Barristers are members of the Bar, the senior branch of the legal profession. There are about 1,300 practising barristers in Ireland, all of them members of the Law Library in Dublin. There are more than 5,000 practising solicitors in Ireland. Solicitors tend to do more office work, although they have the right to appear in all Courts. Most barristers in the higher Courts are judges, although solicitors have been appointed as judges in the Circuit Court.
Barristers wear wigs and gowns in Court, except in family law and juvenile matters.
Barristers all operate from the Law Library and are sole practitioners. In contentious matters, a barrister may generally only be briefed by a solicitor and may not deal directly with a member of the public. If you have a recognised law degree, you may be admitted to the two-year degree course at the King's Inns in Dublin. Those who obtain the diploma may be admitted to the degree course. From 2002, admission to the degree course will be by examination for law graduates and diploma graduates.