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General information
Dublin is the largest city and the capital city of Ireland. It is on the east coast and has a population of around 495,000 in the city centre, but this increases to 1,164,000 people when the metropolitan area is included. The city is divided by the River Liffey, leading to the colloquial reference to the ‘northside’ and ‘southside’. The northside is generally a working class area, while the southside is more affluent.
The climate is cool to moderate, with minimum temperatures being experienced around January and February (average 1°C) and maximum temperatures in July to August (average 20°C).
The Irish currency is the Euro. Monthly living costs in Dublin are around €1000 for a single person and around €3000 for a family of four. The cost of living is a little lower in other parts of the country.
Government
The Republic of Ireland’s National Parliament (known as the Oireachtas Eireann) has a House of Representatives and a Senate. The head of state is the President, and the parliament is held at Leinster House, a former palace on the southside of the city.
Dublin is governed by Dublin City Council and is led by the Lord Mayor. Council is based in Dublin City Hall and the city’s administration is based in the Civic Offices.
Only Irish citizens have the right to vote in elections.
Legal Salaries
Salaries for lawyers working in a law firm are approximately:
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Job Title
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Dublin (€)
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Solicitor 6-7 PQE
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95+k
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Solicitor 4-5 PQE
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80-95k
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Solicitor 2-3 PQE
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65-75k
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Newly Qualified Solicitor
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50-55k
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Key firms
The top law firms in Ireland include (in alphabetical order):
A & L GOODBODY
ARTHUR COX
BCM HANBY WALLACE
DILLON EUSTACE
MATHESON ORMSBY PRENTICE
MASON HAYES & CURRAN
MCCANN FITZGERALD
WILLIAM FRY
Visas – Do I have the right to work in Ireland?
You have the right to work in Ireland, and can apply for any job without needing a special visa if you:
- Are a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area;
- Are the spouse of an Irish or EEA national;
- Have an Irish child and have permission to reside in the country;
- Have refugee status;
- Are studying at postgraduate level and are required to work as a part of the course; or
- Are from Switzerland.
If you do not fit these criteria, your employer must apply for a work permit on your behalf. You need to provide evidence of your skills or qualifications and your employer needs to show that the job could not be done by an Irish person or EU national, or that an Irish person or EU National could not be found to do the job.
It takes between 6 and 8 weeks to process permit applications, and they last for a maximum period of a year. Employers can renew the permit when it expires as many times as are required. It is an offence to work without a permit, but when you have one you are entitled to the same employment rights as an Irish citizen.
A one-year work permit costs €500 and is payable to the Irish Government.
Applications for work permits should be submitted to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Dublin. The standard form must be accompanied with two recent passport photographs and evidence that no Irish person or EU national could be found to do the job.
Admission as a Solicitor in Ireland
Due to the absence of a reciprocal agreement between the Australian and Irish governments, it is quite arduous for a solicitor admitted in an Australian jurisdiction to be admitted in Ireland. However, it is common for Australian solicitors to practice in Ireland as a Registered Foreign Lawyer, which does not require admission as a solicitor in Ireland.
Should you wish to be admitted in Ireland you will be required to undertake the following process:
• The Preliminary Examination
• The First Irish Examination
• The Final Examination
• The Training Programme
• The Professional Practice Courses
• The Second Irish Examination
These involve two written and oral examination in the Irish language, as well as examinations on the topics of EU law, equity, constitutional law, company law, criminal law, contract law, tort law and real property. It also requires you to train at a law office for 24 months, including two full time practice legal training courses.
Transport
Irish Rail has an extensive rail network that covers the entire country, with more stations in Dublin. Monthly rail tickets range from €80 - €109 for travel within the city.
Recent economic growth has caused traffic chaos in most of the city. Ireland recognises Australian driver’s licences, so that Australians can use their current licence to drive on a short visit. If you stay for 12 months or more, you need to exchange your Australian licence for an Irish one. There is no need to sit a driving test if you are licensed in Australia. You must carry your licence while driving.
If you are travelling in the city, the best way is usually to go on foot.
Banking
Current account facilities are available from a range of banks and building societies in Ireland. To open an account you will need to provide a utility bill or other proof of your address in Ireland, along with your passport and details of other or previous bank accounts held. It is common practice for Irish banks to impose annual or quarterly fees and transaction charges on current accounts. Additionally, a 15% government tax is payable on cheque transactions and €40 stamp duty on credit cards and €20 on debit cards.
Taxation
There is a progressive personal tax system in Ireland, with most employees being on the PAYE system, in which tax is deducted by your employer. In 2005 the standard tax rates were 20% on the first €29,400 for single taxpayers and €58,800 for married taxpayers and 42% thereafter. To register for tax in Ireland you need to apply at any Social Welfare Local Office for a Personal Public Service number.
VAT is charged on most goods and services at a rate of 21%. The tax year starts on 1 January and ends on 31 December each year.
Heath care
The Irish public health system is means-tested, with some services provided free of charge to anyone who is ordinarily resident in Ireland. You will be an ordinary resident if you are currently living in Ireland and intending to stay for at least a year. As an ordinary resident you will be entitled to free in-patient hospital services, subject to a daily accommodation charge, out-patient hospital services, emergency treatment and maternity and infant care services. You will be charged for GP services, but may be eligible for subsidised prescription medicines and maternity care.
If you are not an ordinary resident, Australians are still entitled to receive emergency public hospital treatment and assistance towards the cost of prescribed drugs and medicines.
Private health insurance is available and attracts a tax incentive of 20%. The two main insurers are VHI and BUPA.
Accommodation
There is usually a wide range of accommodation available to rent in Ireland, particularly in Dublin and other cities. Most rented accommodation comes fully furnished, so if you want to use your own furniture, you will need to put the landlord’s into storage. In Dublin average prices across all apartments and houses are about €1,200 per month. Across the whole country average rents are between €750 and €900 per month.
Most houses have 3 to 4 bedrooms and are smaller than Australian houses. Most apartments have 2 bedrooms, with 1 bedroom apartments being quite scarce. It is always hardest to find the right place to rent between August and October, as this is when students are seeking accommodation.
Sports and entertainment
Soccer, Gaelic football and rugby union are all popular sports in Ireland. See a Gaelic football or hurling game at Croke Park in Drumcondra, or see a soccer or rugby union game at Lansdowne Road, Phibsboro. A new National Aquatic Centre has recently been opened, and horse and greyhound racing at Leopardstown and Shelbourne Park respectively.
Night life in Dublin is centred around Temple Bar. There are many theatres in the city centre, including the Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, Olympia Theatre and Gaiety Theatre. They are each surrounded by their own attractions. The UGC cinema complex has commercial films, while alternative and arthouse films can be found at the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar.
Dublin City has over 40 pubs and has a growing reputation for fine food and produce. There are many historical attractions.
Education
Dublin is the educational centre of Ireland. There are many primary and secondary schools to choose from, and applications to send children to school should be made directly to the school of your choice. The school year goes from approximately 1 September to 30 June each year. Schools are either state-funded, privately run or are special needs schools. There is no annual fee to attend a state school, however, fees are payable for private education and these vary between institutions. Secondary schools are either vocational, community, comprehensive or private. There are a small number of international schools. Most Irish schools are under the supervision and management of the Catholic Church.
Tertiary education is available at several universities in Dublin. The National University of Ireland, Dublin City University and Royal College of Surgeons provide university level training.
Vocational training is also available through the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland’s largest technical college.
The next step
Dolman consultants regularly place lawyers in Dublin. Please contact us if you would like a confidential discussion about your career options in the region.
Useful links
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: http://www.entemp.ie.
Irish Revenue Commissioner: http://www.revenue.ie.
Department of Social and Family Affairs: http://www.welfare.ie.
Department of Health and Children: http://www.doch.ie.
Irish Rail: http://www.irishrail.
VHI health care: http://www.vhihealthe.com.
BUPA health care: http://www.bupaireland.ie.
Law Society of Ireland: http://www.lawsociety.ie.
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