More than 580 newly qualified solicitors entered profession in 2025, report finds

Ireland sees sharp rise in solicitor and barrister qualifications, new LSRA research shows. File picture

Growing numbers of people are becoming solicitors and barristers in Ireland, according to new research.

More than 580 newly qualified solicitors entered the profession last year, an increase of more than 50% on 2024.

The findings, detailed in a report by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA), come at a time when the solicitor profession is locked in a dispute with justice minister Jim O'Callaghan over the introduction of a new flat-fee system for criminal legal aid.

Under the new system, introduced on July 1, solicitors receive a flat fee of €520, regardless of the number of court appearances.

It replaced a system under which solicitors received a starting fee of €239 for a client entitled to legal aid, plus almost €60 for each subsequent court appearance.

The LSRA study, Pathways to the Professions 2025, was completed before the dispute arose.

In addition to the sharp rise in solicitor qualifications, the report highlights a 10% increase in the number of people qualifying to become barristers in 2025.

The figures are based on data supplied by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar of Ireland.

"First-time practising certificates were issued to 583 newly qualified Law Society solicitors, an increase of 54% from 2024, while 150 barristers were “called to the Bar” by the Chief Justice in 2025, up 10% from 2024," the report says.

It adds that, at the end of 2025, there were 16,089 practising legal professionals in Ireland, comprising 12,961 practising solicitors and 3,128 practising barristers — a 6% increase from 15,246 in 2024.

The report also shows that 581 trainee solicitors and 139 student barristers commenced professional training during 2025, representing increases of 7% and 16%, respectively, compared with the previous year.

LSRA chief executive Niamh Muldoon said “Growing numbers entering professional training and qualifying to practise are encouraging trends for the future. The continued growth in flexible training routes, reflects widening access to the legal professions, offering a diverse pipeline of future solicitors and barristers for Irish society.”

The report documents the continued popularity of part-time training programmes, with almost one in five new solicitor trainees undertaking the Law Society of Ireland's part-time Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid.

More than twice as many student barristers enrolled on the Honourable Society of King's Inns' two-year modular Barrister-at-Law degree course compared with the full-time programme.

The report says these flexible routes continue to attract a "broader range" of entrants, including more mature students and people from non-law academic backgrounds.

It adds that professional bodies continued to expand flexible training routes, outreach initiatives, and funded access programmes as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to the legal professions.

In 2025, 82% of trainee solicitors secured training contracts in Dublin, while 64% secured training contracts with one of 19 large firms.