Working as a lawyer has so many benefits and depending on your specialisation, one of those benefits is that it gives you a chance to work internationally.
I recently met with a talented Australian corporate associate who is looking to secure a move overseas. Despite being a proud Irishman, I was a bit surprised when she identified Dublin, Ireland as her preferred destination. Admittedly, in the past many of my conversations have been the other way around, assisting lawyers looking to make the move from Ireland to Australia. However, over the past few years Dublin has fast become a strong contender vis-à-vis London for lawyers looking to make a move overseas. The market can also be a stepping stone for Aussie and Kiwi lawyers looking to move to London, but don't currently hit the criteria of prestigious UK firms.
Dublin is home to a number of the world’s biggest banks and asset managers and is prided on being a very sophisticated and evolved market. In 2023, Dublin was ranked as the 35th International Financial Centre. Additionally, some of the top-tier firms with offices in Dublin include Arthur Cox, A&L Goodbody, Matheson, and William Fry.
Like the UK, Ireland is a common law jurisdiction with an English-language legal system. For information on working in Ireland as a foreign trained lawyer visit the Irish Law Society website. In Ireland, like in many of the prominent jurisdictions the dominant practice areas, with the most number of profiles, include:
- Corporate/M&A
- Funds
- Banking and Finance
- Competition
- Capital Markets
Over the last three years we have seen a sharp increase in associate moves in Dublin in-line with a stronger demand for lawyers across the following practice areas:
- Real Estate
- Energy
- Tech
- IP
- Disputes
The graphs below showcase movement activity across Associate and Partner levels.
Tax
Tax rates in Ireland are quite low compared to Australian and UK rates. There are two tax brackets, 20% (the standard rate, charged on the first €35,300 depending on personal circumstances) and the balance of income at 40% (the higher rate of all taxable income over 35k depending on personal circumstances, earnings, exemptions etc.)
The standard rate of corporation tax is 12.5% (trading) and 25% non-trading.
Cost of Living
According to research on Expatisan, the cost of living in Dublin is 14% cheaper than in London, however it is 6% more expensive than Sydney.
Climate
Ireland has a mild, temperate climate, which means the country experiences cool summers and mild winters. The average summer temperatures are between 18-20°C, while the average winter temperatures are between 4-7°C. Both temperatures below freezing and snow are rare in Ireland.
In July and August, there are approximately 18 hours of daylight per day, meaning and it gets dark at around 11pm. This is what Irish people refer to as “a grand stretch in the evenings’.
Location
Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe. From Australia, Ireland is essentially a day away, with many carriers offering 1 stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth taking between 20-24 hours to reach the Emerald Isle.
5 Facts about Ireland
- The patron saint of Ireland is St. Patrick who is said to have rid the country of snakes. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world on March 17th
- The Titanic was built in Belfast in Northern Ireland
- It is estimated that over 80 million people of Irish descent live outside Ireland. This is 14 times more than the population of Ireland itself! Over one-third of Australians claim Irish heritage
- The world's first recorded open yacht race was held in Dublin Bay in 1663
- Did you know Halloween originates from the 2,000 year-old Celtic festival of Samhain. The word “Samhain” comes from old Gaelic meaning “end of summer”
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