Training as a lawyer in Northern Ireland

Undergraduate study

Law degrees are offered at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) and the Ulster University in Northern Ireland. However, law degrees from a number of other institutions in England, Wales and Ireland are also accepted as qualifying law degrees for the purposes of passing on to the next stage: training contract.

Non-law graduates must complete a two-year master’s in law at QUB before they can progress onto their solicitor training.

Vocational study/training

Solicitors

The vocational study and practical training aspects that are found separately in England, Wales and Scotland are combined in Northern Ireland. Before being accepted as a student of The Law Society of Northern Ireland, trainee solicitors must show that

• they have an acceptable law degree or a non-law degree that’s “acceptable to the society’s education committee”;
• they have been offered a place in the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS); and
• have secured a ‘master’ – a solicitor with whom the applicant will serve their traineeship.

The practical component of the trainee solicitor process comes first, with a period of office-based training with their ‘master’ from September to December. This is followed by one year studying for the Certificate of Professional Legal Studies (Easter, summer and Christmas will be spent in the office). This is then followed by office-based work/training with a ‘master’ from January to September.

There’s a reciprocal arrangement whereby English and Welsh-qualified solicitors or solicitors qualified in the Republic of Ireland may transfer to Northern Ireland without taking further qualifications or examinations. They must complete an application form to apply for admission, as well as provide several supporting documents, including:

• two character references (the referees must be solicitors or members of the applicant's professional body of at least five years standing);
• a certificate of good standing demonstrating that the applicant is a “fit and proper person” to practise as a solicitor in Northern Ireland;
• a chronological work history document detailing where an applicant has worked since qualifying; and
• a copy of the applicant’s original admission certificate.

They’ll also need to pay an application and admission fee. It’s a very similar process for solicitors who are qualified in Scotland looking to transfer to Northern Ireland.

You can find out more about becoming a solicitor in Northern Ireland via the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s website. We recommend checking here for the most up-to-date information.

Barristers

In Northern Ireland, pupil barristers must complete a qualifying law degree, undertake the Bar Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at QUB. They’re then called to the Bar and must complete one year of pupillage.

Pupil barristers will have weekly lecturers and support from their ‘masters’. They’ll also be required to complete an intensive advocacy training course.

For the most up-to-date information on becoming a barrister in Northern Ireland, head to the Bar of Northern Ireland’s website.

For more details visit www.lawsoc-ni.org and www.barofni.com.