The LSRA’s Pathways to the Professions 2025 report documents the number of persons admitted to practise as both solicitors and barristers in 2025, based on figures supplied by the professional bodies in the sector. It provides an update on developments in legal practitioner education and training, and an overview on the demand for the services of practising barristers and solicitors and the cost of those legal services.

The report shows an increase in the number of people qualifying into both professions during 2025. First-time practising certificates were issued to 583 newly qualified Law Society solicitors, an increase of 54 per cent from 2024, while 150 barristers were called to the Bar by the chief justice in 2025, up 10 per cent from 2024. At the end of 2025, there were 16,089 practising legal professionals in Ireland, comprising 12,961 practising solicitors and 3,128 practising barristers, a 6 per cent increase from 15,246 in 2024 and representing approximately 0.5 per cent of total employment in the State.

The report also shows that 581 trainee solicitors and 139 student barristers commenced professional training during 2025, representing increases of 7 per cent and 16 per cent respectively compared to the previous year.

Launching the report, LSRA chief executive officer Niamh Muldoon said: “Growing numbers entering professional training and qualifying to practise are encouraging trends for the future. The continued growth in flexible training routes, reflects widening access to the legal professions, offering a diverse pipeline of future solicitors and barristers for Irish society. The LSRA will continue to work with the professional bodies and other stakeholders to enable measures improving access to the professions, all the while maintaining high standards of legal education and training.”

The continued popularity of part-time training programmes is highlighted in the report. Almost one in five new solicitor trainees undertook the Law Society of Ireland’s part-time Professional Practice Course (PPC) Hybrid, while more than twice as many student barristers enrolled on the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ two-year modular Barrister-at-Law degree course than the full-time programme.

The report finds that these flexible routes continue to attract a broader range of entrants, including more mature students and people from non-law academic backgrounds. Professional bodies also continued to expand flexible training routes, outreach initiatives and funded access programmes as part of ongoing work to improve access to the legal professions.

The report notes continued demand for legal services across a range of practice areas and outlines ongoing enhancements to legal education and training, including work on a new National Competency Framework for solicitors and barristers.

The report also highlights the importance of supporting opportunities for solicitor traineeships across the country to help ensure the future availability of legal services nationwide. In 2025, 82 per cent of trainee solicitors secured training contracts in Dublin, while 64 per cent secured training contracts with one of 19 large firms.