Survey of recently qualified solicitors and barristers who are currently not practising

The LSRA, along with independent research company Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A), is conducting an online anonymised survey of recently qualified solicitors and barristers who are currently not practising.

The LSRA is seeking the views of individuals who have qualified as a barrister or solicitor in or after 2014 by completing professional training with the Honorable Society of King’s Inns or the Law Society of Ireland and have chosen not to practise as a barrister or solicitor at this time. This includes people who qualified and never practised and also people who did practise for a time in the past, but are not currently practising.

The survey fieldwork will take place in February 2022. The survey asks questions about respondents’ views and experiences of the legal professions to help the LSRA better understand barriers facing early career legal professionals and why people who have recently qualified as solicitors and barristers decide not to practise.

The LSRA is carrying out the survey following a request from the Minister for Justice for the Authority to “consider the economic and other barriers faced by young barristers and solicitors and to make recommendations”. The Minister has stated that this is part of her plan to increase diversity across the justice sector including the legal profession.

The Minister asked the LSRA to pay particular attention to equity of access and entry into the legal professions, and the objective of achieving greater diversity within the professions.

For further information please see the research project page here.

ENDS

4 February 2022