A barrister who has been called to the Bar of England and Wales was granted leave by the High Court yesterday to seek an order directing the Society of the King's Inns to determine her application to be called to the Bar of Ireland.
Ms Angela Leahy-Grimshaw claims that, under her right of establishment in Article 43 of the EU Treaty, she is entitled to have her application determined.
Ms Leahy-Grimshaw, Moore Street, Cappamore, Co Limerick, said she holds a certificate in the English/Welsh jurisdiction to practise as an "employed barrister" but also carrying the right to be certified as a "practising barrister" in that jurisdiction on completion of a period of apprenticeship.
She has litigation experience in England in employment law and has lectured in Ireland on employment law and Irish constitutional law, she said.
Last April, she had applied to the King's Inns here to examine her qualifications to be called to the Bar of Ireland for the purpose of "devilling" as a barrister here and afterwards practising as a barrister here.
On July 30th last, the King's Inns had said in a letter that it had no procedures in place to give effect to its duty to persons in her situation.
Ms Leahy-Grimshaw said the society's decision to defer examination of her application until after it had put procedures in place could delay her application for a further six months or more. There was no certainty of any final resolution of her application.