King's Inns

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Honorable Society of King's Inns


Motto	Nolumus Mutari (we are unwilling to change)
Established	1541 by Henry VIII
Under Treasurer	Camilla McAleese
Location	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Address	Henrietta Street Dublin 1
Telephone	+353-1 874 4840
Website	http://www.kingsinns.ie

The King's Inns or formally the Honorable Society of King's Inns (HSKI) is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of the Republic of Ireland. The society was created in 1541, originally at Inns Quay, 51 years before Trinity College, Dublin was founded, making it one of Ireland's oldest professional and educational institutions. The name refers to King Henry VIII under whose reign it originated. In 2006, the society had an enrolment of approximately 300 students, whilst there are approximately 1,400 practising barristers in Ireland.

Candidates who have an approved law degree may apply for the Degree of Barrister-at-Law (Latin: ad Gradum Advocatum Apud Judices). Alternatively candidates without an approved law degree may undertake the society's Diploma in Legal Studies before presenting for the society's degree. Those who are presented with the degree are entitled to be called to and practise at the "Bar of Ireland". The correct title is always Honorable and not Honourable, which the English Inns use.

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The society has generally kept a low profile in current affairs in Ireland, though it did come to prominence in 1972 when financial difficulties led to the society selling a considerable stock of non-legal books it had in its library. These were sold at auction at Sotheby's, London and a considerable stock of them were sold to clients outside Ireland. This was seen at the time as a major cultural outflow as many of the books were of historical and cultural significance. In addition, the society's library had received an annual grant since 1945 for the upkeep of the books from the Irish Exchequer.

The society is seen as elitist; this was brought to attention in 2004 when the society courted controversy by not recognising the law degrees offered by Griffith College Dublin, which are conferred by Nottingham Trent University, England. This was later overturned by the society which now recognises the degrees offered at the college by the university. However, entry to the barrister's profession continues to be more restrictive than entry to the solicitor's profession. Eligibility for the education needed to become a solicitor depends on sitting an entrance examination. The King's Inns, however, regulates who may sit its entrance exams and this is what the controversy over Griffith was really about. Some say the King's Inns can be seen as more elitist nowadays following the change from a two-year part-time education to a one-year full-time course, making it more difficult to complete the barrister-at-law course whilst working to pay the considerable fees required.

Kings Inns building at Henrietta Street Dublin is the third of James Gandon's buildings in Dublin. The foundation stone was laid on August 1, 1795. The building had not been completed when Gandon left Ireland in 1808 and the building was completed by his pupil, Henry Aaron Baker^[1]

A King's Inns team or individual has often won the prestigious Irish Times National Debating Championship.

In a departure from the elitest image of king's Inns, in 2006 a hurling team representing the institution competed in and won the Fergal Maher Cup ( 3rd Level Division 3)in their inaugural year.