The Law Society entrance exam is entirely meritocratic, Law Society Director General Ken Murphy says, and access to the profession is wide open.
Other jurisdictions
This is in contrast to most other jurisdictions which require a traditional law degree and masters’ degree for entry.
“It doesn’t matter what degree you have, or indeed if you don’t have a degree.
“Sitting our entrance examinations (FE1s) is the standard method of entrance. This opens the solicitors’ profession to a very wide range of people from differing social, geographic, education and work backgrounds,” he says.
He points out that the justice system, and society, benefit hugely when officers of the court, such as solicitors, bring different skillsets, perspectives, experiences and backgrounds to their legal careers.
“The Irish solicitors’ profession takes pride in being open, transparent and accessible to a far broader range of trainees than one might imagine or expect,” says Murphy (pictured below).
“The Irish solicitors’ profession is unusual in the world this way. Most jurisdictions across the EU, and indeed globally, require a degree, and in many cases a Master’s degree as well.”
“Each year, up to 25% of trainee solicitors on our PPC are non-law graduates.”
Pathways to the law
The Law Society of Ireland has developed a number of programmes and projects to widen access to those who traditionally may not have viewed the law as a career option.
“For example, Street Law, Solicitors of the Future, and the Street Law Prison programme are some of the ways the Society reaches out to a wide variety of young people to show them what a career in law is actually about,” the director general says.
“The value of developing connections with non-traditional routes to entry to the legal profession is self-evident. The result is an increasingly diverse Irish solicitors’ profession, which is rightfully far more reflective of modern Irish society than perhaps it has been in the past.”
Second-chance careers
It is not just school-leavers that find themselves drawn to the prospect of training to be a solicitor, Murphy adds.
“This time of year can often prompt thoughts of major career change among people who already have significant professional experience. In fact, each year 10 to 15% of our PPC places are filled by mature trainee solicitors from various working backgrounds.”
“Ex-army personnel, former teachers, members of An Garda Síochána and medical care professionals, particularly nurses, are among those who come through the doors of our Law School looking for a fulfilling and varied ‘second-act’ in their careers.”
“The Irish solicitors’ profession in 2018 is very different to what it was even 20 years ago. The modern Irish solicitor wears many hats: confidant, advisor, advocate, business owner, project manager, strategist, and more.
"They need to be tech savvy, but comfortable with archaic systems; progressive but traditional. And thoughtful, on top of everything else,” he says.