Kings Inns

radling

Hi, I'm looking for peoples opinions. Basically I have a law degree and masters, I have been working for the last two years in a semi-legal area and now I am considering doing the Inns exams. I was wondering would ye consider this a good time to do the Inns given the whole economic situation or would it be better to wait a year or two until things (hopefully) get better?.

FreudianSlippers

I don't fully understand the logic of waiting for things to get better? The bar is going to be what you put into it whether you get called this year or in 5 years. Sure there may be more work in the future, but if you wait to go to the Inns until things get better.... well, you'll be sitting in the Inns when the people who were called in 2011 or 2012 will be working.
Also, if you don't have an approved law degree, you're looking at 2 extra years for diploma.

I say do the Inns this year or next if you have the approved law degree. If you don't get in the diploma this year!

I don't think anyone really knows when the markets will rebound, but I keep hearing economists from the US and Europe saying that the recession is over already, we're in a rebound. (whether or not you believe that is a different story). I'd say there will be a marked improvement in the next 2 years once the government is willing to invest in development and reform of our economy.

Side note: I hear there is loads of work in criminal and employment at the moment. Not sure there is truth to that or not. I also hear there is a load more work for new barristers than new solicitors out there.

Curunina

Ultimately, as I am sure you know, there are too many barristers.
That is no reason not to do the Inns if it is what you want, but is more relevant in reality than the recession.
I don't think the economy has affected junior practitioners as much as junior members of other professions - (more senior people are saying that they are taking longer to get paid but it's not something I have found) - in fact, it's a relatively good time to be a new barrister as at least while you are broke, everyone else is broke too - rather than being penniless while watching your friends get pay raises!
So ultimately, I wouldn't let the economy impact on your decision, I would just think long and hard about the first five years where you will dance with joy to get a motion cheque of €150 once a month (this is an exaggeration, but only a slight one!)
If you are going to do it, better sooner than later, get going on the tight years to get them out of the way. The entrance exams are very manageable, and you would have more than enough time to prepare for them even if you didn't start till June.
If you are going to do it, I would start thinking about booking a Master as soon as possible, as this is probably the most important decision of your early career.

jimmylawman

Curunina wrote: »

If you are going to do it, I would start thinking about booking a Master as soon as possible, as this is probably the most important decision of your early career.

What should you be looking for in a Master and how far ahead do you need to start looking?

Curunina

To book a Master, you need to think about what kind of law you want to practice - in a broad sense. It is probably fair to say that there are still a fair number of barristers who have a mixed general practice, but with the opening of the Criminal Complex in the Phoenix Park, many have decided to stick to either a civil or a criminal practice. It is worth bearing in mind that you will probably get more time on your feet speaking in Court if you go with civil, as you will be covering Master's and Monday morning motions. That isn't of much use to you if you have always wanted to specialise in crime though.
Another relevant consideration is whether you plan to go out on circuit when you are finished your first year devilling - if you do, it is worth seeking a Dublin Master who does High Court work for solicitors within the Circuit you plan to practise on.
Ultimately, the most important consideration of all is being able to get along with your Master - so ask around. If you know anyone in the profession, preferably barristers, but solicitors would also be helpful, ask them for guidance about who is easy to get along with.
Be careful though - some of the people who are trotted out as "the best masters" are brilliant, wonderful, ground breaking barristers themselves, but utterly useless at teaching/promoting their devil, and many are so possessive of their practice that they are unwilling to pass on work, or promote you to their solicitors.
You want to book as soon as you can - people do get booked up 2/3 years in advance.
There is a list of Masters produced by the Bar Council, it can probably be found on their website, but if not, just ring them and they will direct you. Take no notice of whether someone is marked as taken - it tends to be inaccurate in that respect.
Then ring the names you have selected as potentials. Don't write or send e-mails, they just get binned. Don't feel you are putting the person out, they are used to receiving these calls.

If I can help out any further, just let me know!