Career and Postgraduate Opportunities

Trinity College Dublin’s LL.B. degrees prepare students not only for life as ‘lawyers’, but also enable them to enter many career fields such as business, journalism, politics, human rights, foreign affairs and public service, nationally and internationally.

Ivana Bacik delivering a speech at a careers gathering

The skills learned through studying law are useful in all walks of life. A law degree teaches students to think logically and analytically. It also equips students with the ability to carry out research, to develop strong oral and written communication skills, to apply relevant information to problems, to use language precisely, carefully and objectively, and to work well with other people.

Practising Law

It is important to note that, in Ireland, holding a law degree does not automatically entitled one to practise law. There are two distinct stages of legal training: the academic stage and the professional stage. In Ireland there are two branches of the legal profession: solicitors and barristers.

Holders of law degrees who wish to train as solicitors in Ireland must apply to the Law Society of Ireland. The Law Society is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland.

Law graduates who wish to qualify as a solicitors in Ireland must follow the following steps.

Pass an entrance examination, also known as the Final Examination - First Part (FE-1).
Secure a training contract.
Attend the Professional Practice Course and pass the course examinations.
Spend a designated period as a trainee solicitor in the training solicitor's office.
Apply to have your name entered on the Roll of Solicitors.
Apply for a practising certificate.

For further information on qualifying as a solicitor please contact:

The Law Society of Ireland,
Blackhall Place, Dublin 7; http://www.lawsociety.ie

Graduates (with law degrees) who would like to practise as a barrister must complete the Barrister-at-Law degree course in the Honorable Society of the King’s Inns. Applicants for this degree must first have passed certain ‘core subject’ in their law degrees and pass an entrance examination in a number of designated subjects. These core subjects may change from year to year and students are advised to regularly check the requirements.

On successful completion of the degree course students are conferred with the degree of Barrister-at-Law and can seek admission to the Law Library. Graduates then “devil” or work as a pupil with a qualified barrister for one or two years before commencing practice on their own in the Law Library.

For further information relating to entry requirements, examinations, and details on becoming a Barrister-at-Law, students should contact
The Honorable Society of the King’s Inns, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. http://www.kingsinns.ie. Telephone (01) 874 4840; Fax (01) 872 6038; Email info@kingsinns.ie

Careers Advice

The Trinity Careers Service offers a wide range of supports and information to students about potential career opportunities, both within the field of law and beyond. For information on the Service, check out its website at https://www.tcd.ie/careers/

Careers Events

Each year there are many career events organised in or around the School and College more generally. Events are regularly organised by student societies, by recruiting employers, and by the School, College or Careers Service. Check out the School website and weekly newsletter for information, as well as the websites of the student societies and Careers Service for more information.

Changes in Regulation

Please note: The information on this page is intended as a guide only and is subject to change. Legal services in Ireland are now regulated under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and students are advised to follow developments relating to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and the professional bodies, which may result in changes to legal training and qualification.