Practising legal professionals now at 16,089
Figures published today by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) show a significant surge in the number of legal professionals qualifying and entering training in Ireland.
The Pathways to the Professions 2025 report is the seventh annual edition on admission policies submitted to the Minister for Justice under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.
Surge
A total of 583 first-time practising certificates were issued to newly qualified Law Society solicitors in 2025, representing a 54% increase from the previous year.
In the barrister profession, 150 practitioners were called to the Bar by the Chief Justice, marking a 10% year-on-year increase.
The pipeline for both professions also expanded in 2025:
- A total of 581 trainee solicitors started professional training – an increase of 7% compared with 2024,
- A total of 139 student barristers began their professional training, representing a 16% increase.
By the end of 2025, the total number of practising legal professionals in Ireland reached 16,089, comprising 12,961 solicitors and 3,128 barristers.
This represents a 6% overall increase from 15,246 in 2024, accounting for approximately 0.5% of total employment in the State.
Flexible learning routes
The LSRA report highlights a sustained demand for flexible, part-time training pathways that continue to attract mature students and entrants from non-law academic backgrounds.
- Solicitors: Almost one in five new solicitor trainees undertook the Law Society’s part-time Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid,
- Barristers: More than twice as many student barristers enrolled in the King’s Inns’ two-year modular Barrister-at-Law degree course compared with the full-time programme.
LSRA chief executive Niamh Muldoon stated that the growth in flexible training routes reflected a widening of access to the professions, and confirmed that the authority would continue to collaborate with professional bodies to improve access.
Geographic concentration
While the report notes continued demand for legal services across various practice areas, it highlights ongoing geographic centralisation in solicitor traineeships.
In 2025, 82% of all trainee solicitors secured training contracts within Dublin.
And 64% of trainees secured contracts with one of just 19 large firms.
The LSRA report points to the ongoing importance of supporting nationwide traineeship opportunities to ensure the long-term availability of legal services across the country.
The LSRA report also notes that work is currently underway on a new National Competency Framework for both solicitors and barristers to further enhance legal education and training.