The King's Inns or formally the Honorable Society of King's Inns (HSKI) is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of the Republic of Ireland. The society was created in 1541, fifty-one years before Trinity College, Dublin making it one of Ireland's oldest professional and education institutions - the name originates from Henry VIII under who’s reign it originated. Currently the society has a enrolment of approximately 300 students, whilst their are approximately 1,400 practicing barristers in Ireland.

Candidates who have an approved law degree may apply for the Degree of Barrister-at-Law (Latin: ad Gradum Advocatum Apud Judices), alternatively candidates without an approved law degree may undertake the societies Diploma in Legal Studies before presenting for the societies degree. Those who are presented with the degree are entitled to be called and practice at the "Bar of Ireland".

Profile

The society has generally kept a low profile in current affairs in Ireland, though it did come to prominence in 1972 when financial difficulties lead to the society selling a considerable stock of non-legal books it had in its library. These were sold at auction at Sotheby's, London and a considerable stock of them where sold to clients outside Ireland. This was seen at the time as a major cultural outflow as many of the books were of historical and cultural significance - additionally the societies library had received an annual grant since 1945 for the upkeep of the books from the Irish Exchequer.

The society is seen as elitist, this was brought to attention in 2004 when the society courted controversy by not to recognising the law degrees offered by Griffith College Dublin , which are conferred by Nottingham Trent University, England. This was later overturned by the society which now recognises the degrees offered at the college by the university.

External link

• Offical site - King's Inns