Trainee solicitors will be able to learn their profession outside the capital for the first time when a new law school starts operations in Cork at the end of the year.
The move is in response to the growing number of people training to be solicitors. Numbers increased by 83 per cent in the past three years, according to Ken Murphy director general of the Law Society.
"We're responding to demand because there is an increase in the numbers who every year want to become solicitors," Mr Murphy told RTE radio.
A premises for the new school has already been identified and advertisements for staff will be published in the press this week.
Facilities at University College Cork will be available to the trainee solicitors.
Currently, all solicitors undergo training at the Law Society's premises at Blackhall Place, Dublin.
The announcement was made today at the Courthouse in Cork where President of the Society Michael Irvine said up to 150 trainees can be accommodated at the new school.
"This is a very historic day for the Law Society. It is the first time in our history that we have planned to offer our training courses outside Dublin," Mr Irvine said.