Once the Celtic Tiger, Ireland is now the supine cat.

In November 2010, with Ireland's economy stalling, Ireland's government was forced to go cap-in-hand to the European Union and the International Monetary Fund and accept an €85 billion (120 million) bail-out package.

Since then, things have only worsened, with unemployment hitting 14.7 per cent in mid-March.

This is a far cry from the 1990's, when Ireland's skyline was littered with construction cranes and its economy was one of the most buoyant in Europe.

Not surprisingly, Ireland's legal market is battening down the hatches and international recruitment has all but ground to a halt.

"There is no opportunity for overseas lawyers," says Marsden Group principal Jonathan Walmsley. However, for lawyers wanting to go the United Kingdom or Ireland, but want to get away from the London scene, Walmsley says that Northern Ireland has recently come on the international legal scene. "There was lots of press about Allen & Overy setting up an office in Belfast, and moving their support staff there," Walmsley says. "Herbert Smith is another international firm that has recently opened in Belfast, and they are currently recruiting litigation lawyers."

The good: Dublin is a vibrant city with a lively social scene, and is a great base from which to explore the rest of Ireland and Europe.

The bad: The Irish economy is going through a severe downturn. There is not much corporate work at the moment and Dublin is an expensive city.

Realistic option? International legal recruitment from Irish firms is currently non-existent. Belfast in Northern Ireland might provide some opportunities.

Click on the images below to discover the 2011 legal job hotspots for Australian lawyers: