Cork law firm gets grant to recruit trainee solicitors

A Cork law firm has been awarded a €25,000 grant to support the recruitment of trainee solicitors.

Barry Fleming and Barrett Solicitors in Bandon received the funding from the Law Society of Ireland under a grant scheme that aims to assist small legal practices bolster their workforce.

The Corkp-based firm was one of five practices to benefit this year from the Law Society Small Practice Traineeship Grant.

Since 2020, the society has invested €775,000 in regional solicitor practice grants, to support the growth of legal services in communities.

The grant assists with the cost of employing a trainee solicitor and is available to smaller solicitor practices outside the main urban districts of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway.

Trainee solicitors benefit from €7,000 towards their solicitor training at the Law Society, the Professional Practice Course (PPC).

Eamon Harrington, president of the Law Society, said that investing in the sustainability of regional legal practices is “vital to increase access to legal services in communities across the country”.

“The Small Practice Traineeship Grant is part of the Law Society Access Programme,” said Mr Harrington.

“This programme is a strategic drive to break down barriers to legal education, support access to community-based legal services all over Ireland, and foster the development of the next generation of solicitors.

“Supporting regional legal practices to thrive is a win for aspiring solicitors, for regional practices, and the communities they serve. In some instances, this grant has been a game-changer for some regional legal practices, offering the opportunity to take on a trainee solicitor for the first time,” he added.

“For the next generation of solicitors, this grant provides the opportunity to stay and work in their hometowns, without having to relocate to a larger city for work.”