Ireland has too many barristers, with many suffering financially, report finds (via The Irish Times)

Low fees, high attrition rate, lack of diversity – some of the findings of EY report into profession

Ireland has hundreds more barristers than is appropriate for its population size and many say they are suffering financially, according to the first ever independent strategic review of the profession here.

Carried out by consultants EY in 2021 for The Bar of Ireland (TBOI), the review found barristers face serious challenges, including fees of as little as €25 a day in District Court criminal legal aid cases, problems with getting fees paid by solicitors and an increasingly competitive market for legal services.

The unbalanced allocation of available work contributes to the high attrition rate of junior members of the Law Library, it noted, with the attrition rate rising rapidly after five years’ service. After 10 years, 53 per cent have quit.

There are 2,852 barristers on the State’s roll, or 45 per 100,000 people, with other countries of a similar size having on average just 25 barristers per 100,000 people.

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https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2022/07/01/ireland-has-hundreds-more-barristers-than-it-needs-report