Law Society of Ireland to launch solicitor apprenticeship

The Law Society of Ireland is launching a solicitor apprenticeship program designed to provide a non-degree pathway into the legal profession. The scheme will allow school leavers to work in law firms for approximately four days a week while studying part-time on the fifth day.

The program is expected to be fully accredited and of equal standing to existing qualification routes. Expressions of interest are set to open this autumn, with the first cohort of apprentices expected to begin in September 2027. The apprenticeship is designed to last up to seven years, and applicants must be at least 18 years old at the start of the program.

Additionally, a separate, shorter pathway is being developed for law clerks and legal executives. This route, which may take five to six years, includes various diplomas and exams to allow experienced professionals to qualify as solicitors. The Law Society noted that these new routes are intended to run alongside the traditional graduate route rather than replace it.