Qualifying as a Barrister

The Honorable Society of King’s Inns is responsible for the training of barristers and provides full and part-time courses for law graduates who wish to become barristers (that is, to be admitted to the degree of Barrister-at-Law and to be called to the Bar of Ireland).

To practise as a barrister

To be eligible to practise as a barrister a person must have:

Completed the six required subjects during the course of their law degree
Completed the relevant entrance exams
Been admitted to the degree of Barrister-at-Law
Submitted a satisfactory declaration to the Benchers
Completed a compulsory, but non-examined, course in Irish terminology and the understanding of legal texts.

Following admission to the bar, barristers must complete a pupillage (akin to an apprenticeship) with a qualified barrister (a Master) for a year before they may practise.

Required Subjects

Students must pass the following six subjects during the course of their degree in order to satisfy the requirements for King’s Inns:

Land Law (including the Law of Succession)
Equity & Trusts
Jurisprudence
Company Law
Law of the European Union
Administrative Law

Entrance Exam

The five subjects for the entrance examination are:

Contract Law
Criminal Law
Irish Constitutional law
Law of Torts
Law of Evidence

Students interested in pursuing a career at the Bar should ensure that they take the required subjects during the course of their degree through their core law modules, chosen elective, or as additional subjects. Further information on becoming a barrister is available on the Kings Inn website.

The above information is provided for information only and as regular alterations to the entry requirements for the professional bodies occur students are advised to keep abreast of any developments in this regard.