The Bar of Ireland is a collective structure made up of 2,150 members, which facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience and administrative resources through a structure known as the Law Library.
Membership of the collective structure offers numerous advantages to the sole practitioner.
- Access to a vast legal library, legal databases and professional research support teams facilitates barristers in performing their role to the highest standards.
- Membership fosters a culture of collegiality and co-operation among independent lawyers, which ensures professional support, enforcement of the highest ethical standards and encouragement of continuous sharing and challenging of ideas and approaches, at all levels of practice.
- The speed at which the legal environment changes requires up-to-date knowledge, continuous development and access to resources so that your clients and your practice can flourish.
- Formal guidance and support is available to practitioners from the Professional Practices Committee and the wider Bar of Ireland structure.
Membership of The Bar of Ireland provides both value & savings in the cost of practising as barrister.
Library Services
IT & Remote Working Supports
Professional Practice Support
- Barrister’s Desktop – member legal information portal
- Access to 37 legal databases
- Five fully serviced and stocked legal libraries
- Two strategic partnerships (Letterkenny IT and Waterford Public Library)
- Professionally qualified staff-assisted research
- Legal research skills training and database support
- Mobile texting, SMS service & instant Chat.
- Inter-library loans and document delivery service
- Current awareness service (DLÍ Nua; InfoPoint)
- Office 365 secure, encrypted email and file storage service (on up to five separate devices) to meet data protection requirements
- Entire Microsoft package
- Managed wi-fi access in all Law Library premises with IT Helpdesk and support
- Unique IT system account for each member
- Multi-purpose membership cards
- Printing and copying facilities at a rate of 3 cent per page
- Professional practice advisory service
- Practice support and fee recovery service
- Pupil/Mentor Scheme
- Law & Women Mentoring Programme – Promoting Equality
- Consult a Colleague helpline
- Benevolent Society of The Bar of Ireland
On-site facilities & services
Communications, Education & Public Affairs
Preferential financial services
- Fully staffed reception and security service
- DX Services
- Confidential shredding service
- Access to seating and office accommodation
- Access to room hire
- Access to car parking
- Locker and changing room facilities
- Annual CPD programme
- Live webcasting and on-demand webcasts, papers and presentations
- Access to Advocacy training
- Specialist Bar Associations and Policy committees
- Opportunity to contribute to the research, policy and advocacy work of The Bar of Ireland
- Participation in our pro-bono Voluntary Assistance Scheme (VAS)
- Media relations
- Conferences and events
- The Bar Review
- In Brief – weekly member information e-zine
- Fortnightly education and training bulletin
- Member promotion through media relations and Direct Professional Access Scheme
- Access to scholarships, fellowships and bursaries
- On-site banking
- On-site insurance – Aon
- The Bar of Ireland Retirement Trust – JLT Financial Services
- The Bar of Ireland Critical Illness and Accelerated Death Benefit Scheme, covering all members up to age 65 for €100,000 life cover and up to €40,000 critical illness cover (*This cover is subject to review at annual renewal in October)
Wish to find out more?
Please contact our Member Relations team to find out more at member.relations@lawlibrary.ie