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Becoming a Barrister

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns has been training barristers since its inception. Students Admitted to the Degree of Barrister-at-Law are recognised not only as qualified but highly adept at the practise of the law. Delivered as either a one–year full time or two–year part–time modular course, the Degree is a highly sought–after qualification.

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

Admission to the degree of Barrister–at–Law – Upon successful completion of the degree course, a student may be admitted to the degree of Barrister–at–Law. Usually, there are two admission ceremonies during the year: mid–July and mid–October. Both ceremonies take place in King’s Inns.

Irish: Legal Practitioners (Irish Language) Act 2008 – Under the provisions of the legal Practitioners (Irish language) Act 2008, all students on the degree of Barrister–at–Law must undertake a compulsory course in Irish legal terminology and the understanding of legal texts. There is no accompanying examination or assessment to this course but attendance is compulsory.

Diploma in Legal Studies

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Barrister–at–Law Entrance Examination

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Degree of Barrister-at-Law

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Academic stage

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

In order to secure a place, students must sit an entrance examination in five subjects: Contract Law, Criminal Law, Irish Constitutional Law, Law of Torts, and Law of Evidence. The King’s Inns provides the course in two ways, to help those students who may have work commitments or are unable to move to Dublin. The full-time course runs from September to the end of May, with classes running all day Monday to Friday. The modular course lasts for two years and runs every third weekend, all day Saturday and Sunday, plus additional attendance of ten compulsory weekdays during term time.

Law graduates must have studied several compulsory subjects. If they do not have this experience, they must pass an examination in the omitted subjects in the Society’s Diploma in Legal Studies course. Law graduates must also sit an entrance examination, which covers various aspects of law.

Non-law graduates with an approved third-level degree are eligible to apply for a place on the Diploma in Legal Studies (two years part time). Graduates of the Diploma can then apply to sit the entrance examination for the Barrister-at-Law degree. Some places are allocated to mature applicants (over 25 years old) who have a level of experience and/or education which is deemed acceptable to King’s Inns. They first need to sit an examination.

To be eligible to be Called to the Bar a person must have:

  • been admitted to the Degree of Barrister-at-Law

  • Complied with the provisions of the Irish Language requirement

  • submitted a satisfactory Declaration to the benchers

Vocational Stage

Law graduates with an approved degree are entitled to apply for a place on the Barrister-at-Law degree course. Law graduates must have studied several compulsory subjects. If they do not have this experience, they must pass an examination in the omitted subjects in the Society’s Diploma in Legal Studies course.

Law graduates must also sit an entrance examination, which covers various aspects of law.

Non-law graduates with an approved third-level degree are eligible to apply for a place on the Diploma in Legal Studies (two years part time). Graduates of the Diploma can then apply to sit the entrance examination for the Barrister-at-Law degree.

Some places are allocated to mature applicants (over 25 years old) who have a level of experience and/or education which is deemed acceptable to King’s Inns. They first need to sit an examination.

Becoming a Barrister In Ireland
Degree of Barrister at Law

Entering Practice

The first year of your practice must be spent as a pupil (also known as a one-year ‘pupillage’) with an approved Dublin-based practitioner.

You must complete a New Practitioners Programme provided by The Bar of Ireland during this year, in tandem with your work with your Master. Undertakings must also be given in respect of certain areas of practice. You must also have professional indemnity insurance.

During the year of pupillage (also known as “devilling”), the pupil or devil must carry out their master’s instructions and learn about the nature of professional practice. During this year, the pupil is not paid.

You must apply to The Bar of Ireland to become a member of the Law Library before the 30th June of the year in which you intend to begin your practice. Once a barrister becomes a member of the Law Library they are free to take up work in their own right and to start to build up a practice.

Pupillage

Newly qualified barristers have to train with an experienced Dublin based barrister (Master) for a minimum of one year following their call to the Bar. This work is commonly known as ‘devilling’, and the training period known as ‘pupillage’. The work is unpaid and forms the essential learning period where they have an opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical setting. Masters usually allocate a lot of background research, and much of the training period is spent drafting documents. The barrister accompanies their Master to court and observes the skills applied in the courtroom. Some newly qualified barristers train with a different Master for a second year. If they plan to attach themselves to a circuit outside Dublin, a second year of devilling in their chosen circuit is essential. A longer traineeship not only enables them to consolidate their learning, but it also expands their network of solicitors. 

The aims of pupillage are:

  • to prepare pupils (who have been called to the Bar) for practice at The Bar of Ireland,

  • to develop further the knowledge, skills, and experience gained at the vocational stage of training,

  • to develop further proficiency as an advocate,

  • to develop the pupil’s professional and ethical approach to practice as a barrister, in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

  • to establish the skills of professional practice as an independent barrister;

  • to give experience in matters in which pupils are likely to be briefed during the early years of practice, and

  • to build skills and experience that will enable them to handle more complex matters in the future

  • to prepare pupils to take responsibility for their own professional development and practice.