Admission to the degree of Barrister–at–Law professional course is by Entrance Examination, which usually takes place in August in each year. To be eligible to apply to sit this examination, an applicant must hold either an approved law degree/approved postgraduate diploma or the Diploma in Legal Studies from King’s Inns. 

View Schedule Of Approved Qualifications >

The applicant must show that, in the course leading to the approved degree/postgraduate diploma, that the following core subjects have been passed:

1. Equity & Trusts

2. Jurisprudence

3. Irish Land Law (including the Law of Succession)

4. Administrative Law

5. Company Law

6. Law of the European Union

The subjects for the entrance examination are as follows:

• Contract Law

• Criminal Law

• Irish Constitutional law

• Law of Tort

• Law of Evidence

The Entrance Exam 2025 is an in–person (taking place at King’s Inns), laptop–based exam on Moodle. The exam is closed book and human invigilated. Candidates use their laptops and type their answers into the online exam paper. The Lockdown Browser used prohibits access to the internet and all other files and folders on your laptop during the exams while allowing access to Moodle.

Candidates should note that all students on the degree of Barrister–at–Law course must type their answers to written assessments, so an ability to type is essential.

The entrance examination syllabus, reading list, timetable and past examination papers are available below*. All candidates should be familiar with the rules relating to the entrance examination.

* Entrance Examination syllabus and reading list for each year is usually published in April/May. The 2025 timetable for exams can be viewed below. 

Timetable, Syllabi and Reading Lists

Entrance examination timetable 2025 >

Past exam papers >

Contract law syllabus (2025) >

Law of torts syllabus (2025) >

Irish constitutional law syllabus (2025) >

Criminal law syllabus (2025) >

Law of evidence syllabus (2025) >

Results and Offer of Place: Early September 2025

Acceptance and Payment of Tuition Fees: Mid–September (Date TBC).

Closing date for applications: midnight on 31 May 2025. Late applications accepted until midnight (Irish time) on Sunday, June 30.

In order to verify your personal details, you must first create an account on the Application Portal through the ‘apply here’ button below. Once you verify your email address in the Portal, you can then proceed with your application.

An applicant that satisfies the eligibility requirements to sit the Entrance Examination must apply and pay the non–refundable application fee of €600. Payment is done through our online application portal on or before midnight on 31 May in the year in which an applicant intends to take the examination.

A late application may be submitted by midnight on 1 July and is subject to a non–refundable late application fee of €1,000.

Application and Supporting Documents

• Transcript: A transcript of your degree which should include all subjects studied and passed in the years of the degree course and the overall degree grade. If you are sitting the final degree examination in summer you must provide this transcript on or before 1st July.

• Student Admission Declaration: The applicant must sign the Declaration by scanned signature or e–signature. Please download the form below and the guide to submitting an e–signature.

• Certificate 1: Character reference 1. A referee must sign the Certificate by scanned signature or e–signature. Please download the form below.

• Certificate 2: Character reference 2. A referee must sign the Certificate by scanned signature or e–signature.

• Passport / Driving Licence Scan: Either (a) details page with photograph from current passport, (b) Irish or other EU passport card, or (c) valid EU driving license with photograph showing details.

• Photo for Student Card: Please upload an image file containing a recent passport–sized photo.

• Special Requirements (optional): Supporting documents for a request for alternative Entrance Exam accommodations for an applicant with a disability. This is an optional document. You only need to upload this document if you require alternative Entrance Exam accommodations.

• Student declaration form

• Certificate of standing– two required

• Document of Disability Support >

• How to submit an electronic signature

If you have any questions about the Entrance Examination or the degree of Barrister–at–Law, contact the Registrar’s office at admissions@kingsinns.ie.