survey of students to decide the most popular graduate employersin the country. The trendence Graduate Barometer is the largest annual career survey inIreland and the votes decide the winners of the gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awardsand the composition of Ireland’s 100 leading graduate employers.

Here are the winners and shortlist for law.

My legal career

14 | Law 2017

PEOPLE AT WORK

gradireland.com/law

Explore the culture of differentorganisations and identify what opportunitiesvarious firm’s can presentCliodhna O’ConnellJob Trainee AccountantEmployer PwCEducation BSc Law & Business (TCD)

impressive Spencer Dock offices withother applicants and currentemployees followed by a face-to-faceinterview and short case study. Therewere opportunities to meet withemployees at various levels, frequentcommunication from the firmthroughout and an office tour.

The firm’s International networkand long-established graduateprogramme enable the Irish office todeliver state-of-the-art industrytraining, top-class exam support andunrivalled business developmentopportunities.

My daily workI’m based in the financial services taxdepartment which to date hasenabled me to engage on a mix of taxconsultancy and compliance projectswith clients across the insurance,asset management and bankingindustries. My work ranges fromcalculating the tax liability for anInternational insurance companywith branches in various jurisdictionsto creating tax efficient global fundstructures for large investmenthouses. Our department offers plentyof partner and client contact,exposure to different teams, theopportunity to use your initiative

from the get go and bring youropinion to the table.

There’s a huge social element atwork with regular events organisedacross each graduate intake and alsoamongst your department. Thefacilities on hand are no doubtamongst the best in the city –delicious canteen, 24-hour gym,fitness classes and 3pm Fridayfinishes during the Summer months– all combine to facilitate asustainable work-life balance!

With over 2,300 employees acrossour 7 Irish offices, there areopportunities for everyone rangingfrom tax, audit and advisory,company secretarial, humanresources to business developmentand marketing. Whatever your long-term career aspirations, the technicaland industry knowledge acquired onthe job, along with the firm’s far-reaching alumni network will assistyou in achieving your goals.

I would encourage all lawgraduates to speak with collegealumni and undertake internships todetermine what interests you,explore the culture of differentorganisations and identify whatopportunities various firm’s canpresent!

My name is Cliodhna O’Connell and Iam a 2nd year Trainee Accountantand Chartered Tax Advisor with PwC. Istudied Law and Business in TCD andthen went on to complete the MScLaw and Finance programme atOxford University, specialising in taxlaw.

As the leading professionalservices firm both in Ireland andInternationally, PwC stood out to mefor its reputation at the forefront ofbusiness. Taxation is arguably thelynchpin in every business decisionand plays a critical role in society. Therules have their foundation inlegislation and are constantly evolvingwhether through the annual Irishbudget, case law, international orEuropean influence – much to theintellectual satisfaction of lawgraduates who will find an abundanceof opportunities to leverage theiranalytical and critical thinking skillsdeveloped through college!

What appealed to meI completed PwC’s Summer Internshipprogramme during my penultimatecollege year where the selectionprocess from start to finish was veryenjoyable and immersive – it involvedan informative breakfast in PwC’s

Law 2017 | 15

PEOPLE AT WORK

gradireland.com/law

My advice is to take your time and setout a solid 5-year plan’

Darran BrennanJob Trainee Solicitor Employer William FryEducation BA, LL.B (NUI Galway)

What does your day to day role involveand what’s exciting about it?A trainee’s role in the firm is variedand every day presents exciting newchallenges and opportunities. Wework with different clients in differentindustries and it’s exciting to learnmore about these companies who areleaders in their industries. We also getto help guide start-ups on theircorporate path. I’m enjoying theopportunity to play an active role inhelping our clients.

What transferable skills can you obtainworking for a firm like William Fry?Attention-to-detail, public-speaking andrelationship-building are the three coreskills I’ve developed most. William Fryinstils in us the motivation to learncontinuously and promotes self-development in the professional world.The training department runs anexcellent programme teaching us coreskills and this is coupled with patienceand dedication from our mentors in theoffice. Using the skills I learned in thefirm I achieved 2nd place overall in civiladvocacy on PPC1. I’ve had the uniqueopportunity to be a member of the CSRcommittee and through it, theopportunity to work on some fantasticcommunity initiatives and programmes.

What advice would you have forstudents?My advice is to take your time and setout a solid 5-year plan. Differenttrainees take different paths to gethere but the one commondenominator is forward planning. It isimportant to present a goodapplication, take time to prepare forinterviews, and focus on completingthe FE1s, while also studying for finalsor working. It is also really importantto just be yourself throughout theprocess.

What does the future hold for you andhow would you like to see your careerdevelop? I’m currently going in to my thirdrotation, have PPC2 to focus on in 2017,followed by my final rotation andhopefully qualification in December2017. I’m enjoying my experience inWilliam Fry and I hope to continue mycareer here after qualification. I’m stilldeciding which area to specialise in andthe rotational format of our traineeprogramme allows us to explore theseinterests. I am also planning on startingan LL.M in Advanced Legal Practice withthe Law Society in 2017 which allowsme to explore academically what I willspecialise in.

Why did a career in the legal sectorappeal, and why did William Fry’sprogramme appeal to you?I am passionate about politics andlaw and I enjoy understanding howlaw impacts our society. After leavingcollege I worked on policy formationat the European Parliament inBrussels and later in Dublin where Iworked in Ibec as an executive andsubsequently, for the CEO. I alwayswanted to use these experiences andreturn to corporate law directlyhelping clients. In choosing the firmfor whom I wanted to work, WilliamFry’s programme appealed to me themost because of the firm’s reputationand in particular the firm’s growth,vision, strategy and ambition.

How did your degree assist in youlanding a place on the programme andwhat did selection involve?I decided to do an Arts degree in NUIGalway to gain a better insight ofhow law, sociology and politics allwork together; I followed this with anoptional LL.B to focus on some coreareas of interest. My degree assistedme in landing a place on theprogramme because of its diversityand William Fry appreciates arounded academic career.

16 | Law 2017

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Whether you choose tobecome a solicitor or abarrister – and whichever

jurisdiction you choose to do this in –you will need to study for exams andcomplete a training contract beforeyou qualify. See pages 8–9 for detailson how to become a barrister andpages 6–7 on how to become asolicitor. The information on this pageapplies, whichever route you take.

Getting a training contractYou will need to be proactive andflexible in securing the traineeshipyou want. Relevant summer workexperience puts you at a realadvantage. Networking and buildingon contacts are a must.

It might be worth consideringtaking a gap year to work as a legalassistant. The experience you gain andnetwork you develop should ensurethat you get the traineeship you want.

What if I don’t have a lawdegree?There are a number of preparatoryand conversion courses available forboth law and non-law graduates.These include the PostgraduateDiploma in Law at the DublinInstitute of Technology, theConversion to Law Preparatorycourse at Holy Trinity College CorkLaw School, the Law Society ofIreland FE1 part-time/onlinePreparatory course at Griffith CollegeProfessional Law School, Dublin, andMasters in Legal Science at Queen’sUniversity Belfast.

Postgraduate courses for law graduatesAlthough this is not specifically an

entry requirement, many peoplepreparing for a career in law decide toundertake a postgraduate coursebefore seeking entry into a law firm.For some, a higher qualification mayhelp to enhance career prospects butthere is no hard and fast rule as youmay also gain similar specialistexpertise over the course of yourcareer. If you have a genuinely deepinterest in a particular area, however,a postgraduate qualification mayprove valuable.

Those involved in recruitment,especially in the medium to largerfirms, have differing views on the valueof postgraduate degrees. Some feelthat the quality of your undergraduatedegree is the most important thing,and what matters most are the reasonswhy you wanted to study law in thefirst place. Gaining a postgraduatedegree, however, is often seen asdemonstrating initiative, and an extrayear of maturity is also viewedfavourably by recruiters. Taking apostgraduate degree in a non-legalsubject, such as business, can also bevaluable, as it allows you to seelearning from a different perspective.

There is a wide range of taughtcourses available, and you shouldcheck the course database ongradireland.com/further-study for anup-to-date list. Master of Laws coursesare offered in a number of universities,both in the Republic of Ireland and inNorthern Ireland. These includesubjects such as European andcomparative law, human rights lawand commercial law.

MSc courses may be chosen insubjects such as human rights,criminal justice management andcorporate governance.

There is a wide range of postgraduatediplomas to choose from at a numberof institutions. These range fromcriminology to environmental law.The Law Society of Ireland provides anumber of diploma courses in Dublinand Cork, which you can undertakeafter graduation.

These currently include:• Employment law• Corporate law• Finance law• Intellectual property andinformation technology

• Insolvency• Legal French• Legal German• Human rights• In-house practice• Investment funds• Aviation leasing and finance• Child law• Compliance management• Banking law and practice.

Entry and trainingWhichever route you choose to your legal career, it will involve exams,more exams and formal training.

Further informationRepublic of Ireland• The Honorable Society of King’sInns www.kingsinns.ie

• The Law Society of Irelandwww.lawsociety.ie

• The Law Librarywww.lawlibrary.ie

• The Bar Councilwww.lawlibrary.ie

Northern Ireland• The Institute of Professional LegalStudies www.qub.ac.uk/ipls

• The Law Society of NorthernIreland (regulates the solicitors’profession in Northern Ireland)www.lawsoc-ni.org

• The Honorable Society of the Innof Court of Northern Irelandwww.barlibrary.com

Republic of IrelandQualification as a barrister takesplace in three stages: the academicstage, the vocational stage and thepractical training stage.

The academic stageThis refers to the primary degree thatthe barrister holds.

The vocational stageThe Honorable Society of the King’sInns is the body that provideseducation and training for barristers.It runs the Barrister-at-Law degreecourse in Dublin. Law graduates withan approved degree must apply bylate May.

In order to secure a place, studentsmust sit an entrance examination infive subjects: Contract Law, CriminalLaw, Irish Constitutional Law, Law ofTorts, and Law of Evidence.

The King’s Inns provides thecourse in two ways, to help thosestudents who may have workcommitments or are unable to moveto Dublin.

The full-time course runs fromOctober to the end of May, withclasses running all day Monday toFriday. The modular course lasts fortwo years and runs every thirdweekend, all day Saturday andSunday, plus additional attendance often compulsory weekdays during

term time. Contact the King’s Inn fordetails of the next course.

Law graduates with an approveddegree are entitled to apply for aplace on the Barrister-at-Law degreecourse. Law graduates must havestudied several compulsory subjects.If they do not have this experience,they must pass an examination in theomitted subjects in the Society’sDiploma in Legal Studies course.

Law graduates must also sit anentrance examination, which coversvarious aspects of law. Moreinformation is available from theKing’s Inns office or atwww.kingsinns.ie.

Law 2017 | 17

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

The steps you must take before you are called to the Bar.

Entry and training: barristers

18 | Law 2017

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Northern IrelandQualification in Northern Irelandalso takes the structure of theacademic, professional/vocationaland traineeship stages.

Vocational stageThe Honorable Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland is theprofessional body which governs theeducation, training and admittanceof barristers in NI. This responsibilityis partly delegated to the Institute ofProfessional Legal Studies, a part ofQueen’s University Belfast.

The Institute of Professional Legal Studies is responsible fortraining barristers and solicitors inNorthern Ireland. The Institute offersa one-year, full-time postgraduatevocational training course for traineebarristers. Bar trainees must spendfour weeks working in a citizens’advice bureau or law centre and one week shadowing a barrister priorto starting their certificate course.

The Institute admits 20 Bartrainees each year. Pressure forplaces is intense and competitive,though unsuccessful applicantsoften successfully re-apply thefollowing year. A pilot schemeallowing six Bar trainees to take thecourse after a two-year period iscurrently running.

Visit the Institute of ProfessionalLegal Studies website for moreinformation.

Applicants must hold a recognisedlaw degree. Core subjects mustinclude: constitutional law, criminallaw, contract, tort, land law, equity,evidence and European law.Applicants must sit a writtenadmissions test in mid-December,which is the same admissions test assolicitor applicants. The applicationdeadline is mid-November.

Students may apply for the Barand solicitor trainee courses at thesame time, but must indicate theirorder of preference. Bar and solicitortrainees largely receive the sametraining, with some smallmodifications.

It is essential for Bar trainees toapply for admittance to the Inn ofCourt before starting the course.

PupillageAll newly qualified barristers mustspend a minimum of 12 monthstraining with an experienced barristerand must complete at least sixmonths of pupillage before taking abrief on their own. The barristerassists and learns from their Masterin the same way as in the ROI.

Non-law graduates with an approvedthird-level degree are eligible to applyfor a place on the Diploma in LegalStudies (two years part time).Graduates of the Diploma can thenapply to sit the entrance examinationfor the Barrister-at-Law degree.

Some places are allocated tomature applicants (over 23 years old)who have a level of experience and/oreducation which is deemedacceptable to King’s Inns. They firstneed to sit an examination.

To be eligible to be called to theBar, students need to:• pass the Barrister-at-Law degree• pass a specified examination in theIrish language

• submit a declaration to the benchers.

PupillageNewly qualified barristers have totrain with an experienced Dublin-based barrister (Master) for aminimum of one year following theircall to the Bar. This work is commonlyknown as ‘devilling’, and the trainingperiod known as ‘pupillage’. The workis unpaid and forms the essentiallearning period where they have anopportunity to apply their knowledgein a practical setting. Masters usuallyallocate a lot of background research,and much of the training period isspent drafting documents. Thebarrister accompanies their Master tocourt and observes the skills appliedin the courtroom.

Some newly qualified barristerstrain with a different Master for asecond year. If they plan to attachthemselves to a circuit outside Dublin,a second year of devilling in theirchosen circuit is essential. A longertraineeship not only enables them toconsolidate their learning, but it alsoexpands their network of solicitors.

Bar trainees must spend fourweeks working in a citizens’advice bureau or law centreand one week shadowing abarrister prior to startingtheir certificate course.

Masters usually allocate alot of background researchand much of the trainingperiod is spent draftingdocuments.

Law 2017 | 19

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland

Routes in: barristers

Approvedlaw degree

Approved non-lawdegree

King’s Inns Diploma in Legal Studies

(two years part time)www.kingsinns.ie

Entranceexamination

www.kingsinns.ie

Barrister-at-Lawdegree course

(one year full time or two year modular)

Pupillage (12 months)

Called to the Bar

Approvedlaw degree

Approved non-lawdegree

Master in LegalScience, Queen’s

UniversityBelfast

Apply to Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) (applyby mid-November, entrance examDecember)

Admitted toInns of Court(mid-August)

Find a Master

Five weeks’ work experience

(August–September)

Attend IPLS(September–

June)

Called tothe Bar

120 | Law 2017

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Entry and training: solicitorsBecoming a solicitor involves studying for exams and completing a training contract.

Solicitor training in theRepublic of Ireland andNorthern Ireland involvesperiods of practical experience.2

Republic of IrelandThe Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin isresponsible for the education and training of solicitors.Blackhall Place runs the Professional Practice Course, partsI and II, which forms the solicitor’s essential training.Completion of the Professional Practice Courses, plus atraineeship with an approved solicitor leads toqualification as a solicitor.

Steps to qualificationThe entire training period from start to finish involves aseven-step process.

Step one Sit and pass the Law Society entrance examination, theFinal Examination – First Part (FE-1). Exams are held twicea year, in autumn and spring, and there are eight papers.

Step twoSecure a two-year training contract (Indentures ofApprenticeship) with an eligible solicitor who has been

345

practising for at least four years. An eligible solicitor mustbe a partner within a firm or a sole practitioner.

Step threeApply to start Professional Practice Course I. Courses run inDublin and Cork and start in September, running throughto April–June when examinations are held.

Step fourBegin 24-month training contract/apprenticeship.

Step fiveReturn to Law Society for Professional Practice Course II.Courses start in April and last for 12 weeks, with finalexaminations in June.

Law 2017 | 21

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Ultimately, if you feel youwould enjoy working in achallenging and rewardingenvironment, then acareer in law isdefinitely for you. Trainee Solicitor

Further information• The Law Society of Ireland www.lawsociety.ie• The Institute of Professional Legal Studies

www.qub.ac.uk/ipls• University of Ulster School of Law

www.socsci.ulster.ac.uk/law.

12

67Step sixReturn to training solicitor to complete in-office training,usually 11 months.

Step seven Apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors. The LawSociety has a trainee recruitment register on their websitewhere students can upload their CVs and firms looking fortrainees can register online. The Law Society also providessupport by holding seminars on securing your trainingcontract at least once a year.

Northern IrelandTraining to be a solicitor in Northern Ireland takes twoyears and differs slightly from the process in the Republic.There are now two training options. The Institute ofProfessional Legal Studies at Queen’s University Belfast isresponsible for the training and education of bothsolicitors and barristers. The Graduate School ofProfessional Legal Education at the University of Ulsternow also provides vocational training for solicitors only,through their Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice.Eligibility requirements for admittance to both courses arethe same.

Steps to qualificationThere are nine steps to qualification:

Step one Submit application for Certificate in Professional LegalStudies by mid-November.

Step twoSecure a traineeship with an approved solicitor. It is nevertoo early to start.

3

456789

Step threeSit a written admissions test, just before Christmas. Thiscomprises two papers: a numeracy test and a secondpaper to test students’ ability to apply knowledge of law ina practical way, problem-solving skills, communication andorganisational skills.

Step fourAcceptance of offer of place. First round offers are mademid-March, second round offers from July through thesummer.

Step five Register with the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Theclosing deadline is mid-August and early registration isadvisable.

Step sixBegin apprenticeship: three months’ in-office trainingfrom first Monday of September to end of December.

Step sevenJanuary to end of December: 12 months of attendanceand examinations for Certificate of Professional LegalStudies (Tuesday–Friday). Mondays and holiday periodsare spent in-office with a Master.

Step eightJanuary to August, year two: eight months of further in-office training.

Step nineAwarded a Restricted Practice Certificate, enabling newlyqualified solicitors to practise. However, they cannot do soon their own or in partnership for three years (this can bereduced to two years by attending a continuing legaleducation programme run by the Law Faculty). Thesituation regarding securing a Master is similar to that inthe Republic: the demand is greater than the supply so itis advisable to make as many applications as possible atan early stage.

22 | Law 2017

ENTRY AND TRAINING

gradireland.com/law

Routes in: solicitors

Republic ofIreland Northern

IrelandGraduate

First IrishExamination

Approvedlaw degree

Approved non-lawdegree

Master in LegalScience, Queen’s

UniversityBelfast

Apply to Institute of ProfessionalLegal Studies (IPLS) or UU

Graduate School ofProfessional Legal

Education (apply by mid-November, entranceexam December)

Arrangetrainee

solicitor postwith Master

Register with Law Society (mid-August)

Pre-Institute in-office trainingwith Master(September–December)

Attend IPLS/UU(January–December)

Further in-office training (January–August)

FinalExamination First Part FE-1

(entranceexamination)

Eligibility for training contract.Training contractexecuted and

lodged with LawSociety

ProfessionalPractice Course

(PPC I)

Apprenticeshipterm trainingcontract (24months)

ProfessionalPractice Course

(PPC II)

Completeremainder of

in-office training

Admitted to Roll ofSolicitors

Admitted asa solicitor

ENTRY AND TRAINING

Law 2017 | 23gradireland.com/law

While the legal sector presents a unique range of opportunities and rewards for graduates, thereality is that it can be a daunting, competitive environment in which to start your career, likemany other sectors. However, the chances of success can be greatly compromised if you’recoming from a background which may not have presented the same opportunities as othersenjoy, or if you’re from a minority group, either social or ethnic, or if you have a disability.

The legal sector and diversity

It is to be welcomed that anincreasing number of legal firmsvalue the strengths that a diverse

workforce can bring, but there is stillwork to be done withunderrepresented groups in the legalprofession to ensure they have theinformation they need in order to beable to access the profession.

Aspiring Solicitors, established inthe UK but about to launch in Ireland,was set up with the express missionof increasing diversity in the legalprofession. “What we do is offeraspiring solicitors in the legalprofession unique access to a varietyof law firms and legal teams andopportunities to help themthroughout the legal applicationprocess,” says Aspiring Solicitors ChrisWhite.

Initiatives Currently there are more than 19,000Aspiring Solicitors members.Membership is completely free and isopen to undergrad, postgrad andgraduates from all disciplines, as wellas those seeking to change careerdirection to work within the legalsphere. Since 2014, the organisationhas staged over 100 events for itsmembers in the shape of skillsworkshops, internship opportunitiesand open days. “We’ve established aprofessional ambassador network inthe UK, with over 250 legal

professionals from over 80 law firmsoffering online support andassistance to our members. Theseprofessional ambassadors range fromglobal managing partners through tofuture trainees, from private practiceand in-house professionals to HR andacademic professionals.”

In addition, their UK operation hasalready put in place more than 300Student Ambassadors who canpromote the range of opportunities,and the advice which people fromdiverse backgrounds need in order toaccess legal careers.

Other supportsThere are existing supports already inplace in order to reach out to peopleof diverse, or disadvantagedbackgrounds, when it comes to the acareer in the legal profession. In orderto promote fair access to theprofession, the Law Society of Irelandhave been operating the Law SocietyAccess Scholarship Programme since2001. The programme aims to assiststudents from socio-economicallydisadvantaged backgrounds to gainaccess to professional legaleducation. It’s aims are to contributeto the creation of a broader spectrumof solicitors from a diverse range ofbackgrounds. In addition, the BarCouncil of Ireland have started anoutreach initiative to transition yearstudents to help remove barriers that

could prevent students fromdisadvantaged backgrounds frompursuing a career in law. Each February,they welcome 100 transition yearstudents for one week, with 20 placesreserved for students from schools inthe Delivering Equality of Opportunityin Schools (DEIS) programme. To applystudents must write an 800 wordessay explaining why they areinterested in a career in law. Accordingto those working with transition yearstudents such programmes are vital asthese students normally don’t have thefamily or professional connectionswithin the legal sector, or they may becoming from a background wherethird-level education was not thenorm.

“We aim to demystify the processof law firm recruitment,” adds ChrisWhite of Aspiring Solicitors.“Initiatives like our springboardprogramme, which we run withUniversity of Law, are geared toempower our members to securevacation scheme placements(internships) and ultimately atraining contract. Our material iswritten and delivered by current andformer legal graduate recruitmentmanagers, eager to share uniqueinsights and tips to increase thechances of success for our members.”Visit www.aspiring solicitors.co.uk formore information about theirupcoming UK and Irish events.

BRIGHT CAREERSBETTER FUTURES

For in�nite career possibilities

Register at gradireland.com

Law 2017 | 25gradireland.com/law

A&L Goodbody 26 EY 28 (29)PwC 30William Fry 31 (OBC) ICSA: The Governance Institute 32

OBC = outside back cover

Employers and professionalbodies A–Zof

employers And for further help withsearching for jobs, go to:gradireland.com/law

FactfinderAREAS OF WORK

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26 A&L Goodbody www.algoodbody.com/trainees • • • • • • • • • • • •

28 EY eyirelandcareers.ey.com • •30 PwC www.pwc.ie/graduate • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

31 William Fry www.williamfry.com • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Remember to quote gradireland Law on your job application

26 | Law 2017

EMPLOYERS

gradireland.com/law

Who we areA&L Goodbody is internationally recognised as one of Ireland’s leading lawfirms, performing interesting, challenging and innovative work for both Irish andglobal clients. We have offices in Dublin, Belfast, London, New York, San Franciscoand Palo Alto and our Trainee Solicitors have the opportunity to work in some ofthese offices during their training programme. We act for some of the world’smost successful and well-known organisations. Organisations who turn to ustime and time again because of the quality of advice and quality of service weprovide. We practice in a diverse number of areas and with diverse clients,industry sectors, cultures and nationalities. We can do this because our lawyerscome from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities and have a broad range ofpersonalities and qualifications. However, they all have one thing in common,they are the best at what they do, work hard to meet the exciting challengesthat come their way, and are proud to be part of A&L Goodbody and what werepresent.

What are our graduate opportunities?The Firm takes a long term view on our Trainee Solicitor Programme and we seeour Trainee Solicitors as key members and the future leaders of the Firm. Most ofour current Partners joined the Firm as Trainee Solicitors. We recruit graduatesfor our Trainee Solicitor Programme and train and develop them to be thebrightest and best lawyers – ready to meet the challenges they face and thrive inany environment. If you want to be part of a dynamic, innovative, marketleading team where you can bring ideas, contribute to our culture and be avalued part of the Firm, then A&L Goodbody is the place for you.

How do we select our Trainee Solicitors?We have an online application process. Application forms can be completed viaour website at www.algoodbody.com/trainees. All applicants must be eitherfinal year degree students, postgraduates or have successfully obtained a thirdlevel degree qualification. Although a primary degree is a pre-requisite, we don’tjust look for people who are academically high achievers or limit applicants tothose who have studied law. We accept degrees from all disciplines.

A&L Goodbody

Search: gradireland employers

ContactClodagh Collier, Trainee & InternProgramme ManagerTel +353 (0)1 649 2273Email ccollier@algoodbody.comWebwww.algoodbody.com/traineesSocial media Facebookwww.facebook.com/ALGtraineesTwitter ALG_LawStart

JobsType of work• banking and finance • commerciallaw • corporate law • disputeresolution • employment andpensions • EU and competition• insolvency/recovery • insurance• intellectual property • litigation• real estate/property • taxSalary CompetitiveBenefits• bonus (discretionary) • educationbursary • gym membership/subsidy• life assurance • pension schemewith company contributions • privatehealthcare • days’ holiday: 25+ • topof the range salary • PPC1 & PPC2Law Society fees paid • full salarypaid whilst at Blackhall Place, exambonuses • extra holidays aftercompleting each Law Society course • medical insurance assistance• excellent working conditions • social activitiesNumber of vacancies 35+

Work experienceWork experience Yes, four weeks

Locations• Republic of Ireland • NorthernIreland • Great Britain • Rest of world

Apply• OnlineClosing date 21 October 2016

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gradireland.com/law

Graduate profile

Name: Conor HealyPosition: Trainee SolicitorDegree: Bachelor of HistoryUniversity: University of Glasgow

My name is Conor Healy and I am a Trainee Solicitor at A&LGoodbody. I completed a degree in History at theUniversity of Glasgow and always considered law as anoption. With further research I realised corporate law wassomething I would be well suited to. The combination of afast-paced commercial environment and the moreacademic elements of legal research appealed to me. Icompleted a one year postgraduate diploma in law in DITin preparation for the Law Society entrance exams. Thecondensed curriculum was designed for those who hadn’tpreviously studied law, and provided a good basis on whichto approach the exams.

Despite what I originally thought, coming from a non-lawbackground has not presented any difficulties. The trainingyou receive at A&L Goodbody, through the TraineeDevelopment Programme, combined with the skills youdevelop on PPC1 & 2 ensure that you have all the skillsneeded to become a top class lawyer. I also discovered thatmany of the skills I had developed and used during myundergraduate degree were applicable to law, for example,the research skills I have acquired to date have beenextremely useful in my career with A&L Goodbody.

I would recommend a career in law for anyone from a non-law discipline. You should consider your current skillset andwhat’s transferable, whether this is the ability to extractkey information from a large volume of sources, or moregeneral skills like time-management and interpersonalskills. I’m now nearing the end of my first seat in the Firm’sEnvironment and Planning unit which I’ve thoroughlyenjoyed and I’m looking forward to my first trip to Blackhallfor PPC1.

www.facebook.com/ALGtrainees

@ALG_LawStart

algoodbody

Name: Michelle NaglePosition: Trainee SolicitorDegree: Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus)University: University of Limerick

My name is Michelle Nagle and I am a 1st year TraineeSolicitor at A&L Goodbody. My route to a trainingcontract with A&L Goodbody began with a workplacement during my third year of college. This wasorganised through the university’s Co-Op PlacementProgramme which A&L Goodbody supports andparticipates in. I spent four months in the Firm’sLitigation Department and during these months I got areal insight into what life as a Trainee Solicitor in A&LGoodbody would be like. I was given many of the sameresponsibilities as Trainees, attended weekly Traineelectures and practical, legal skills workshops.

As well as a great learning experience, being a Co-Opstudent helped me to come to a clear decision on acareer in corporate law and that A&L Goodbody waswhere I would like to complete my training contract. It isevident from the beginning that the Firm fully invests inhelping Trainees reach their full potential. There is anexcellent Trainee Development Programme consisting ofweekly lectures, as well as legal skills workshops andseminars. The Firm also provides each Trainee with abursary to complete further education courses. Theemphasis on continuous learning and development inA&L Goodbody ensures that Trainees are provided withthe skills and knowledge they need to become the bestlawyers possible.

It is not all work and no play though! I still have time toenjoy the social side of life as a Trainee Solicitor and havehad the opportunity to participate in the many socialactivities organised by the Firm’s social committee andsome that we just organise ourselves as a Trainee group.

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EY values difference. Our business thrives on asking the better questions. Thosequestions lead to better answers, which offer up the best solutions. Betterquestions are different questions, the questions that haven’t been asked before.The best people to ask these questions are people who have a diverse experienceof the world and come with a different insight. That’s why we look for peoplefrom a range of degree backgrounds.

Take Law. Law Students require the ability to think logically, build argumentsbased on facts and data, as well as being able to empathise with those aroundthem, and communicate their points succinctly and with a flourish.

Lawyers are the perfect candidates for starting a career in Audit, Tax,Transactions, and Advisory. Their natural attributes that lead them to pursue adegree in law are exactly the qualities we look for in our people.

The EY Graduate Programmes are the perfect broad level foundation from whichto start your career in business. We’ll give you the opportunity to drive lastingchange and explore for yourself how you can help us build a better workingworld.

Our graduate programmes suit you and your needs. We want to know what yourcareer aspirations are and how we can guide you towards achieving them. We’llsupport you as you pursue your professional qualifications and make sure youmake the choice that is right for you.

We offer Graduate Programmes in the following five areas:• Assurance• Advisory• Tax• Transactions• IT, Data and Cyber

Despite what you may have been told, we don’t just hire accountants. We wantpeople from all backgrounds. We definitely want lawyers to join us in building abetter working world. We want to build a diverse workforce, where the broadestspectrum of skills and ideas can be brought together to mix and spark the bestsolutions for our clients, and our world.

No matter what you studied in college, if you’re bright, curious and enthusiasticthere is a Graduate Programme at EY tailored just for you.

Sound like you? Apply online eyirelandcareers.ey.com

EY

Search: gradireland employers

ContactThe Student Recruitment TeamEY, Harcourt Centre, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2Email studentrecruitment@ie.ey.comWeb eyirelandcareers.ey.com

JobsType of work Assurance (Audit, DataAnalytics, Forensic Accounting), Tax,Transactions (Corporate Finance),Financial Services, Advisory(Management Consultancy acrossCyber Security, Cloud Computer,Digital, Tech, IT, Change Managementand Strategy)Salary CompetitiveBenefits Free Gym, Time Owed InLieu, Generous Study Leave,Subsidised Canteen and many moreNumber of vacancies300 Graduate and 200 Intern

Degrees sought EY hires from alldisciplines because everyone hassomething to offer and our worldworks better when he have a diverseworkforce tackling the same issuesfrom a variety of differentbackgrounds.

Work experienceSummer 3 months and WorkPlacement 6–12 months

LocationsDublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford,Galway and Belfast. Offices acrossthe world

ApplyOnline application and CV takes 15 minutesClosing date See website

© 2016 Ernst & Young. Published in Ireland. A

ll Rights Reserved. 10431.indd 08/16. Artw

ork by the BSC (Ireland)

Is it what you do or the way you do it?Stephen is a pretty curious guy, a ‘look under the bonnet’ type of personality. So when he joined EY we thought he would be perfect to work with our clients. He found out how they worked, and then helped them to work even better. This is Stephen, but if this sounds like you - then let’s talk. Visit eyirelandcareers.ey.com to apply.

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The opportunity of a lifetimeYour career is just that. Yours. You choose it. You live it. You make it happen.Opportunities are at the heart of a career with us. Opportunities to grow as anindividual, to build lasting relationships and make an impact. We look forintelligent, enterprising, passionate people who will work with our clients toachieve success. Law students have a history of success with PwC and the skillsthat you learn throughout a law degree, particularly problem solving andcommunication are transferable and the perfect fit for the 2016 GraduateEmployer of the Year.

The PwC Graduate programme offers the opportunity to start looking forward toenviable exposure, experiences and opportunities that will develop yourleadership skills and shape your career for a long time to come. Collaborate ondiverse projects with some of the world’s best-known brand names. Take on bigbusiness issues and complex commercial challenges. Boost the performance ofall sorts of organisations. Work with and learn from experts while participatingin best-in-class courses and workshops. We're committed to helping you masterthe skills that will set you apart from the crowd.

By choosing a career with us, you’ll become part of over 2,000 people in Irelandacross our offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford andWexford. You’ll also join the largest professional services firm in the world with aglobal network covering 157 countries and employing over 195,000 peopleworldwide.

The opportunity to plan to choose your pathWhen you choose one of our three business areas, you’ll learn and contributemore than you ever thought possible. We have graduate opportunities availablein Advisory Consulting, Assurance and Tax. The undergraduate opportunitiesinclude; Insight Days, Talent Academies, Placements and Summer Internships

The opportunity to stand outWe choose the best people from a wide range of backgrounds and degreedisciplines, particularly law students. As well as academic excellence (we expecta minimum 2.1 degree) we’re looking for graduates who can build and maintainrelationships, put themselves in others shoes and have a positive impact on theFirm, their clients and each other. We’re looking for talented graduates with theskill, drive and enthusiasm to succeed.

The opportunity to join the gradireland Graduate Employer of the Year 2016

ApplyTo apply online or for further details, visit our graduate websitewww.pwc.ie/graduate

PwC

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ContactGraduate Recruitment Team Tel +353 (0)1 792 8550Email ireland.graduate@ie.pwc.comWebwww.pwc.ie/graduateSocial mediatwitter.com/pwcirl_careersfacebook.com/pwcirelandcareersyoutube.com/pwcirelandlinkedin.com/company/pwc-ireland

JobsType of work• Banking and finance • Commerciallaw • Corporate law • Criminal law • Dispute resolution • Employmentand pensions • EU and competition • Family law • Insolvency/recovery • Insurance • Intellectual property • Litigation • Real estate/property • Tax Salary Competitive Benefits22 days’ annual leave, paid overtime,enhanced study leave, sponsorship ofprofessional qualifications,graduation day leave, on-site gymand fitness studio, Flexible Friday -3pm finish on bank holidays andsummer Fridays, firm discountprogramme and many more.Number of vacancies 290Degrees sought We acceptapplications from all degreedisciplines.

Work experienceWork experience Yes, SummerInternship and PlacementDuration Up to 12 months

Locations• Republic of Ireland • NorthernIreland • Great Britain • Rest of world

ApplyClosing date 19 October 2016 5pm

Law 2017 | 31

EMPLOYERS

gradireland.com/law

Who we areWilliam Fry is a leader in the legal profession in Ireland with a long-standingreputation for innovative advice and superior client service. As a top-tier firmwhose clients are some of the world’s most successful and well knowncompanies across a wide range of industry sectors at home and internationally,William Fry will provide you with the hands-on legal experience and trainingthat will get your career off to the best possible start.

Our Dublin headquarters is based in superb modern offices in the southdocklands. The building provides employees with excellent facilities and workingconditions including a subsidised restaurant and barista service. Our on-sitegym with free membership, including access to a personal trainer and regulargym and yoga classes are available to all staff.

What we doOur client-focused service combines technical excellence with commercialawareness and a practical, constructive approach to business issues. We are oneof Ireland’s premier law firms, ranked in the top tier by legal marketcommentators such as Chambers Global and Legal 500. We have offices inDublin, London, New York, San Francisco and Silicon Valley demonstrating ourongoing commitment to the needs of our international clients. Our capability isenhanced by our alliance with Tughans, Northern Ireland’s largest law firm,through which we provide an all-island solution.

William Fry is the Irish member firm of Taxand, the only independent (non-audit), multi-disciplinary global tax practice in Ireland. With more than 400 TaxPartners and over 2,000 advisors in almost 50 countries, Taxand is the world'slargest organisation of tax advisors to multinational businesses.

Our open-door approach fosters learning and encourages and rewards initiative.Drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds and academic disciplines, ourpeople welcome new ideas and want to make a difference – both in their workfor clients and through their involvement in charitable, community andenvironmental initiatives. William Fry is proud to be ranked as the most DiverseLaw Firm in Ireland, and 4th Most Diverse Law Firm in Europe by 'The Lawyer100, 2016'.

The Trainee experienceOur success depends on our ability to attract, nurture and retain talented peoplewho understand client requirements and can provide a high-quality legalservice. We choose the best people from a wide range of backgrounds. We arelooking for graduates who are bright and academically able, who can both seethe big picture and pay attention to detail, who have excellent communication,interpersonal and analytical skills, and who will thrive in a fast-paced, dynamicand challenging team environment.

As a William Fry Trainee, you will benefit from a structured programme whichprovides opportunities to:

• Build technical legal knowledge and gain hands-on experience on real cases.• Work in a number of our departments to help you decide which area of ourLaw or Tax practice suits you best on qualification.

• Contribute to high-profile cases • Gain first-hand commercial insight through secondments to clientorganisations.

Become part of our futureFor further information and to hear and view some of our current traineesexperiences, please visit the careers section of our website www.williamfry.com

William Fry

Search: gradireland employers

ContactHuman Resources2 Grand Canal Square, Dublin D02 A342, IrelandTel +353 (0)1 639 5000Email trainee@williamfry.comWebwww.williamfry.com

JobsType of work• Asset Finance & Leasing • AssetManagement & Investment Funds • Banking & Financial Services • Company Secretarial • Competition& Regulation • Corporate • Employment & Benefits • Energy &Natural Resources • Environment &Planning • Foreign Direct Investment• Healthcare & Life Sciences • Insolvency & Corporate Recovery • Insurance & Reinsurance • Intellectual Property • Litigation &Dispute Resolution • Media • Mergers & Acquisitions • Projects &Construction • Real Estate/Property •Tax

Work experienceWork experience YesDuration 1–8 months

Locations• Republic of Ireland • NorthernIreland • Great Britain • Rest of world

Apply• OnlineClosing dateThursday 20 October 2016

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gradireland.com/law

Who we areICSA: The Governance Institute is the professional body for governance, requiredby Royal Charter to lead ‘effective governance and efficient administration ofcommerce, industry and public affairs’. Part of the Institute of CharteredSecretaries and Administrators (ICSA), which has a worldwide presence in over80 countries, we support, qualify and train around 14,000 members andstudents working across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors in the UK,Republic of Ireland and Associated Territories.

What we doWe work with regulators and policy makers to champion high standards ofgovernance, helping businesses, charities, schools and all other types oforganisation to fulfil their objectives. With 125 years’ experience, our knowledgeand expertise is rooted in history and we continue to lead current thinking andpractice.

We are the only organisation to confer chartered secretary status, a widelyrecognised mark of credibility and professional competence. To gain charteredstatus you must pass ICSA’s Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme (CSQS) oran ICSA Accredited Masters Programme and have more than five years’ relevantwork experience. We also offer affiliate membership to professionals withoutchartered status who work in governance roles, enabling them to access ICSA’sexpertise, resources and networking opportunities.

In Ireland, we offer a variety of study pathways to support professionals in thecompany secretarial field, including CSQS, a certificate in company secretariallaw and practice with the Law Society of Ireland and a certificate in IrishCompany Secretarial Practice and Share Registration Practice. We also have aclose relationship with the University of Ulster. Students who successfullycomplete the Postgraduate Diploma/MSc in Management and CorporateGovernance can become graduate members of ICSA.

Working as a company secretaryCompany secretaries are governance professionals who fulfil a vital rolesupporting and advising the boards of organisations in all industries andsectors. It is a position of considerable influence requiring a broad skill set andexpert knowledge of law, finance, governance, strategy and corporate secretarialpractice. A varied role offering quick progression, company secretaries assistdirectors and trustees to achieve strategic goals by operating legally,appropriately and fairly.

Graduates who are bright, good communicators, able to see both the big pictureand pay attention to detail will thrive in this dynamic and well remunerated role.There are great opportunities for career progression and you can work in-house,for a professional services firm or in public practice, undertaking companysecretarial duties for a range of clients for a fee. The skillset is transferrable so itis possible to work across sectors, as well as internationally, offering wide scopefor job satisfaction.

ICSA: The Governance Institute

Search: gradireland employers

ContactSiobhan MurphyStudent AdviserTel +44 (0)20 7580 4741Email info@icsa.org.ukWebwww.icsa.org.ukwww.icsa.org.uk/irelandwww.icsa.org.uk/advance Social mediaTwitter: ICSA_News and icsa_ireland LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/icsa-institute-of-chartered-secretaries-and-administratorsFacebook: facebook.com/ICSAglobal

Career sectorsAcross all sectorsSalary Salaries vary depending uponlocation, sector and the size and typeof organisation, but you can expectto start on about £25-29,000.Salaries of up to £175,000 are onoffer for top company secretariesworking for FTSE 100 companies,£100,000 for those working for alarge private company or £75,000 ifworking for a charity.Number of vacancies FlexibleDegrees sought• business, management,administration • finance, financialservices • law, legal services, lawenforcement, patents

Work experienceWork experience All yearDuration 3–6 months

Locations• Republic of Ireland • NorthernIreland • Great Britain

Apply• online • emailClosing date All year round

BRIGHT CAREERSBETTER FUTURES

For in�nite career possibilities

Register at gradireland.com

Visit williamfry.com/trainees

PERHAPS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH US?The William Fry Trainee Programme We are one of Ireland’s largest and most innovative law firms. We focus on delivering excellent results for our clients. Being the best, with the best people. We would like to focus on your career and on how it would be a more rewarding one with us.

A VIEW FROM WILLIAM FRY

2 GRAND CANAL SQUARE, DUBLIN, D02 A342, IRELAND.

T: +353 1 639 5000 E: info@williamfry.com www.williamfry.com

D U B L I N L O N D O N N E W Y O R K S A N F R A N C I S C O S I L I C O N V A L L E Y