Walk to King’s Inn, Blessington Street Park

I’ve already finished this week’s lectures for my CMA study program, and the next assignment is to read some more sections of the textbook. The forecast for the next couple of days calls for rain, so I decide to defer the reading until then. Instead I take advantage of the clear skies to get some more steps in for the week while listening to some podcasts. I head to the north side of the Liffey again, passing through the Mary Street shopping district, and deeper into the north side of the Dublin inner city.

The first point of interest along my path is King’s Inn, which is the body which governs entry to the profession of barrister-at-law in Ireland. The society of King’s Inn dates back to 1541 when King Henry VIII granted its charter; the name King’s Inn pays homage to him.

In Ireland, the legal profession is divided between barristers and solicitors… so what’s the difference? I found some answers in this blog which I’ve summarized as follows.

Barristers are lawyers who specialise in court advocacy and the giving of legal opinion.  Barristers do not handle clients’ funds, provide safe custody of original documents, or provide administrative services which a client would expect from a firm of solicitors. Instead, barristers are retained for specific cases, primarily as advocates. Barristers can be distinguished from a solicitor because they wear a wig and gown in court. They work in the superior courts and their main role is to act as advocates in legal hearings, which means they stand in court and plead the case on behalf of their clients in front of a judge.

Solicitors provides expert legal advice and support to clients on both contentious and non-contentious business. A solicitor’s clients can be individuals, groups, private companies or public sector organisations. Solicitors seek the expert assistance of barristers on issues that they feel require further opinion and in the preparation of litigation.

At any rate, the King’s Inn building dates back to 1800 and is surrounded by a small park open to the public.

After passing through the King’s Inn and out the back gate, I weave through residential streets towards Blessington Street Park, one of the gems I discovered early on after my arrival but haven’t visited again yet. I’ve brought along some leftover heels of bread to feed the ducks (and seagulls who also flock there).