The Honorable Society of King's Inns

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The Honorable Society of King's Inns ("King's Inns") is the professional body having responsibility for the admission of individuals to the bar of Ireland.

The King's Inns is run by the Benchers who include all Superior Court judges and other eminent lawyers.

As well as its formal role in education, the King's Inns observes dining during term time, a tradition in which both students, barrister members and the Benchers participate, as well as guests.

Unlike the position in England where intending barristers may join one of four Inns of Court, any student proposing to apply for call to the Irish bar must apply for admission as a student to one body, the King's Inns. Special arrangements, however, apply to persons transferring from the solicitors profession, and persons who are practising in Ireland following qualification abroad, or under the EU directive on lawyers.

At present King's Inns runs a part time, two year diploma course for non-law graduates, and a full time degree course which is open to law graduates or holders of the diploma. Following successful passage of exams a candidate is awarded the degree of barrister at law by the King's Inns and subsequently may be called to the bar of Ireland by the Chief Justice of Ireland.

About half of graduates do not go on to act as practising barristers and find employment in a range of areas, often law related.

At present the structure of legal education is being examined by the Competition Authority and a report is awaited. It has also been reported that the King's Inns is considering re-introducing a part time degree course.