A Career as a Barrister
A Career as a Barrister
The Bar of Ireland
The Bar of Ireland is the representative body for the barristers' profession in Ireland and is governed by the Constitution of The Bar of Ireland. Its role is:
- to consider, report upon and make representations as it considers necessary in all matters affecting the profession;
- to play a key role in the conduct and arrangement of the business of the profession;
- to control and regulate the professional conduct of the members of the Bar; and,
- to secure and protect the interests of the profession.
Barristers:
Barristers provide specialist advocacy and advisory services in a wide variety of areas and in many different types of forum, including the courtroom, and in other dispute resolution forums such as arbitration and mediation. Barristers are trained to be both independent and objective. They are readily accessible and are typically instructed by a solicitor.
Barristers do not provide the normal administrative services which a solicitor would provide. There is a strong relationship of trust and respect between the Bar and the solicitors' profession based on the experience that each has for the high standards of the other.
This traditional relationship allows barristers and solicitors to give their client the very highest standards of advice and representation. It also enables the justice system and the courts to have trust in the standards observed by the members of the legal profession appearing before them.
Transition Year Programme 2020-2021
The Bar of Ireland’s Transition Year Programme is an exciting initiative aimed at increasing awareness of and interest in, a career as a barrister. Participants will be chosen via a lottery and details of our application process can be found on our website over the Summer. The Bar of Ireland Transition Year Programme aims to attract students from all over the country that are interested in learning about life at the Bar and getting an exclusive first hand insight into the work of barristers. Due to high demand and the limit of places to 100 selected by random draw from all applications received, each school is asked to nominate one student only for the draw. 20% of spaces are reserved for DEIS schools.
During the mornings, participating students will be assigned to groups lead by a designated barrister. They will be introduced to the different facets of a barrister’s working life and will get the chance to ask questions and really experience the reality of a career as a barrister. During the afternoons, the students will participate in a range of different activities and students are expected to attend all organised activities. A sample of these may include:
- Trial viewing,
- A visit to King’s Inns,
- A tour of the Four Courts,
- A talk from a Court Garda,
- A talk from a sitting Judge, and
- A walk-through of the Criminal Courts of Justice.
The final day will culminate in a series of Mock Trials in which students and barristers will participate and the Chief Justice will close proceedings and present all participants with a certificate of attendance.
Further information will be on our website shortly regarding next year’s programme. Please keep an eye on our TY pages at: Look into law for further details.