How much do barristers earn in Ireland?
Asked by: Juliana Erdman Sr. | Last update: September 23, 2025Score: 5/5 (52 votes)
A Barrister in Ireland earns an average of €63,438 gross per year, which is about €5,290 gross per month. The starting salary of a Barrister in Ireland is around €35,000 gross per year. The highest salary of a Barrister in Ireland can reach and exceed €280,000 gross per year.
How much is a barrister paid in Ireland?
How much does a Barrister make in Ireland? The estimated salary for a Barrister is €70,000 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.
Who are the highest paid barristers in Ireland?
- Michael J. Bowman SC — €772,911.13.
- Dominic Stuart McGinn SC — €486,183.30.
- Seamus Clarke SC — €481,228.15.
- Colman Cody SC — €445,020.71.
- Padraig Dwyer SC — €439,284.98.
- Michael O'Higgins SC — €401,167.68.
- Colm Smyth SC — €390,949.36.
- Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC — €383,959.78.
What type of barrister earns the most money?
Barristers specialising in niche areas, such as environmental law, tax law, or international law, often charge higher fees due to their expertise.
How hard is it to become a barrister in Ireland?
To practice as a Barrister in Ireland you need to complete the Barrister-at-Law degree at King's Inns. It is a one-year full-time, or two year part-time degree and admission is by an entrance examination, which you can do if you have a law degree.
This Is How Much UK Lawyers Make - Solicitor And Barrister Salaries REVEALED!!
Can an American lawyer practice in Ireland?
Eligible New York, California and Pennsylvania qualified lawyers may apply for admission to the roll of solicitors in Ireland by passing the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Test (QLTT) with is administered by the Law Society of Ireland (the “Law Society”).
Does Ireland have too many barristers?
There are 2,852 qualified barristers, 45 per 100,000 of the population in Ireland, of whom 2,124 are members of the Law Library. Comparator jurisdictions have an average 25 barristers per 100,000 people, and EY considered a conservative appropriate number for the Law Library is 1,515.
What country pays barristers the most?
- Australia – Average Annual Salary (AUD 119,278) ...
- New Zealand – Average Annual Salary (NZD 84,047) ...
- Netherlands – Average Annual Salary (EUR 65,000) ...
- Ireland – Average Annual Salary (EUR 77,148) ...
- Switzerland – Average Annual Salary (CHF 140,000)
What is the difference between a barrister and a solicitor?
Barristers are specialists in advocacy, wearing wigs and gowns whilst representing clients in higher courts. Whilst solicitors handle day-to-day legal work, barristers are typically brought in for complex court proceedings and specialist opinions.
Which profession in law has the highest salary?
Specialised fields like corporate law or intellectual property often come with higher pay due to the expertise required. For instance, corporate lawyers earn more because their work involves complex legal issues and high-value transactions.
What is the difference between a barrister and a solicitor in Ireland?
To summarise, barristers are specialised advocates who provide legal advice and represent clients in court proceedings, whereas solicitors in Ireland are ordinary legal practitioners who provide legal services. The Law Society of Ireland regulates solicitors, whilst the Bar Council of Ireland regulates barristers.
How many female barristers are there in Ireland?
Today at The Bar of Ireland, 760 (36%) of all members are Female. 696 (40%) females are Junior Barrister, while only 64 have progressed on to take Silk, which makes up 18% of total Senior Counsel. The above charts the population of barristers 1921 – 2021, comparing total population with numbers of female barristers.
What is the average salary for a lawyer in Ireland?
How much does a Lawyer make in Ireland? The average lawyer salary in Ireland is € 75 000 per year or € 38.46 per hour.
Who are the top paid barristers in Ireland?
- Dominic Stuart McGinn SC €486,183.
- Seamus Clarke SC €481,228.
- Colman Cody SC €445,020.
- Padraig Dwyer SC €439,284.
- Colm Smyth SC €390,949.
- Mark Nicolas SC €360,737.
- Roderick F O'Hanlon SC €348,705.
- Bernard Condon SC €343,186.
What is the highest paying job in Ireland?
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the highest paying job in Ireland with an average annual salary of €163,000. Apart from this, there are numerous top-paying jobs in Ireland including Finance Director, District Court Judge, Sales Director, Director of Operations, etc.
Do barristers still wear wigs?
Wigs are still commonplace in the courtroom, almost thought of as a uniform, to maintain the long tradition and formality of the legal system. However, the wigs have undergone some changes.
Can a barrister be an attorney?
A barrister is a lawyer who represents a litigant as an advocate before a court. A barrister speaks in court and presents the case before a judge, with or without a jury. In some jurisdictions, a barrister receives additional training in evidence law, ethics, and court practice and procedure.
How much do barristers earn in the UK?
Self-employed barristers with more than ten years' experience earn between £100,000 to £300,000 depending on their area of practice. A small percentage of barristers at the top end of the profession earn between £500,000 to £1million. Employed barristers can expect to earn from £90,000 to in excess of £150,000.
What is the equivalent of a barrister in America?
Barristers are involved in and litigation , similar to “trial lawyers” or “ litigators ” in the United States, except such lawyers in America may perform tasks beyond courtroom advocacy, unlike barristers.
What branch of law makes the most money?
Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field. Other lawyers are more motivated by getting justice for their clients than by collecting the largest possible paycheck.
Which country pays doctors the most?
- Switzerland. Switzerland tops the chart when it comes to the highest-paying countries for doctors and related healthcare professionals. ...
- Canada. ...
- Luxembourg. ...
- USA. ...
- Ireland. ...
- Australia. ...
- Austria. ...
- Belgium.
How long does it take to become a barrister in Ireland?
Students must undertake the one-year full-time, or the two year-modular (part-time), Degree of Barrister-at-Law at King's Inns.
Is there a shortage of lawyers in Ireland?
TALENT SHORTAGE
The shortage of experienced lawyers in these fields is causing intense competition between firms and in-house departments, driving up salary packages and benefits to attract and retain the best talent.
Is Ireland good for law?
Ireland has some of the best Law courses in Western Europe, many of which are ranked in the top 100 globally, and law degrees from Irish universities are globally reputed for excellence and the acquisition of legal skills.