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LSRA update as solicitor apprenticeship mooted
Law Society of Ireland Pic: Cian Redmond

12 May 2025 regulation Print

LSRA update as solicitor apprenticeship mooted

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) has published its first update on the progress made towards tackling economic and other barriers facing aspiring and early-career solicitors and barristers. 

The LSRA’s Breaking Down Barriers report on the issue, published in January last year, made 32 recommendations, and was followed by an implementation plan setting out a timeline for the reform proposals to be introduced. 

The first progress report, covering the six-month period from October 2024 to March 2025, has now been submitted to the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. 

LSRA chief executive Dr Brian Doherty praised the three professional bodies involved – the Law Society, the Bar of Ireland, and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns – for their “enthusiasm” in delivering on the recommendations. 

Apprenticeship model 

Among the actions taken is the appointment of all seven members of a new committee that is working on changes to the current system of education and training of solicitors and barristers.  

The new Education and Training Committee held its first meeting last month. 

The report says that the Law Society and King’s Inns have, for the first time, reported in detail to the LSRA on their existing flexible training routes for practitioners and their impact.

It adds that full information on this will be included in the forthcoming Pathways to the Professions report for 2025. 

The LSRA also notes that the Law Society is examining a solicitor apprenticeship model as a new route to qualification for school-leavers. 

It adds that the Law Society also asked solicitors to contribute €15 towards further professional-access programmes through their 2025 Practising Certificate fee. 

Diversity data 

The report says that the LSRA has appointed diversity experts Bridge Group to engage with the Law Society and the King’s Inns on the collection of diversity data on trainee solicitors and student barristers.

It is to complete a report on the issue by the end of May. 

The authority has also asked the professional bodies to give their views on potential funding mechanisms and financial supports to increase the diversity of intake.   

On solicitor training, the LSRA says that the Law Society will further restructure its hybrid PPC programme to enable part-time trainees to access training over a longer timeframe. 

It also notes that the solicitors’ body is engaging with in-house and public-sector bodies who have offered training contracts to ensure that the PPC continues to meet the needs of these organisations. 

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