The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but who throws himself on your part so heartily, that he can get you out of a scrape.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Becoming a lawyer in Ireland includes academic study, professional examinations, practical training, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Whether you want to become a solicitor or a barrister, the Irish legal system has clearly defined paths for almost every role. Here, we'll go through the school subjects you can choose for your degree and professional exams.
Key Takeaways
- The difference between solicitors and barristers, and how each career pathway works in Ireland.
- The Leaving Certificate subjects and CAO strategies strengthen your chances of entering a law degree
- The FE-1 exams, PPC, and solicitor training contracts fit into the solicitor qualification process.
- King’s Inns entrance exams, the Barrister-at-Law Degree and devilling prepare barristers for courtroom practice.
- How long it takes to qualify and what each stage typically costs (university fees, FE-1/PPC/King’s Inns).
- Find reliable guidance as you decide whether a legal career is right for you.
Understanding the Irish Legal Profession
You have to remember that becoming a lawyer in Ireland is a flexible process. There are two distinct professional pathways, and though people may use the word "lawyer" informally, the legal profession in Ireland is tightly regulated.
Ireland's legal system has strong professional standards, overseen by the Law Society of Ireland (for solicitors) and the Honorable Society of King's Inns (for barristers). These are the bodies that govern education, examinations, contracts, devilling, and ethical standards. Either role will require extensive legal knowledge, communication skills, and the ability to apply your understanding of the law to the real world, whether you're in an office, meeting with clients, or before a judge.
Becoming a lawyer in Ireland follows a structured, multi-stage pathway. Candidates must complete a university degree, pass the relevant admission exams (FE-1 for solicitors or King's Inns Entrance Exam for barristers), enrol in vocational training such as the Professional Practice Course (PPC) or the Barrister-at-Law degree, and finish a period of practical training. Each stage builds the legal skills and knowledge needed for professional practice.
Lawyer vs Solicitor: Key Differences
“Lawyer”
- Generic umbrella term
- Includes both solicitors and barristers
- Not a regulated job title in itself
- Often used informally by the public
“Solicitor”
- A regulated profession in Ireland
- Works directly with clients
- Handles drafting, contracts, transactions
- May represent clients in court (with certain rights of audience)
The Difference Between a Solicitor and a Barrister
You could consider both solicitors and barristers as "lawyers", but they have distinct roles. Generally, solicitors work one-on-one with clients, managing legal files, preparing contracts, negotiating settlements, and giving advice. They're often the first point of contact for anyone looking for legal help.
Barristers are courtroom advocates. They often work with solicitors rather than clients, and their job usually includes preparing written legal submissions, drafting pleadings, and presenting arguments before judges.
Two Different Professional Routes
Solicitor Route
- FE-1 Exams
- PPC (Professional Practice Course)
- Two-year training contract
- Client-focused practice
- Transactional and advisory work
Barrister Route
- King’s Inns Entrance Exam
- Barrister-at-Law Degree
- One-year devilling
- Courtroom advocacy
- Independent practice at the Bar
What Lawyers Actually Do in Ireland
Irish lawyers perform a wide range of duties and, as you've just seen, tasks can include legal research, drafting agreements, preparing cases, negotiating settlements, representing clients in court, and advising on regulatory compliance. The first distinction will be whether or not you become a solicitor or a barrister, as that will significantly define your work.
Key Skills You Need Before You Begin
If you're wondering if the legal is right for you, consider the skills you'll need. You won't need these as you start your journey, but you need to be willing to learn them. Here are some of the top skills that legal professionals in Ireland should have:
Step 1 — Choosing Your School Subjects and Starting Your Legal Education
To start your legal education, it's a good idea to choose a good selection of subjects at school. Leaving Cert subject choices are pretty important for aspiring lawyers in Ireland as they can even dictate their future legal careers. Still, you can also shift careers later in life if you've completed the Leaving Cert or even a degree.
Leaving Certificate Subjects That Help With Law
If you still have a chance to pick your Leaving Cert subjects, remember that there aren't really compulsory subject requirements for studying law, but universities will look for analytical and communication skills and strong academic performance. Here are some of the subjects that will help.
Highly Recommended Subjects
Useful but Not Required
Subjects That Don’t Help You Directly but Are Still Fine
These subjects won’t hinder you, but they don’t typically develop law-focused skills:
CAO Points and Entering an Irish University Law Degree
As a highly competitive field, your CAO performance is even more important than your subject choices. Every law program looks for strong candidates. Here's how you can increase your chances.
How CAO Works for Law
Practical CAO Planning Tips
Different Law Courses Available (BCL, LLB, Combined Degrees)
When you apply for Irish law degrees, you should be aware that there are different types. While most lead to many professional routes, you can attempt to match programs to your strengths. Here's how they break down.
Main Types of Irish Law Degrees
Tips for Choosing the Right Course
Step 2 — Completing Your Law Degree or Equivalent Qualification
Choosing your undergraduate pathways needn't be complicated. You can take a full law degree or follow an alternative route before doing solicitor or barrister training. Here's what you should know:
If You Study a Law Degree (BCL, LLB, or Combined Degrees)
If You Study a Non-Law Degree First
If You’re a Mature or Career-Change Student
How Long University Takes in Ireland
Step 3 — Becoming a Solicitor in Ireland
There are three main stages to becoming a solicitor in Ireland. You have to pass the FE-1 exams, secure a training contract, and then complete the Professional Practice Course (PPC). With this route, the focus is on client-facing work, drafting, negotiation, research, and practical legal skills.
The FE-1 Entrance Examinations Explained
The FE-1s consist of eight core law subjects: Company, Constitutional, Contract, Criminal, Equity, European Union, Property, and Tort. These examinations are administered by the Law Society of Ireland and must be passed before beginning a solicitor training contract.
FE-1 Exams required to become a solicitor.
Training Contracts and In-Office Training Requirements
Once you pass the FE-1s, you must secure a training contract (“traineeship”) with a practising solicitor who is approved as a training solicitor.
Key features of a solicitor training contract
months of in-office solicitor training.
The Professional Practice Course (PPC) at the Law Society of Ireland
The PPC is the vocational training stage delivered by the Law Society in Blackhall Place.
What the PPC includes
How Long It Takes to Qualify as a Solicitor
Your total timeline varies depending on when you complete FE-1s and how quickly you secure a training contract.
Typical duration
Step 4 — Becoming a Barrister in Ireland
There's a structured pathway overseen by The Honorable Society of King's Inns and the Bar of Ireland. Barristers practise as independent advocates, specialising in courtroom representation, legal opinion work, and specialist advisory services, which is why they typically make more money in the long run than solicitors. Here's how becoming a barrister breaks down.
The King’s Inns Requirements and Entrance Exams
To enter the barrister pathway, candidates must first meet the King’s Inns educational requirements:
Minimum Requirements
Entrance Exam Structure
Applicants must sit exams in key legal subjects such as:
These examinations test whether candidates have the legal foundation necessary to begin professional bar training.
For aspiring barristers, vocational training is completed through the Barrister-at-Law Degree at the Honorable Society of King’s Inns. This programme develops courtroom advocacy, drafting, ethics, and case analysis, which are skills essential for independent practice at the Irish Bar.
The Barrister-at-Law Degree (BL Course)
Those who pass the entrance examinations proceed to the Barrister-at-Law Degree, the professional qualification required to practise at the Irish Bar.
What the BL Course Covers
The BL programme is highly practical and includes:
The course can be taken:
Teaching is delivered through workshops, simulations, group work, and small-group advocacy training.
Devilling: The Final Stage of Barrister Training
Once candidates complete the BL Degree and are called to the Bar, they begin devilling, the Irish equivalent of an apprenticeship.
What Devilling Involves
Devilling is usually unpaid, so financial planning is essential.
How Long It Takes to Qualify as a Barrister
The overall barrister route typically looks like this:
years to qualify as a lawyer in Ireland.
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