Facts about the Profession

For the year ending 31 December 2024.

Where are solicitors in practice

A map of Ireland showing geographic distribution of solicitors in practice as follows. Antrim: 123, Armagh: 3, Carlow 46, Cavan: 50, Clare: 106, Cork: 970, Derry: 22, Donegal: 141, Down: 17, Dublin: 8,659, Fermanagh: 4, Galway: 387, Kerry: 166, Kildare: 185, Kilkenny: 87, Laois: 40, Leitrim: 38, Limerick: 326, Longford: 45, Louth: 150, Mayo: 121, Meath: 118, Monaghan: 50, Offaly: 64, Roscommon: 49, Sligo: 84, Tipperary: 157, Tyrone: 10, Waterford: 126, Westmeath: 108, Wexford: 96, Wicklow: 135

Solicitors by age profile

A graph showing the age profile of practising solicitors. Data is as follows: 20-29: 730 (5.8%) 30-39: 3,322 (26.2%) 40-49: 4,263 (33.6%) 50-59: 2,492 (19.6%) 60-69: 1,305 (10.3%) 70-79: 443 (3.5%) 80+: 49 (0.4%) No Birthdate: 79 (0.6%)

Solicitors by position

A graphic showing practising solicitors by position. 539 solicitors (4.3%) are principals, 429 (3.4%) are consultants, 8 (0.1%) are locums, 3,156 (24.9% are partners, 7,654 (60.3%) are assistants and 897 (7%) are sole practitioners

Solicitors by gender

A graphic showing the gender balance of practising solicitors. 54% are female, 46% are male.

Firms by size

A graphic showing the firms by number of practising solicitors. 1,004 employ 1 solicitor, 921 employ 2-4, 265 employ 5-20, 40 employ 21-400 and there are 985 in-house legal departments

In-house solicitors holding a Practising Certificate by location

A map showing the geographical distribution of in-house solicitors holding a practising certificate. Data is as follows. Antrim: 1, Armagh: 0, Carlow: 1, Cavan: 9, Clare: 28, Cork: 175, Derry: 0, Donegal: 6, Down: 0, Dublin: 2,301, Fermanagh: 1, Galway: 60, Kerry: 26, Kildare: 34, Kilkenny: 16, Laois: 2, Leitrim: 4, Limerick: 52, Longford: 2, Louth: 10, Mayo: 11, Meath: 12, Monaghan: 4, Offaly: 4, Roscommon: 0, Sligo: 4, Tipperary: 7, Tyrone: 0, Waterford: 14, Westmeath: 15, Wexford: 7, Wicklow: 21.

Service of the State solicitors by location

Cork: 3
Dublin: 482
Galway: 2
Laois: 1

Leitrim: 1
Limerick: 5
Longford: 1
Offaly: 2

Roscommon: 3
Tipperary: 1
Waterford: 3
Westmeath: 4
   

Total: 504

 

Trainee contract distribution by county

Two maps showing the locations of trainees across Ireland