Top 10 Countries With Shortage Of Lawyers (2023)

Lawyers are crucial in every society- with the aid of their services, people can legally obtain representations in courts. Lawyers help in maintaining justice under the law. They make sure that people have their rights protected and that the marginalized have access to a just legal system. Also, with the aid of law services, people can get to understand more about the interpretation of laws and regulations. Even, social changes are made possible by the efforts of lawyers.

There are lots of countries facing lawyer shortages. However, there are top 10 countries faced with a shortage of lawyers. Usually, there are two main reasons behind the shortage in the legal industry. These include overwork/burnout and cultural concerns within law firms.

Top 10 Countries With a Shortage Of Lawyers

1. Ireland

Ireland is one of the countries with a shortage of lawyers and a high demand for them. The average salary for lawyers in Ireland is €80,660 per year. Ireland is a perfect place to work as the country has a strong and stable economic condition.

Ireland has an attractive tax system, a high standard of living, and supportive work culture. To become a lawyer in Ireland, you need to meet certain requirements.

• First, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in law from an accredited institution. This typically takes three or four years.
• Also, you need to complete a professional law course. After completing your bachelor’s degree, you must then complete a professional law course, which is known as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) in Ireland. This course is typically one year long and covers the practical skills and knowledge required to practice law.
• Furthermore, you need to pass the entrance exams to be admitted to the BPTC, which test your knowledge of the law and your ability to apply it.
• Obtain practical experience: After completing the BPTC, you must obtain practical experience by working as a trainee solicitor or barrister for two years. During this time, you will gain hands-on experience working with clients, appearing in court, and conducting legal research.
• Pass professional exams: To become a qualified lawyer in Ireland, you must pass professional exams, which test your knowledge of the law and your ability to apply it in a practical setting.
• Register with the relevant regulatory body: Once you have completed your training and passed the professional exams, you must register with the relevant regulatory body, such as the Law Society of Ireland or the Bar Council of Ireland.

2. The United States of America

There is high demand and shortage of lawyers in the United States of America. The average salary for lawyers in the United States is $148,030 per year. There are different perks of working as a lawyer in the United States. The country also has a high standard of living, top-notch educational facilities, and diverse opportunities for career advancement.

• To become a lawyer in the United States of America, you need to
• Obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
• Pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
• Attend and graduate from an accredited law school.
• Pass the bar examination in the state where you wish to practice law.
• Meet the character and fitness requirements for admission to the bar.
• Obtain a license to practice law from the state bar association.

Besides, you need to know that these requirements might vary from state to state in the US.

3. Germany

Germany is another country with a high demand for law professionals. The average salary for lawyers in Germany is $81,254 per year. To become a lawyer in Germany, you need to complete a legal education program. This involves finishing a bachelor’s degree in law and then a master’s degree in law.  After completing your legal education, you must take and pass the First State Examination (Erste Juristische Prüfung), which is a comprehensive exam covering all areas of German law.

Next, you must complete a two-year legal clerkship (Referendariat), during which you will work in various areas of law and gain practical experience. After completing your legal clerkship, you must take and pass the Second State Examination (Zweite Juristische Prüfung). This exam is focused on specific areas of law and is designed to test your practical skills. Finally, you must pass the bar exam (Rechtsanwaltsprüfung) to become a licensed lawyer in Germany. This exam tests your ability to practice law and your knowledge of ethical and professional standards.

4. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom also faces a scarcity of law practitioners. Besides, the average salary for lawyers in the United Kingdom is £74,148 per year. To become a lawyer in the UK, you need to complete a law degree, or a non-law degree followed by a conversion course in law, and complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC), which is a postgraduate course that provides practical training for aspiring lawyers.

Next, you will be required to finish a two-year training contract with a law firm, during which you will gain practical experience and learn the skills necessary to become a practising lawyer. After completing your training contract, you must become a qualified solicitor by passing the Qualifying Examination, which is a comprehensive exam that tests your knowledge of the law.

5. Japan

The average pay per year for lawyers in Japan is JPY 13,050,774. Lawyers in Japan enjoy a high degree of social status and respect. There are diverse ways to illustrate this but perhaps none are so impressive as symbolized by the gold chrysanthemum lapel pin worn by every Bengoshi.

6. Norway

In Norway, Lawyers earn about NOK 1,185,283 a year. The country is a great place to work as there is access to social services is free and equal to everyone, good security, and also beautiful working environments.

7. Netherland

The Netherlands is a great place to work as a legal practitioner. The average pay for lawyers in the Netherlands is 9,420 EUR per month. There is a huge demand for lawyers in the Netherlands and there are various career opportunities for workers as well.

8. Australia

In Australia, lawyers earn $116,490 per year. There is a shortage of lawyers in Australia- some of the things you need to do before you become a certified legal practitioner in the country are to obtain a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and engage in Legal Practical training.

9. Canada

Canada is a good place to work as a lawyer. The average pay for lawyers in the country is $99,924 per year. Family Law is in high demand in Canada and some other in-demand practice areas like civil litigation, commercial law, compliance, IP, and trademark law, as well.

10. Switzerland

The average pay for lawyers in Switzerland is CHF 153,930 per year. The country is one of the countries with a shortage of lawyers and a high demand for legal practitioners. Besides, you need to obtain a law degree from a recognized university usually three to four years,  complete a legal clerkship, engage bar exam, and obtain authorization to practice.

Related:

• Top 8 Countries Facing Shortage Of Accountants
• Top 10 Countries With High Demand For Software Engineers
• What Countries Can UK Nurses Work In?

Conclusion

Lawyers are important for different reasons in society. They prevent disputes, interpret laws and governmental regulations, represent people in court, and so on. Different countries are in high search of good legal practitioners.

We have examined the top 10 countries with a shortage of lawyers above. As a smart legal practitioner, it is quite significant to know about the countries facing a shortage of lawyers, to make the best career decisions.