Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

The Work

Most solicitors work in private practice, in partnership with other solicitors. Others are employed solicitors, for example, working for central or local government, the Court Service, or a commercial or industrial company.  
 
Private practice solicitors can specialise in a specific area of the law, although sole practitioners and small firms tend to deal with all aspects of the law. Medium and larger sised firms of solicitors may specialise in areas such as conveyancing, crime, family law, probate and business law.  
 
Conveyance means the transfer of ownership and rights of property (for example, a house, flat or area of land) from one person to another. Solicitors carry out in-depth checks (called 'searches') on all the factors that may affect the buyers, for example, rights of way, ownership of adjoining fences and walls, and planning proposals for new roads, houses or factories nearby. The solicitor investigates any original agreements or covenants that may still be legally valid. Then they draw up the contract for the client.  
 
Solicitors advise anyone who is in dispute with another person. They help their clients plan how to deal with a dispute, advising them if the matter could be settled out of court or if the threat of court action may influence the other party. If legal proceedings begin, solicitors may attend Court to represent the client. In serious cases, they seek the services of a barrister. The solicitor 'briefs' the barrister, which means giving the barrister information and instructions about the case.  
 
Solicitors who deal with probate work are responsible for drawing up wills and advising clients on how best to provide for relatives. They calculate the amount of money that people named in a will are entitled to receive, and may trace named relatives who have left the country.  
 
Those solicitors who deal with business law advise clients on issues such as taxes, employment law, export law and company mergers. Some large solicitors' firms specialise in large, corporate clients. Solicitors in these firms may deal with large, multi-million pound deals, perhaps involving international companies.  
 
Some solicitors' firms specialise in areas such as patents and copyrights, shipping, banking, computer law, media law or environmental law.  
 
Some firms specialise in helping legally aided clients (who can not normally afford a solicitor's fees). Legal-aid practices deal with a wide range of issues, including crime, injury claims, divorce law, welfare rights and clinical negligence. Employed solicitors may work in the legal departments of large companies or other organisations.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Analyse the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
• Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
• Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
• Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
• Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
• Present and summarise cases to judges and juries.
• Study Constitution, statutes, decisions, regulations, and ordinances of quasi-judicial bodies to determine ramifications for cases.
• Prepare, draft, and review legal documents, such as wills, deeds, patent applications, mortgages, leases, and contracts.
• Negotiate settlements of civil disputes.

Further Information

• Solicitor - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Solicitor - from: Boards.ie Discussion
• Solicitor - from: YouTube [UK]
• Solicitor - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

One of the most common career paths in law is that of the solicitor. Most solicitors are employed by a law firm, and as a result their occupation is full-time with regular income, holidays, sick leave, etc. The job of the solicitor is to provide people with legal information and assistance. They are usually the first person that you would get in contact with if you required legal counselling. They provide advice, seek to find a resolution to the legal issue at hand and represent their own client when dealing with other parties.

The Law Society of Ireland which functions relate to the education, admission, enrolment, discipline and regulation of the solicitors’ profession.

To fully qualify as a solicitor, you need to complete the training for solicitors (in the Law School in Blackhall Place, Dublin) and there are different steps involved depending on your previous qualifications.

Non-degree holders

It surprises many to hear that you do not have to have a degree to train to be a solicitor.

If you do not have a degree, you can sit the preliminary examination. To do this, you must be at least 21 years old and it is held once a year, usually in March. The examination consists of 3 papers, including: English, Irish Government and Politics, and General Knowledge. You must pass (min. 50%) all three papers in one sitting, and you are allowed a maximum of three attempts. A number of prep courses for the preliminary exams are available from different providers.

When you have passed the preliminary examination, the next step involves passing the Law School Entrance Examination (called Final Examination, or ‘FE1’), just like degree holders must do (see more details further down).

Exemption Applications

You can apply to be exempt from the preliminary examinations if you are a Law Clerk/Legal Executive with at least five years’ experience and hold a Diploma in Legal Studies (or equivalent qualification) or a Law Clerk with at least ten years’ experience.

Degree holders

If you have a degree in Law or any other subject from Ireland or the UK, you have to pass the Law School Entrance Examination (called Final Examination, or ‘FE1’).

While a law degree will prepare you well for the exams, there is also value in having studied other subjects than law, and in particular if you have studied additional languages.

If you have an undergraduate degree from outside Ireland and the UK and a practising lawyer in the original jurisdiction, or a practising lawyer admitted in Ireland certifies the degree certificate, you must apply for an exemption from the preliminary examinations to the Law Society of Ireland.

Final Examination / FE1 (both degree holders and non-degree holders)

The Law School entrance examination is referred to as the ‘Final Examination’, or the ‘FE1’ and it is a requirement for every applicant to pass all eight papers.

Each paper is usually 3 hours long and the eight subjects include: Company Law; Constitutional Law; Criminal Law; Equity; European Union Law; Law of Contract; Law of Tort; and Real Property.

If you do not have a law degree, you may wish to prepare for the FE1 by undertaking a Prep course for the FE1, available in a number of locations.

Training contract with a training solicitor

The final entry requirement involves having secured a training contract with a training solicitor who will provide training and experience over a two-year period.

Solicitor Training programme

The training programme involves two (or three) periods of in-office training and two periods of study at the Law School with exams and assignments. The periods at the Law School are referred to as Professional Practice Courses (PPC1 and PPC2). The first part, PPC 1, runs from September to March/April. During the in-office training (usually 11 months + 10 months), and during the PPC II (3 months), trainees should be paid.

From 2020, you can choose between the traditional Professional Practice Course, and a ‘Hybrid’ course (PPC Hybrid). The PPC Hybrid is a more flexible route which combines online lectures with face-to-face tuition on weekends. This means that you have to spend less time on campus in Dublin.

Fully Qualified

When you have (1) passed all of the examinations, (2) successfully completed the training programme, and (3) your training solicitor swears that you are a fit and proper person to become a solicitor – then you are fully qualified and you can apply to have your name entered on the Roll of Solicitors.

Training & Development

LawEd

Solicitors are required to complete a minimum of 20 hours Continuous Professional Development (CPD) each year. You can find courses and events for solicitors listed here. Most solicitors have a private practice, but the skills you will have developed as a Solicitor are highly transferable and some move into business, media, politics or work with non-governmental organisations. As a qualified solicitor, you can also move into other fields, or work abroad

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €130k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
CPL / Lincoln / Sigmar/ Morgan McKinley/ Azon/ Brightwater

Last Updated: August, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels have declined annually since 2020 for this occupation, resulting in a negative growth rate for the five-year annual average. There were a small number of employment permits issued for legal counsel across a number of sectors including ICT and the financial sector. However, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector accounts for the majority of employment in this occupation.

• Law Society of Ireland

  • Blackhall Place, Dublin 7
  • (01) 672 4800 ( Law School Tel No.: (01) 672 4802)
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