The Law Society of Ireland [CC0 1.0]

The new apprenticeship programme is expected to welcome its first cohort from September 2027 with expressions of interest accepted from this autumn.

The programme is expected to last seven years wherein trainees would be paid for their work in a solicitor’s firm four days per week while spending one day attending classes at the Law Society.

It is understood that the new programme is designed to broaden access to the profession with president of the Law Society Rosemaire Loftus saying that it opens up opportunities for aspiring solicitors from all backgrounds and communities across Ireland.

Rory O’Boyle, head of the Law Society of Ireland’s Professional Practice Course said: “We are committed to this, and we expect the programme to build up in the years ahead.

“We don’t think it will ever replace the graduate programme, but we feel like it will be a really interesting, innovative pathway into the profession for a different type of learner.

“The points system isn’t for everybody. People develop at different rates and bring different talents.”

“It might be a pathway for the student who thinks ‘exams didn’t always work out for me in school but I know I have something to bring to the profession’.”

It is also hoped that the programme will support those rural firms who have been experiencing recruitment and retention challenges in recent years.

The Law Society’s own Snapshot of the Solicitors’ Profession revealed earlier this year that 82 per cent of new training contracts are located in Dublin with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority warning of future shortages of solicitors in rural counties as an aging cohort finds 65 per cent of solo practitioners over 50 years of age

The new programme follows existing initiatives such as hybrid training models, scholarships and grants intended to reduce the financial barriers to solicitor qualification.