Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 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.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

The Work

Using a thorough knowledge of the law, and after hearing whatever evidence is available for presentation, judges deliver their conclusions in a firm and fair way.  
 
Their job also calls on them to make sure a jury understands the process of a case. After a case has been heard they instruct the jury on aspects of the law and their responsibility towards it.  
 
Their work involves consultation with other professionals such as barristers, solicitors and legal executives. During and after the consultation of a case discretion is important as a lot of the information is of a confidential nature.  
 
Most judges work in one type of court such as the circuit court, high court, supreme court etc.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
• Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
• Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
• Write decisions on cases.
• Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
• Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
• Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
• Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
• Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.
• Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.

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.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

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.

Study law to degree level, gaining the LLB from a recognised university. Gain a post-graduate qualification as a solicitor or barrister. Work as a solicitor or barrister for a minimum of 10 years before applying for a district judge position Courts Service. Practice for at least 12 years before applying to become a High Court or Supreme Court judge.

LawED

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

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 (while keeping in mind that you may need to apply to have your qualification recognised in the new jurisdiction).

Solicitors or barristers with experience working in the European Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice or the International War Crimes Tribunal will have this experience taken into account when applying for a judge's position.

Ensure your reputation and record do not cause concern, as as your character and reputation will be scrutinized.

Apply to positions advertised in the national press, filling in the detailed application form. Appointments are made by the President of the Irish Republic and come from a list of seven suitable candidates put forward by the Ministry of Justice and from candidates recommended by The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €130k - €208k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role. 
Judicial remuneration

The following are the current salaries payable to Judges appointed after the 01.01.2012 inclusive of pension related deduction

Data Source(s):
Association of Judges of Ireland

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.

• Honorable Society of King's Inns

  • Henrietta Street, Dublin 1
  • (01) 874 4840
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Law Society of Ireland

  • Blackhall Place, Dublin 7
  • (01) 672 4800 ( Law School Tel No.: (01) 672 4802)
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Department of Justice and Equality

  • 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  • (01) 602 8202
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Bar Council of Ireland

  • Bar Council Administration Office, Four Courts, Dublin 7
  • (01) 817 5000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here