THE LAW school of the Law Society of Ireland, which trains solicitors, starts its academic year in Dublin with a fall of 8 per cent in enrolment compared with last year.
There has been a fall of 37 per cent in those seeking to train as solicitors since 2007.
Classes begin in Dublin today and in Cork next week.
A total of 420 students are expected to enrol between the schools in Dublin and Cork, according to the society’s director general Ken Murphy. This compares with 455 last year, when there was a much more dramatic fall from the previous year, in which 595 students enrolled.
The high point for those seeking to train with the society was in 2006, when 672 students passed through its doors. A similar figure, 671, enrolled in 2007.
“The number of trainees this year will be at 2003 levels,” Mr Murphy said. He pointed out that the number of unemployed solicitors was estimated at 1,000.
Those enrolling in the school must have a training place as an apprentice in a solicitor’s office before starting their training. Mr Murphy said firms that had to let people go because of the economic downturn were unlikely to be taking on trainees.
“The smaller general practices are the hardest hit,” he said. “Their business model involved conveyancing of both private and commercial property as the mainstay of their income. The larger firms are holding up.
“While there has been some increase in litigation in areas like debt, the increase has not made up the gap. There is an oversupply of solicitors in Ireland.”
He said there had been great interest in a seminar organised by the society earlier this year on opportunities for solicitors to work in Australia.