Training Contract - to accept or not?

Dilemma123

I'm a final year student from UCC. I did a few internships this summer, and got a few TC offers from the first and second tier firms. I'm happy to have them, but I can't decide if I want to accept them.

I've always wanted to be a barrister. My experience in law firms has been varied. The work was good, but I always felt I would prefer advocacy. I've always enjoyed mooting, and I feel it works a lot more to my strengths. Working in conveyancing strikes me as not very interesting, nor does litigation.

However, I know that the Bar is a gamble in the salary sense. As in I'd have no salary guaranteed for years. And that scares me a bit. I'd definitely prefer the work, but I don't know if I should take the safe option.

I'm half thinking of applying for some masters programs in the UK or US next year, and taking a year out to work. I was also thinking I could try the UK bar, but I've heard it's very hard to get into. I have very good grades and a lot of extracurricular activities and work experience for a recent grad. But I'd like some insight as to how realistic that'd be?

Kings Inns or bust

There is nothing to stop you going the solicitor route and 'converting' down the line or indeed doing litigation as a solicitor, although the firm doing that were converting barristers to solicitors IIRC. You mentioned you don't like litigation, one of use - and it could very well be me - has their terminology confused I think.

The bar in the England and Wales (The Scottish system being different) is extremely competitive with vast areas of the country being pupilage deserts apparently. NI is (again apparently) the promised land due to limited intakes but I'll of course defer to anyone with proper experience vs. my drunken conversations trying to pull. E&W seems to be merit + contacts but like Ireland, barristers seem willing to have people for mini pupillages and seem to be willing to help you out if they like the cut of your jib.

From what I've heard forget the US without a US education and ideally a JD from a good uni. What about Aus or Canada, eh? Again it's very competitive and Canada requires French of course. Also returning to the US route the one guy I know who made a go of it (borderline genius) said the $140,000 a year was nice but the 100 hour week were killing him. Although no doubt an extreme example, don't underestimate the culture shock of working in the US.

I suppose what I'm driving at is everything is a risk/reward balancing act. It's easy for me to say that the Irish bar is my preferred route, I'm essentially a househusband; if it goes tits up for me then I'll do something else. If I was 21 again though I'd be doing the most risky thing I could as far away as possible, but again that's easy for me to say. I'd ask yourself what level of safe job you're going for vs.being bored off your tits. Bear in mind you have options down the line perhaps you take the TC and go from there?

Mr. Incognito

The Bar in Ireland is a closed shop.

Unless you have connections or money it's going to be hard to make anything in the first ten years.

A much better route if you have neither is to qualify as a solicitor.

Then you have 400 odd colleague contacts from Blackhall who you know will throw you work.

You need to get briefed and build a name and that doesnt happen quickly.

I'm currently a litigation solicitor and it will take a few years for me to build up enough contacts to consider the jump.

Going to the bar straight is not impossible but its very very very hard and you need deep pockets.