The in-office training period is the core of the training programme. Training solicitors are required to provide the trainee solicitor with reasonable and appropriate instruction and experience in the are or legal practice set out, respectively, in Block 1 and Block 2 (below) AND in two of the remaining three Blocks (3, 4 and/or 5):
Block 1
Conveyancing and Landlord and Tenant Law
Block 2
Litigation
Block 3
Wills, Probate and Administration of Estates
Block 4
Commercial Law
Corporate Law
Insolvency Law
Block 5
Criminal Law and Procedure
Employment Law
European Union Law
Family Law
Intellectual Property Law
Pensions Law
Planning and Environmental Law
Revenue and Taxation Law
Other specialised area(s) or legal practice
Apply for Training Consent
Before being eligible to start the training programme, applicants must apply to the Law Society for consent to start training. Evidence must be provided of good character, and any criminal convictions must be disclosed. The Law Society may interview applicants.
Training Contract
Applicants must secure a training contract before they can apply for a place on the PPC I. The Training Contract is 24 months in duration and commences 14 days after the final examination on the Professional Practice Course I (PPC I). You can upload your CV to the Trainee Register.
Breakdown of 24-month Training Contract
| In office training post-PPC I |
11 months |
| Attendance on PPC II |
3 months |
| In-office training post-PPC II |
10 months |
OR
| In-office training pre-PPC I |
4 months (max)
|
| In-office training post-PPC I |
11 months
|
| Attendance on PPC II |
3 months |
| In-office training post-PPC II |
6 months |
Pre-PPC I Credit
A trainee may apply for credit (up to a maximum of four months) for work done pre-PPC I in the office of a training solicitor or other practising solicitor within the jurisdiction of the State. It must be completed in one block within the six months immediately preceding attendance on the PPC I. In-office training pre-PPC I is optional.
For more information and to apply for credit, download the Credit Application form.
Secondments
A trainee, with the prior consent of the Education Committee and their training solicitor, may spend up to a maximum of 8 months of the in-office training period working in employment elsewhere other than in the training solicitor's office. Under the current Education and Training Regulations, trainees are allowed engage in work (in Ireland or abroad) provided it "....would be advantageous to such a trainee in the furtherance of his/her education or training (or both) and his preparation for admission to the solicitor's profession". The application to the Education Committee should include:
- a letter from the training solicitor,
- a letter from the trainee, and
- a letter from the prospective employer.
Any Queries
If you have a query on traineeships, contact a member of the Traineeship team by email.