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What is a barrister?

Barristers are professional advocates who deal with court work at all levels. Barristers specialise in providing an advisory and/or advocacy service for which they are briefed by a solicitor (or professional body). Barristers can be seen as consultants to solicitors.

Much of their work involves conducting research. Some specialise in specific areas: criminal, commercial and family law are the most common, while other specialisms can include employment or labour law and human rights law, personal injury and litigation.

Barristers do not usually deal with the public directly. A barrister may only carry out work if instructed by specified categories of professionals, including solicitors (for all types of work) and in connection with non-contentious matters – accountants, surveyors, architects and tax experts in their areas of expertise.

Work Activities

  • Giving opinions on whether a case would be successful if taken to court. 

  • Researching similar cases for examples of case law. 

  • Representing individuals in court by presenting the facts of the case to the judge and jury, examining and cross-examining witnesses and summing up. 

  • Representing organisations who appear before public enquiries and tribunals. 

  • Advising on legal matters, draft legal documents and giving expert legal opinions on particular issues.

Admission and Call to the Bar

Admission and Call to the Bar

Usually, there are two admission ceremonies during the year: mid–July and mid–October. Both ceremonies take place in King’s Inns.

If you intend to be called to the Bar by the Chief Justice of Ireland, this ceremony usually take place a few days after your Admission. This event usually takes places in the Four Courts in Dublin.

Practising at The Bar of Ireland / Law Library

If you intend to practise as a barrister in Ireland, many join The Bar of Ireland and continue on their journey as a barrister practising as a member of the independent referral bar there. Information on pupillage (historically known as devilling), finding a Master and how to join the Law Library can be found on The Bar of Ireland website.

King’s Inns plays no formal role in assisting students to secure pupillages. However, The Bar of Ireland provides an information session open to current students on the course about membership of the Law Library and pupillage each year. Pupillage is also discussed in practice management sessions on the course. Throughout the year, King’s Inns organises events, including Dining, where students meet Benchers and invited barristers (who practise within and outside the Law Library) and have informal opportunity to discuss career development, including pupillage.

Practising outside The Bar of Ireland / Law Library

Many graduates choose not to practise at the Bar and continue their journey of being a barrister outside the Law Library, in different legal professions and other industries such as education, policy and communications. The degree of Barrister–at–Law is a highly–sought after qualification. 

Read the alumni stories interviews with our member relations officer, which showcases the different professions our members work in.

 

Typical employers

Barristers are self-employed. They are forbidden to establish ‘chambers’ and cannot form partnerships with another barrister; they work as sole practitioners and are entirely independent. 

However, some are employed outside of practice in in-house legal counsel positions with corporations and large organisations. In the public sector, barristers can find work in the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Law Reform Commission, the Courts Service, and the Legal Aid Board. 

Practising barristers in the Republic of Ireland can work in one of nine circuits (geographically defined legal practice areas): Dublin Circuit, Cork Circuit, Northern Circuit, Midlands Circuit, Eastern Circuit, South Eastern Circuit, Western Circuit and South Western Circuit. Barristers will normally practise in one circuit.

In Northern Ireland, barristers are based at the Bar Library in Belfast, which provides office and library facilities. Barristers work from a new library building in Chichester Street and the old library at the Royal Courts of Justice. They also work at a number of other courts and tribunals around Northern Ireland. Like all barristers, they will do much preparation work at home.

In the public sector, barristers in ROI can find work in the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the Law Reform Commission, the Courts Service, and the Legal Aid Board. They may also take on prosecution work on behalf of the state. The Civil Service has been a traditional career path for many qualified barristers, who can enter at Administrative Officer level or higher, working in any government department. Some in-house legal counsel positions arise with corporations and large organisations, and are usually open to barristers or solicitors.

In Northern Ireland, there are a limited number of opportunities for barristers in the public sector. In most cases, they will need to have between three and five years’ experience to be eligible to apply. The Attorney General's Office and the Public Prosecution Service provide the main opportunities for barristers.

Career Development

A barrister (or 'counsel') at the start of their career is known as a junior counsel and it usually takes a few years to build up a practice. After approximately 12 years in practice, a junior counsel can apply to become a senior counsel – a status awarded by the Government and reserved for barristers of particular ability and experience. About 12 per cent of barristers are senior counsel.