BARS AROUND THE WORLD

bership of the institution of the law consideration being given to the The Bar of Ireland library is synonymous with practice at further expansion of that facility. the Bar. The total number of members Thus, the Bar of Ireland now Frank Clarke SC, past chair of of the law library is now 1,336, made up operates a hybrid system where a the Bar of Ireland of 227 silks (in Ireland, termed senior library remains the principal unifying counsel), and 1,109 juniors. Of the total focus of the business of practice, but 450 are female, and 886 male. As where many of the more established ince the independence of Ireland Ireland has, until recent years, been a practitioners supplement that by the from the United Kingdom of largely mono-racial country, the ques­ use of office space either owned by S Great Britain and Northern tion of racial balance does not really themselves, or provided on rental by Ireland in 1922, practice at the Bar in arise, though, doubtless, it is an issue the Bar Council in the vicinity of the Ireland has correspondingly been sepa­ which may well emerge in the future. courts. Similarly, the library operates rately organised in Northern Ireland There are a very small number of as a unifying focus for those practi­ and the Republic. However, the history practising members of the Bar who tioners whose principal place of busi­ of the Bar in Ireland up to that time is are not of Irish racial origin. In terms of ness is outside Dublin, but who retain common to both jurisdictions. This those who, while members of the law membership, and make full use of both piece deals with the current Bar of library, conduct their principal busi­ the working facilities in , and the Ireland (ie the Bar of the Republic of ness on one of the circuits, the follow­ information available at, the library Ireland), but the historical element ing figures may be of some interest. when in Dublin, and increasingly on prior to 1922 is, therefore, equally 1,116 members are based in Dublin. circuit through the use of technology. applicable to the Bar of Northern However, some of these will be junior Barristers have been practising in Ireland. counsel whose principal practice will be Ireland for at least 450 years. The Historically, practice at the Bar in on one of the circuits close to Dublin. Honorable Society of King's Inns is Ireland has operated on the library 59 members are based in Cork, while the governing body of the Bar of system, which is similar to that of the 107 are based in other locations outside Ireland. The King's Inns is an Inn of Faculty of Advocates in Scotland. Dublin. 31 members are based abroad, Court very similar to the London Inns. Thus, during the 19th century, as a principally, the United Kingdom, while It has existed since the 16th century result of the purchase of a number of 23 are currently on leave of absence. (the King in the name being Henry private libraries which had up to then Only a handful of senior counsel would VIII, who granted certain properties been available on a hire basis to not have the centre of their practices confiscated from the religious orders to individual barristers, a common law located in Dublin. the Bar). The Inn provides the training library at the courts in Dublin was Over the last fifteen years, a signifi­ for all persons wishing · to be called to established. Virtually all practising cant development in the manner of the Bar. The call itself is conducted by barristers were, and are, subscribers to practice at the Irish Bar has taken the judiciary through the chief justice. that library which for many years has place, particularly in relation to more As with the practising Bar, a separate provided the place of work, and of successful practitioners. The change Inn of Court for Northern Ireland was business, for practising barristers. With began with a relatively small number established after the independence of the establishment of a separate Bar in of practitioners (fewer than thirty), what was originally the Irish Free the new jurisdiction of Northern Ire­ purchasing or renting office accommo­ State. The King's Inn, therefore, now land, a separate library at Belfast was dation in the vicinity of the main courts caters solely for the training of candi­ also established. Until the last fifteen building, from which they practised dates for admission to the Bar of years, practice was exclusively on a while remaining members of the law Ireland (ie the Republic of Ireland). It library basis, with members having a library. Certain of the facilities are provides a vocational course which is desk within the library from which they shared, though to a large extent each entered into by students who have carried on their practices. There were, practitioner will retain his or her own either completed a law degree in a and are, no permanent high or supreme secretarial and office accommodation, university, on the one hand, or have court sittings outside of Dublin, and, but may share some library, telephone, other third level or life qualifications, thus, the principal focus of practice at receptionist, and similar facilities. coupled with a conversion course the Bar in Ireland has been Dublin­ There is an absolute prohibition on provided by the Inn itself, on the centred. Local and limited courts any sharing of work, and the Bar other. The Inn retains ultimate control operate on a circuit basis, with many operates without any form of clerking over the profession in that the Benchers individual junior counsel practising system, whether along the lines of that of the Inn retain the right to disbar. exclusively, or principally, on one or used in London, or within the library However, day to day regulatory control other of the non-Dublin circuits. Those system in Edinburgh. Subsequent to is vested in the Bar Council, which is persons remain members of the Dublin the above development, the Bar Coun­ elected from amongst the members of law library even though their principal cil of Ireland constructed two signifi­ the practising Bar, and carries out both practical place of business may well be cant office blocks from which a regulatory role and functions in a location on the relevant circuit. To all approximately 284 members now prac­ respect of the representation of the practical intents and purposes, mem­ tise on a similar basis. There is practising Bar. CD

24 Advocate December 2002