As well as practising as a solicitor or barrister, many legal professionals are employed in the public sector or as “in-house” counsel to their employers.

Many government departments and semi-state bodies in the public sector employ legal professionals. In this sector your role would involve providing legal advice to government officials, drafting legislation and providing representation in legal proceedings. Your work may include advising on public procurement, tribunals, planning disputes, public inquiries and statutory appeals. There are also opportunities working for the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), as a prosecutor preparing and directing cases on behalf of the DPP. Legal jobs in the Courts Service of Ireland and the government are advertised on the job site publicjobs.ie.

Working “in house” for a company or organisation you would be responsible for providing legal advice and expertise to your employer. Your role and responsibilities will vary depending on whether you are employed by a large multinational company as part of a legal team, or as the sole legal professional in a startup company.  However, all companies need to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, manage legal risks, negotiate commercial contracts and have access to legal advice. As well as business acumen, commercial awareness of the particular industry sector in which you are employed would be highly desirable.