Ireland - Dublin
 
Background Information
Dublin's landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation following a huge economic boom over the course of the past decade. These days, it remains steeped in history but is also a thriving capital city and amongst the top tourist destinations in Europe. The burst of prosperity it has experienced has given it a newly cosmopolitan feel with a plethora of attractive cafes, bars and restaurants to choose between. However, with its down-to-earth and fun-loving population, it remains one of the friendliest and unpretentious European cities on the map.

 
Law Firms
The legal market is dominated by the ”Big Five“ law firms in Ireland. All are full-service commercial law firms based in Dublin, most with overseas offices in Europe and the US, and with the critical mass of fee-earners to act both on large-scale international transactions and on smaller domestic deals. Each has a distinct culture and reputation, but all have blue-chip clients, a comprehensive range of legal specialities and act on key instructions in the Republic. Although the Big Five lead the field in terms of fee-earners, the second tier and the mid-size firms offer considerable expertise and are becoming increasingly popular to those who are looking for a cutting edge career but also want the lifestyle balance.
 
Principal Areas of Demand
  1. Corporate
  2. Banking & Finance
  3. Investment Funds
  4. Commercial Property
  5. Projects/PFI/Construction
Remuneration & Benefits
Salaries for lawyers in Dublin are lower than they are in London, with most of the leading firms paying lawyers approximately one third less than they would earn in the City. Whereas the lower rate tax band is 20%, the higher rate tax band is marginally higher than it is in the UK at 42%. You do receive credits however so over all you end up paying about 33% of your wages in tax and social insurance.
 
Outside the Office
Dublin is one of Europe's most attractive cities. The river neatly divides the city in half. Its reputation as Europe's party central though, is largely overblown. It has fabulous bars, but they are much more sophisticated than you may have been led to expect. It also has some world-class restaurants.
 
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