Case Study - Solicitor

Name: Mark O’Kelly
Job: Solicitor

In my final year of a Degree in Business Studies in DCU I took the corporate law specialism, which dealt with basic and company law, and law in general. I found the subjects interesting and discovered a certain aptitude for it. This was reflected in my exam results and upon graduation I decided to further my legal education with a view to becoming either a solicitor or a barrister. I researched both options and decided to pursue a career as a solicitor.

I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies, which I received from Dublin Institute of Technology, Aungier Street. The DIT course was directly referable to the Law Society of Ireland Final Examination Part 1 and was of great assistance in my obtaining a place in the Professional Practice Course run by the Society.

The first and foremost characteristic that is necessary to practice law is a good memory. You can have up to 150 files active at any one time and you need to be able to recall each one as you can be questioned by clients ringing at any time during the day. You also have to be able to advise clients when they attend at your offices and you never know what their particular legal problem will be, so you need to know the basic principles of law by heart.  You need to be inquisitive and be able to view a certain problem in a number of different ways, and bring each option to its logical conclusion. An eye for detail and dedication are also characteristics that are necessary for the job.

Its interesting work at times and can have a large impact on people’s lives especially when dealing with personal injuries and medical negligence. You never know what case your next appointment is going to bring and there is a thrill when you settle or win a case on behalf of a client. A large part of the work however, is rather mundane and time consuming. The hours can be very long and 12-hour days are not uncommon in the profession. You are constantly struggling to keep up with your various files and to ensure your client is updated and informed. There is a lot of stress as you are constantly being pulled in a number of directions in relation to the amount of files you have to juggle, and time management is an issue.

I currently work for a law firm in Derry, and while I can't comment on specifics due to solicitor/client confidentiality, I can say that I am involved more and more in debt collection on behalf of our larger clients who deal in the construction industry, as well as the liquidation of companies in financial trouble. I'm also doing less and less conveyancing (buying and selling land). The profession itself is always a good barometer of how the economy overall is performing.