There was no outcome to a meeting last night to avert strike action which could disrupt the courts system next week.
Strike notice has been served for next Monday by solicitors and legal officers in the Chief State Solicitor's Office, who work on cases for the State Prosecution Service.
Officials of the IMPACT trade union met senior officials from the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Attorney General's Office last night.
The 60 solicitors and 37 legal officers overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a longstanding dispute over understaffing and poor career structures for technical and professional staff, according to IMPACT.
The State Solicitor's Office finds it impossible to provide an adequate service because it is understaffed by at least 20 per cent, IMPACT claims.
The union says it wants an immediate increase in technical and professional staff and a restructuring of the staffing system to attract and retain quality staff in the office. As part of the proposed strike, IMPACT says pickets will be placed at the Four Courts, the State Solicitor's Office in Ship Street, and possibly the tribunals in Dublin Castle.
IMPACT's national secretary, Mr Kevin O'Driscoll, said: "The system relies on staff working extra hours for nothing. The service to the courts and the public inevitably suffers. Our members regret having to take this action, but feel they have been forced into it after years of broken promises."