PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
581 trainee solicitors and 139 student barristers commenced professional training in 2025
54% increase in number of first-time practising certificates issued to solicitors and 10% increase in barristers “called to the Bar”
New figures published today by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) show growing numbers entering professional training and qualifying to practice as solicitors and barristers in Ireland. The report also highlights sustained demand for more flexible routes into the legal professions.
The LSRA’s Pathways to the Professions 2025 report documents the number of persons admitted to practise as both solicitors and barristers in 2025, based on figures supplied by the professional bodies in the sector. It provides an update on developments in legal practitioner education and training, and an overview on the demand for the services of practising barristers and solicitors and the cost of those legal services.
The report shows an increase in the number of people qualifying into both professions during 2025. 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. 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 and representing approximately 0.5% of total employment in the State.
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 to the previous year.
Launching the report, LSRA Chief Executive Officer 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 LSRA will continue to work with the professional bodies and other stakeholders to enable measures improving access to the professions, all the while maintaining high standards of legal education and training.”
More routes into the legal professions
The continued popularity of part-time training programmes is highlighted in the report. Almost one in five new solicitor trainees undertook the Law Society of Ireland’s part-time Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid, while more than twice as many student barristers enrolled on the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ two-year modular Barrister-at-Law degree course than the full-time programme.
The report finds that these flexible routes continue to attract a broader range of entrants, including more mature students and people from non-law academic backgrounds. Professional bodies also continued to expand flexible training routes, outreach initiatives and funded access programmes as part of ongoing work to improve access to the legal professions.
Meeting future demand for legal services
The report notes continued demand for legal services across a range of practice areas and outlines ongoing enhancements to legal education and training, including work on a new National Competency Framework for solicitors and barristers.
The report also highlights the importance of supporting opportunities for solicitor traineeships across the country to help ensure the future availability of legal services nationwide. In 2025, 82% of trainee solicitors secured training contracts in Dublin, while 64% secured training contracts with one of 19 large firms.
Pathways to the Professions 2025 is the seventh annual report on admission policies that the LSRA has submitted to the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration under section 33 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015. The full report is available at lsra.ie.
ENDS