Trainee solicitor experience

It really depends on what type of law you would like to work in.

If you want to work in family law, criminal law or conveyancing, it's all well and good to train in Dublin and get the big money, but your training is unlikely to cover these areas or give you much practical experience.

If you want to work more on the corporate side, go for it.

There are medium sized firms that should be able to cover blackhall fees, even if the salaries won't be as high. Unfortunately I think things will be tight in a lot of firms next year, so things will probably be very competitive.

I agree with the above posters. Training in the bigger firms will have you secure financially but you will be doing seats in areas like corporate, capital markets, funds, energy, etc. So not the traditional type of property deals or criminal law and family law type stuff. In saying that, you will be working for industry experts in those areas with top Irish and foreign companies as clients and exposure to work and deals that affect the country as a whole, and be well paid to do so. That type of experience is good in itself. People forget that and usually say that if you train in a top firm that you will be stuck to a photocopier. While that can be true you will also be exposed to good work. However, as mentioned, it is a certain type of work and so on qualifying you will probably be restricted to applying to big firms. Also, yes, the negatives are you will be working long hours.

I worked in a couple of small firms, then trained in a mid size firm. I then worked for a year where I qualified. Then I went in-house for a while and I am now back to private practice. The mid-size firm I trained in were very good and had about 20 Solicitors. They had department rotations - litigation, private client, commercial property and corporate. You were given decent work mostly and became involved but there was certain areas where you were just doing admin. My firm actually didn't pay well or for fees as it was at the end of the recession when I trained there. However, they started paying fees again and I have heard most mid-size firms pay fees.

I reckon a good mid-size firm is the best way to go as they should pay your fees and hopefully a bit more of a salary than a smaller firm and they usually do have a trainee programme so you're not just stuck doing a load of different areas and once and you can learn each area well. Also, mid size firms will see you dealing with regular people and also dealing with companies etc. so it is a good mix.

As above posters said, it all depends. You might have an offer from a small firm close to home and be happy to train there as you can stay at home and the small wages won't matter and you won't be doing long hours. However, you could go to a big firm and have a high salary and everything paid for and do long hours and save loads. Alternatively, find a decent paying mid-size firm with a trainee programme and you can then choose when you qualify if you want to go for a big firm working in corporate or if you're happy to stay with a mid-size firm.

Some firms operate on a different basis and the average is perhaps a bit misleading but probably around 35-40k with ppc fees covered in my experience.

Guy0012 wrote: »

Hi Everyone - I was wondering is it possible to get an idea on the average salary for the top firms in Dublin for trainees?

I am just about complete with my FE'1's and will be applying for traineeships soon. This is a career move for me rather than a first job and as I have years of working already I know I will have to take a hit to my salary, but trying to estimate how much.

IgoPAP wrote: »

It's a big higher than that I'm pretty sure - around 40-45k for trainees, 65-70k on qualification.

Yes, I know of there firms at least who offer 70k post qualification, 35-40 is taken off Glassdoor but I know one firm (not too 6) but specialist who pay 50k for trainees