School of Law Christmas Fundraiser for SVP
The Sutherland School of Law i
Normally we ask staff and students to buy a gift for a child and leave it under the S
This year, with so few on campus, we’re asking you to donate whatever you would have spent on your ‘Generositree’ gift to ensure that all children get a chance to enjoy this Christmas.
(opens in a new window)Just click on this link to donate.
Thank you for your generosity.
Professional Diploma in Arbitration: Government Funded places for January 2021
UCD Sutherland School of Law is currently offering a number of Government funded places on the Professional Diploma in Arbitration commencing in January 2021. This initiative, arising from the call for stimulus initiatives is also contributing to the School’s aim of empowering humanity.
This initiative will enable candidates to upskill and undertake a unique and internationally recognized Professional Diploma and to make a real difference in dispute resolution, in conducting and participating in Irish arbitrations.
The closing date to apply for Government funded places on the Diploma in Arbitration is Friday, 11 December 2020.
Applications for the Diploma will be accepted up until 11 January 2021. For more information on the Diploma please click on this link.
Who should Apply?
Alumni from the Diploma include a range of professionals and executives engaged in personnel management, public administration, or planning, architects, consulting engineers, chartered surveyors, property professionals and accountants. Applications are welcome from those with approved university degrees, academic and/or professional qualifications and/or career experience that would satisfy the School that candidates are well placed to successfully engage with and contribute to what is a leading Professional Diploma.
The aim of the Government in providing Stimulus Funding to the UCD Sutherland School of Law is to enable skills development or reskilling for those who may be returning to the labour market in areas of growing and needed skills, such as:
- Returners to the work environment such as homemakers and carers
- the Unemployed.
- Former Self Employed and Employed looking to reskill in areas of growing need.
Eligibility and the criteria for awarding the Government funded places that are available will align with the Government’s aim and with Springboard+ eligibility criteria which are detailed here (opens in a new window)https://springboardcourses.ie/eligibility and the entry requirements for the Diploma. Eligible applicants must be ordinarily resident in Ireland and must meet the nationality and EU residency rules as aligned to Springboard as detailed here (opens in a new window)https://springboardcourses.ie/faq. This funding has been approved under the Higher Education Authority and Government of Ireland - July Stimulus Package - Modular Skills Provision. For full details on this Government Funded initiative see the (opens in a new window)July Stimulus - Higher Education Initiatives.
Please direct enquiries to (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie.
Please Note that personal data may be shared with the Higher Education Authority, for example, to determine eligibility for funding or for statistical purposes. This will at all times be done in compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Further information can be found (opens in a new window)here
MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice: Government Funded places for January 2021
As part of a national initiative to address the skills need of the economy, UCD Sutherland School of Law is pleased to confirm that a limited number of Government Funded places are being offered on the MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice. This government funding will allow for full fee remission for new applicants* for the programme commencing in January 2021 and concluding in December 2021. Please note that the closing date to apply for these places is 4 December 2020.
This MSc is a unique programme, based in Ireland’s only Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, it is suitable for non-lawyers who wish to work in the field of criminology and criminal justice.
For more details and how to apply please click on (opens in a new window)this link.
Financial support is designed to increase access to postgraduate courses and priority will be given to:
- Returners and Homemakers who have been out of the work environment for a number of years due to childcare or other caring duties.
- Those currently in employment who want to re-skill.
- Those who were formerly self-employed and who wish to re-skill.
- Recent graduates with at least a Level 8 qualification.
For full details of these priorities, see the (opens in a new window)July Stimulus - Higher Education Initiatives.
*Fee remission not available for students who do not qualify for EU fee status.
Please direct informal enquiries to (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie
Please Note that personal data may be shared with the Higher Education Authority, for example, to determine eligibility for funding or for statistical purposes. This will at all times be done in compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Further information can be found (opens in a new window)here
UCD to Host one of the World’s Leading International Legal Conferences in 2022
The UCD Centre for Constitutional Studies will host one of the world’s leading international legal conferences in 2022, it was announced.
The conference will be the latest in the biennial Public Law series, the most prestigious forum for the discussion of public law matters in the common law world.
The three day event is expected to attract hundreds of prominent public law figures to Dublin.
The announcement was made by Professor Jason Varuhas of the University of Melbourne at an event in Australia. The conference will take place in July 2022.
The decision to award the event to Dublin has particular significance given that 2022 will mark the centenary of the first Irish Constitution.
Welcoming the announcement, Director of the Centre Professor Eoin Carolan said “We’re delighted that UCD will host the Public Law Conference in 2022. Having such a major event in Ireland is a real privilege, especially given the year that is in it. It will be a great opportunity for Irish scholars to showcase their work to an international audience”.
“UCD Sutherland School of Law has a long tradition of public law scholarship reflected in the UCD Centre for Constitutional Studies and in this prestigious conference. We look forward to welcoming leading public law scholars from across the world” Professor Imelda Maher, Dean of Law commented.
UCD follows in the footsteps of the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne as the host of the event. The School of Law in University College Dublin was recently ranked No. 1 in Ireland in the (opens in a new window)Times Higher World University Rankings 2021 by subject.
THE Rankings position UCD Sutherland School of Law as Ireland’s leading University Law School
UCD Sutherland School of Law is delighted to announce that the Times Higher Education World Rankings 2021 has ranked us 84th in the World for Law. The achievement is particularly notable as it acknowledges the Law School as the leading university Law School in Ireland.
The Dean of Law, Professor Imelda Maher commented on the announcement:
“ The School is delighted to see its work recognised in this way across teaching and research and acknowledging our strong international outlook.”
Full details of the Times Higher Education Rankings can be accessed (opens in a new window)here.
UCD Sutherland School of Law is also consistently positioned in the Top 100 University Law Schools in the (opens in a new window)QS World University Rankings by Subject which are based upon academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.
Seminar Series on the Day Report & Direct Provision
Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre and UCD Sutherland School of Law are co-hosting a seminar series (opens in a new window)Exploring the Day Report.
In October 2020, a group chaired by Dr Catherine Day made the most significant recommendations that impact on rights of persons seeking international protection in Ireland, and for people subject to Ireland’s system of direct provision.
Exploring the Day Report seminar series, via Zoom, discusses the recommendations of the Day Advisory Group, through reflections from those who issued the report, academic analysis of particular issues, thoughts from activists and civil society on implementing the Day Report recommendations, along with political perspectives on advancing the implementation of the Day Report. Details on the seminar programme, including registration requirements for all seminars is available (opens in a new window)here.
HEA Supports Additional Places on Law Graduate Programmes
MSc in Criminology & Criminal Justice and Professional Diploma in Arbitration
UCD Sutherland School of Law is pleased to announce that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has agreed to fund seven additional places on the MSc in Criminology & Criminal Justice and ten places on the Professional Diploma in Arbitration, both of which commence in January 2021.
This follows a Government (opens in a new window)announcement by Minister Harrris launching over 14,000 free Higher Education places to help people get back to work and upskill workers. College places have been made available on these graduate programmes in support of this national objective to address the skills needs of the economy. This funding has been approved under the Higher Education Authority and Government of Ireland - July Stimulus Package - Postgraduate Skills Provision.
Full details of the MSc in Criminology & Criminal Justice are available (opens in a new window)here. Click here for MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice Flyer
Details of the eligibility requirements for the Professional Diploma in Arbitration are available here.
Applications for both will open in early November but please email (opens in a new window)law.diplomas@ucd.ie to register your interest in the meantime.
Personal data may be shared with the Higher Education Authority, for example to determine eligibility for funding or for statistical purposes. This will at all times be done in compliance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Further information can be found here- (opens in a new window)https://hea.ie/about-us/
Dr Nina Lueck and Prof. Oonagh Breen present at this years Marie Curie conference hosted by UCD
During the summer trimester, Professor (opens in a new window)Oonagh Breen (PI) and Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow Dr (opens in a new window)Nina Lueck participated in the European Research Executive Agency’s (REA) two days Monitoring Mission for MSCA Individual Fellows.
This year’s monitoring meeting was jointly hosted by UCD Research and REA’s project officers from Brussels.
Seven of UCD’s MSCA Fellows from a range of disciplines (such as medicine, history, agriculture, law) presented and discussed their work.
Nina Lueck presented preliminary findings of problem-centred and narrative interviews she has conducted with 52 refugees and asylum seekers about their experience in accessing third level education in Ireland.
The preliminary findings illustrated financial and non-financial barriers to enter universities, such as non-eligibility for scholarships, the cost of transport to and from colleges, the distance between accommodation centres and universities, the inability to change hostels for educational reasons, denial of work permits, insecurity and long waiting times concerning their legal status, the ineptitude of direct provision for students, language barriers and dealing with health issues such as combatting trauma.
Her presentation also highlighted positive aspects such as the tailored support by university staff (both academic and administrative) and members of voluntary organisations.
Dignity and Respect in the Sutherland School of Law
Everyone in the Law School should be able to engage in learning and research in an inclusive environment based on mutual respect. Each member of the School, staff and student alike, is expected to behave with respect towards, and to honour the dignity and diversity of, everyone in the School. The School takes breaches of dignity and respect through bullying, harassment, including sexual harassment very seriously. Should you experience or witness any behaviour that falls below these essential and strongly held values then rest assured that any approach you make will be treated confidentially, seriously and sensitively. For options, formal and informal, internal and external please go to (opens in a new window)https://reportandsupport.ucd.ie/ which sets out comprehensively what supports are available. These range from anonymous reporting to a formal complaint within UCD to approaching specialist supports outside UCD. You may also approach the student adviser, (opens in a new window)nadia.clarkin@ucd.ie or, for PhD students, (opens in a new window)carita.bramhill@ucd.ie We hope that you never have to avail of these but if you do, that you know you will be supported.
For definitions of what constitutes bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, please see the policy (opens in a new window)here and its procedures. Note, the UCD Dignity and Respect Policy is currently being reviewed.
Registration Enquiry Form Sutherland School of Law
Trimester 1, 2020, Law Programmes: Guidance for students
UCD Sutherland School of Law is finalising how teaching, learning and assessment will be conducted over T1/20, noting that this may need to adapt as public health guidance changes. It is clear that students value the opportunity to learn in a campus setting, but we also recognise that some forms of teaching lend themselves to distance learning more than others. Therefore, the School has decided to use a blend of face-to-face and online learning options to optimise the student experience whilst maintaining a safe learning environment.
For information on the School of Law Autumn Trimester programmes we have prepared the following documents for undergraduate and graduate students:
The principles that inform the approach of the Sutherland School are: safety, rigour, compassion and agility. First and foremost, we aim to protect student and staff health as much as we are able given the current situation. We will be guided by public health guidelines on this. Second, we aim to provide the best high-quality learning experience we can within the limitations of current covid restrictions. Third, we have designed our plan so that, if needs be, we can shift to being entirely online with minimal disruption. There are compromises required but we aim to provide a framework that facilitates learning through a blended approach that will enable you to undertake your studies in a way that balances different considerations in these extraordinary times.
The information in the documents above relates only to modules offered by the School of Law. If you are taking any modules outside the Law School, please contact that School for information on their modules.
Finally, if you have any queries please contact (opens in a new window)uglaw@ucd.ie (BCL), (opens in a new window)bbl@ucd.ie (Business and Law) and graduate students can email (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie.
UCD Law PhD student joins Anti-Racism Committee
Congratulations to our PhD student, Bashir Otukoya who has joined Ireland’s newly formed independent anti-racism committee. Bashir is also a member of the Irish Refugee Council and combines teaching in Athlone IT with his doctoral studies. His doctoral supervisor in UCD Sutherland School of Law is Dr Marie-Luce Paris who is the Academic Director of the UCD Centre for Human Rights. Bashir’s thesis, under the supervision of Dr Paris, is as follows:
BHÉITH ÉIREANNACH (Becoming Irish):A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IRISH NATURALISATION SYSTEM
The anti-racism committee is chaired by Caroline Fennell, Professor of Law at University College Cork, and Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and includes a diverse cohort from sport, journalism, travellers rights, migrant rights, the ICTU union and the employers’ organisation IBEC.
The group will review the current evidence on racial discrimination in Ireland and look at best international practice on measures to combat racism with a view to reporting to government in three months.
UCD Law students awarded prestigious UK Scholarships
(L to R) Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair, Eoin MacLachlan, Mark O’Brien O’Reilly and Samantha O'Brien O'Reilly
For the second year in a row a UCD Sutherland School of Law graduate has been awarded a Lord Mansfield scholarship for the Bar Professional Training Course in London, the top scholarship of Lincoln’s Inn.
Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair BCL (Law with Philosophy) 2016 was awarded this prestigious scholarship for 2019/2020. During her time studying law in UCD, Clíodhna was not only an excellent student, debating coach and tutor she was also winner of the Irish Times Debating Competition. On graduation, she undertook an LLM in Harvard where she was a recipient of an Irving R Kaufman Fellowship award.
Eoin MacLachlan has recently been awarded the Lord Mansfield scholarship for 2020/2021. Eoin studied the BCL (Law with Economics) and since graduating in 2017 has completed an LLM in Cambridge and worked at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in London for the past two years. At UCD Eoin was Auditor of the UCD Literary & Historical Society and was also a winner of the Irish Times Debating Competition.
We also wish to congratulate outstanding student Mark O'Brien O'Reilly BCL (Law with History) 2019 who was awarded the Baroness Hale of Richmond Scholarship at Gray’s Inn. While at UCD, Mark was an accomplished debater and won the UCD Law Society Gold Medal for Mooting. In the autumn of 2020 Mark will commence pupillage at Francis Taylor Building in October 2021, a specialist planning, environmental and public law set. He has also been awarded the Snowdon Cambridge Scholarship and will commence an LLM in the University of Cambridge later this year.
Mark's achievement is doubly impressive in that his sister, Samantha O'Brien O'Reilly,is a past recipient of a scholarship from Gray's Inn - the Shakespeare Memorial Award. Samantha is also a graduate from UCD Sutherland School of Law having completed her BCL (Law with French Law) in 2016. She is now a pupil of 4 Pump Court in London, a leading barristers' chambers with expertise in commercial, construction, energy, professional negligence, shipping and technology work.
UCD Sutherland School of Law congratulates these outstanding students on their remarkable achievements.
Sutherland School of Law welcomes a third ERC Grant
L to R Dr Amy Strecker, Professor Eoin Carolan and Professor Suzanne Kingston
Dr Amy Strecker’s European Research Council (ERC) Starter award of €1.5 million is the third ERC grant awarded to Sutherland School of Law. This follows a €2 million ERC Consolidator Grant secured by Professor Eoin Carolan in 2018 and the School’s first ever ERC award of €1.5 million won by Professor Suzanne Kingston in 2015.
Dr Amy Strecker’s project, Land, Property and Spatial Justice in International Law (PROPERTY[IN]JUSTICE) investigates the ways in which international law facilitates spatial justice and injustice through its conceptualisation of property rights. The overall aim of the project is to advocate a more socially-just interpretation of property in relation to land.
Professor Eoin Carolan, was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for a 5-year study, entitled The Foundations of Institutional Authority (FIAT). This project explores how separation of powers systems are being affected by current social and political trends. This is a problem for constitutional models, like the separation of powers, that divide power between traditional institutions. The questions that will be raised will include: How can a constitution work if voters distrust their government? How should separation of powers systems change to meet this challenge?
The School’s first ERC grant, Legal Architectures: The Influence of New Environmental Governance Rules on Environmental Compliance asks the question, ‘how can we design our environmental governance laws to maximise environmental compliance?’ Professor Suzanne Kingston and her research team investigate the influence that environmental governance laws have on compliance decisions, and how we might best design our laws to maximise compliance. In 2017, Suzanne was further honoured by Enterprise Ireland as one of Ireland's ‘Champions of EU Research’, for achieving the highest-ranking Irish ERC grant across all disciplines in her category.
Dr. Marie-Luce Paris is awarded the prestigious IRC Ulysses Grant
Associate Professor Marie-Luce Paris has won the prestigious IRC Ulysses Travel Grant for 2020. The Travel Grant is aimed at fostering strong research connections between Ireland and France. Dr. Paris is one of the four recipients in UCD to have received the award this year. This is the first time that the IRC Ulysses Grant has been awarded for a Law related project.
Dr. Paris, as Principal Investigator, will team up with Professor David Farrell of the School of Politics and International Relations to work on a research project entitled DECIDE2 (Democracy in Crisis: Exploring the Citizen Challenge of DEliberative Democracy in light of the French and Irish Constitutional Experiments) in collaboration with Aix Marseille Université.
See IRC Twitter (opens in a new window)here and French Embassy in Ireland (opens in a new window)here.
BBL graduate undertakes PhD in Legal History at Yale University
Congratulations to Business and Law graduate Fisayo Akinlude who has been accepted to undertake a PhD at Yale University.
Fisayo graduated with a BBL degree in 2017 and then pursued her interest in legal history by undertaking a Masters Degree in History in UCD. In 2019 she was awarded an NUI Travelling Doctorate Scholarship. With her doctorate studies in legal history she aims to analyse the legal frameworks that facilitated or hindered movement for Black travellers in the eighteenth and nineteenth-century British empire. Her PhD proposal is provisionally entitled 'The post emancipation legal code'.
The Sutherland School of Law congratulates Fisayo on her remarkable achievements to date and wishes her luck in the next stage of her academic career in the United States.
Celebrating Twenty Years of the Fordham Summer School
The Fordham Summer School group (2017) with the Joint Secretary of the North South Ministerial Council
UCD Sutherland School of Law this year is celebrating twenty years partnering with Fordham Law School, New York for their Summer School programme. Over this time, a significant number of law students and professors from Fordham Law School have travelled to Ireland for a Summer programme designed to build relationships between Fordham, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Students study international law and conflict resolution in both Belfast and Dublin and experience first-hand its impact on both cities.
The programme offers 40 externships providing the opportunity to work with some of the best barristers, solicitors, and judges in Dublin and Belfast to allow students build an international network. This year because of the travel restrictions imposed by the Covid 19 crisis, the Fordham Summer School took place online but plans are already underway for it to take place again in Ireland in 2021.
To celebrate the twenty year anniversary of the Fordham Summer School we asked one of our alumni, Aodhán Peelo, to write a piece about his experience of the programme in 2017. At the time he was studying Law with Philosophy at UCD Sutherland School of Law, he is now a Strategy Consulting Analyst at Accenture, having graduated from UCD in 2018.
‘In summer 2017, I and three friends from UCD found ourselves on the Belfast train, traveling to join the first leg of the Fordham University Summer School. We were greeted by an uncharacteristically sunny day, and an entirely characteristically warm welcome from Professors Martin, Lazebnik and Feerick.
We spent one full week hosted by Queens University Belfast, studying 'Human Rights and Resolving Conflict in Northern Ireland', before returning to Dublin for the second leg of learning. The full course was a chance to experience the U.S. Socratic style of learning at its best. From the start, we dived into class discussions that were as fascinating as they were challenging. As well as lessons from Fordham’s professors, the course offered a unique chance to learn from leading academics and activists in both Belfast and Dublin. Each shared their experiences and expertise of putting human rights into practice.
The Fordham programme made a particular effort to bring academic discussions to pragmatic conclusions. After two weeks of readings, discussions and lectures, I was caught off guard by the exam question - ‘ Are human rights more a distraction than critical to the process...?’. But having had the course we did, it wasn’t difficult to decide which way to argue. The range of distinguished guests all spoke to one theme - What can be done to make rights frameworks a reality?. I think it was this focussed pragmatism that made their enthusiasm so infectious. The warmth and insight from students and lecturers alike made a fantastic course, and fabulous memories.’
'UK in a Changing Europe': Blog by Prof Joseph McMahon
Professor Joseph McMahon, full professor of Commercial Law at the UCD Sutherland School of Law has recently published a blog on the prestigious website of ‘The UK in a Changing Europe’. Prof McMahon's piece is titled 'Negotiating the UK-EU trade agreement’ and describes in detail the complexity of these crucial negotiations against a backdrop of the end of the year deadline to get a comprehensive agreement in place.
'The UK in a Changing Europe' is an initiative intended to improve access to research on the relationship between the UK and the European Union. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), it is based at King's College London.
Professor McMahon’s blog is available to read (opens in a new window)here.
Professional Diplomas Commencing 21 September 2020
UCD Sutherland School of Law is pleased to confirm that the following Level 9 Professional Diplomas are currently enrolling and will start in the week commencing 21 September:
- Professional Diploma in Data Protection and Governance
- (opens in a new window)Professional Diploma in Law
Further information is available by emailing (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie or by phoning 01 716 4114.
Professional Diploma in Data Protection and Governance
The Diploma is a 24-week part-time programme, delivered over two trimesters (12 weeks in the Autumn, 12 in the Spring trimester). It is designed to supply training for Data Protection Officers and others involved in compliance roles in organisations. It will also be of relevance to any legal practitioners involved in this area.
The programme is co-ordinated by (opens in a new window)Dr TJ McIntyre of the Sutherland School of Law who is well known for his expertise in the area. This Diploma has been specifically designed to meet the training needs that developed since the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force two years ago. The GDPR has meant that significant new data protection obligations have been imposed on Irish organisations.
Classes will take place at 6pm on Wednesdays in the Autumn term (first class on Wednesay 23 September) and 5pm on Thursdays in the Spring term. Teaching will be face to face in large theatres designed to allow for 2 metre social distancing (Note: should government guidelines in relation to face to face teaching alter, alternative teaching methods will be offered).
(opens in a new window)Professional Diploma in Law (General)
This Diploma has been designed to allow students the opportunity to choose from a wide range of legal modules. You will study alongside Masters (LLM) Students and may consider continuing to study an LLM (subject to meeting entry requirements).
- Diploma students can tailor their programme to their own specific needs in terms of selecting the modules that interest them most and the class times that suit them best.
- The Professional Diploma in Law offers students a choice of modules from the Masters in Law (LLM) programmes, and lectures are shared with LLM students. In essence, students ‘build’ their own unique Professional Diploma in Law, concentrating on the areas of law of most interest or relevance to them, i.e. Human Rights, IP & IT, Criminology & Criminal Justice, etc.
Applications are also being accepted for the following Professional Diplomas in the Spring term (commencing late January):
(opens in a new window)Professional Diploma in Professional Regulation
Professional Diploma in Arbitration
There will also be a Professional Diploma in Employment Law commencing in late Spring. If you require any further information or wish to apply for any of these diplomas please email (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie or phone 01 716 4114.
Student Reading List - Staff Recommendations
This reading list was selected by faculty in the School of Law for students who are considering coming to UCD to study Law. See below the wide range of items they have suggested you might like to read or watch. This is not an essential reading list, it is extracurricular reading which also includes podcasts and movies which we think students will enjoy. If you download it in Powerpoint you will also get links to certain items.
We hope you find it interesting and we look forward to welcoming you to UCD Sutherland School of Law in the future. To download the reading list click the link below:
UCD School of Law Student Reading List - Staff Recommendations
Covid 19: Message from Dean of Law to Students
On March 23rd, Professor Imelda Maher contacted all law students returning from their two-week reading break. Her email welcomed them back to the much-changed and challenging learning environment. Her objective was to inform students of the supports on offer from UCD Sutherland School of Law, and above all, to reassure them in these unprecedented times. Below are the key points for students in relation to the forthcoming weeks. The university also has this useful FAQ webpage for students to consult for information (it is regularly updated).
E-learning
All module coordinators have been updating Brightspace and each of them will contact students about the changes ahead. There will be some variation as to how staff approach remote learning, just as there is variation when teaching is on campus, so it is very important that students check in with each module and make sure they know what is happening. Students cannot assume that because one module coordinator does it one way, all the others will as well (different approaches to teaching are discussed regularly in the School and the view is that differences in approach deepen and enhance the student learning experience).
Tutorials
For undergraduates, tutorials are also going online or being replaced by written exercises. Students should consult each module on Brightspace.
Assessment
On assessment, the School is currently planning assessments and students can expect to get clear guidance over the coming weeks from their module coordinators about what is expected of them. They will need to plan their time and manage their deadlines - remembering that assessments can of course be submitted ahead of deadlines. The principle the School is applying is that no student is to be disadvantaged by the changes. In short, standards will be maintained but not raised and as with any assessment, they are still just being asked to show that they have met the module learning outcomes - nothing extra.
Skills
It is different working remotely so there will be a process of getting used to it. Students should be patient and be aware that it will broaden their skill-set further and require a different kind of focus, discipline and organisation. These are skills that will be invaluable in the workplace so this is an opportunity to learn in new ways, to address what even just in educational (as opposed to social, economic or medical) terms is a considerable challenge, and to win through.
Exchange Students
For those currently on exchange with partner Law Schools, many will have returned to Ireland but will be continuing their studies with the host School remotely (just as those incoming students to the School of Law will continue their studies with us). Students should contact the exchange coordinator in their host Law School or the relevant module coordinator there in the first instance if anything is needed.
Communication
Given that students won’t be physically present in the building, communication becomes even more important. Students are encouraged to stay in touch with their classmates. All staff are working remotely. Academics will continue office hours and administrative staff are available via email. As issues arise, students should consider where they need to direct their query having first consulted the university FAQs here and determine is it their tutor, module coordinator, staff in the Law Office, the programme coordinator or student advisor? (see relevant email addresses below). The School of Law understands that the current situation will affect some more adversely e.g. through illness, care responsibilities, illness of loved ones, loss of employment, loss of income, accommodation. Any student facing additional challenges should advise the School as soon as possible and not wait for months on end or worry e.g. about getting medical documents – let the School know – the staff are all fully aware of how challenging it will be for what we hope is a small number of students.
The School will respond to queries appropriately and in an appropriate time frame. Students are encouraged to engage but at the same time, remember the challenges that staff are dealing with too - working remotely, complex care arrangements etc. While 100% of emails may not be answered on the day received, the School is committed to doing so where at all possible (and if for any reason, no response is received, students should resend with a polite reminder in a day or so).
Professor Maher finished her email to students by wishing that all students stay safe and well in these difficult and challenging times.
School of Law Emails:
Dean of Law: deanoflaw@ucd.ie
BCL: uglaw@ucd.ie (Ms. Maureen Reynolds)
BCL Programme Coordinator: Dr. Joe McGrath joe.mcgrath@ucd.ie
BBL: margaret.maher@ucd.ie (Ms Margaret Maher)
BBL Programme Coordinator: Assoc Prof Paul Ward (opens in a new window)paul.ward@ucd.ie
Tutorial Queries: lawtutorials@ucd.ie (Ms Julie Lim)
Outgoing Exchange Student Queries: lawexchanges@ucd.ie (Ms. Ulyana O’Neill)
Incoming Exchange Student Queries: lawincomingexchange@ucd.ie (Ms. Ulyana O’Neill)
Graduate Students: Ms. Niamh McCabe niamh.mccabe@ucd.ie
Graduate Diplomas: lawdiplomas@ucd.ie
Programme Coordinator taught graduate programmes: Prof Ian O’Donnell ian.odonnell@ucd.ie
Programme Coordinator for PhD programmes: Prof Joe McMahon joseph.mcmahon@ucd.ie
Student Adviser: Ms. Nadia Clarkin nadia.clarkin@ucd.ie
For library information see https://libguides.ucd.ie/covid19remoteaccess
University FAQs: https://www.ucd.ie/about-ucd/about/covid-19specialarrangementsfaqs/
'Fighting Back: U.S. Litigation in the #MeToo Era'
Picture (l to r ): Dr Deirdre Healy, Ryan Erickson, Paul Llewellyn and Professor Ian O’Donnell
The UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice hosted a fascinating lecture by Paul Llewellyn & Ryan Erickson (Lewis & Llewellyn LLP of California) in the UCD Sutherland School of Law in March 2020. Organised by Dr Deirdre Healy and Professor Ian O’Donnell, the distinguished guest lecture by the two US litigators was entitled ‘Fighting Back: U.S. Litigation in The #MeToo Era’. In the course of their lecture, they described their work pursuing civil lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse which has earned them a reputation as two of America’s leading practitioners in this area. In 2012, they represented victims in a case against a California School which has since become the largest ever sexual abuse settlement by a school district in United States history. Since that ground-breaking case, their work has helped victims of abuse find justice and, in the process, helped drive institutional change to prevent future instances of abuse. The lecture was well attended by students and staff and is part of an extensive programme planned by the UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its establishment in 2020 (contact (opens in a new window)criminology@ucd.ie for details).
Ryan Erickson, Paul Llewellyn joint presentation.
Extensive media interest in UCD research on reform of the jury system
Dr Mark Coen and Dr Niamh Howlin of the Sutherland School of Law recently published a major piece of research entitled ‘Judges and Juries in Ireland: An Empirical Study’. The work was undertaken with Dr Colette Barry (Sheffield Hallam University) and PhD candidate John Lynch. It was launched by Chief Justice Frank Clarke at the Criminal Courts of Justice in March. Among those who attended the launch were several members of the judiciary, senior officials from the Department of Justice and Courts Service, and the Director of Public Prosecutions Claire Loftus. The launch garnered extensive coverage across the print media, including radio interviews with Dr Coen and Dr Howlin.
The research team interviewed 22 judges and 11 barristers about their experiences of jury trials and their report analyses this data and makes reform recommendations. The authors argue that provision should be made by law for academic research involving former jurors, as previously recommended by the Law Reform Commission. The report notes that in Australia and New Zealand, countries with similar rules regarding jury secrecy, it has been possible for academics to survey former jurors to learn about their experiences. Such research has helped academics, policymakers, judges and lawyers in those jurisdictions to better understand the needs and concerns of jurors and provided an evidence base for law reform and changes in practice.
Pictured (l to r) John Lynch, Dr Niamh Howlin, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, Dr Colette Barry and Dr Mark Coen
Scholar at Risk at the Sutherland School of Law
On Wednesday 5 February the School hosted a visit by Dr Prosper Maguchu. Dr Maguchu is a lawyer, human rights activist and scholar at risk from Zimbabwe. Currently Visiting Associate Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, he delivered a presentation in the Moot Court room on the subject 'Trade Unionism and Academic Freedom in Zimbabwe.' Dr Maguchu researches in the areas of transitional justice, corruption and financial crimes. The talk was well-attended by staff and students from across the university and was followed by a lively questions and answers session. It was one of a series of talks delivered by Dr Maguchu at Irish universities as part of a speaking tour organised by Scholars at Risk Ireland. The UCD talk was organised and chaired by Dr Mark Coen.
Senior banking figures attend ‘Regulating Bank Culture’ Conference in UCD
(l to r) Dr Joe McGrath with Keynote Speaker, Mr Justice John Hedigan and Ciaran Walker of Eversheds Sutherland
The Sutherland School of Law at UCD hosted a major conference on 6 February 2020 on the subject of ‘Regulating Bank Culture’. This conference brought together leading academics, regulators and industry leaders to consider contemporary issues in banking culture, including recent developments, international differences, and new directions for generative change. In particular, the conference explored key issues related to the following themes: senior executive accountability; diversity and inclusion; board dynamics; promoting trust; and constructive dissent. The Conference was organised by Dr Joe McGrath of UCD Sutherland School of Law, in cooperation with Professor Claire Hill of the University of Minnesota, and generously sponsored by Eversheds Sutherland.
Jeremy Masding, CEO, PTSB speaking as part of the ‘CEO Roundtable’ with Marion Kelly, Acting CEO, Irish Banking Culture Board to his right
Peter Roebben, CEO, KBC Ireland (left) with c-organiser Dr Joe McGrath
Co-organiser Prof Claire Hill (right) of the University of Minnesota with Catarina Marvão of TUD
Professor Imelda Maher, Dean of UCD Sutherland School of Law opening the conference
(l to r) Seana Cunningham, Central Bank of Ireland, Mike Held, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Ger Deering, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and Niel Willardson, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
New book by Prof Oonagh Breen launched by Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan
On Wednesday January 29, 2020, retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan launched Law of Charities in Ireland (Bloomsbury, 2019) written by Professor Oonagh Breen of UCD Sutherland School of Law and Philip Smith, partner at Arthur Cox (pictured above). Hosted by Arthur Cox, the evening brought together academics, charity trustees, policymakers and professional advisers across the fields of law, accountancy and tax who specialise in charity law along with friends and colleagues. In her opening remarks, Professor Breen recalled the long history of Irish charity law reform, referencing her earlier collaborations with Philip Smith on the Law Society’s Report on Charity Law in 2002; and their work on the Heads of Bill for the Dept of Community Rural and Gaeltacht in 2004. Launching the book, Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan commended the authors on the clarity of its content, describing the book as ‘an exemplar’ in terms of its valuable guidance on charity governance, the importance of good financial reporting and the role of volunteers. Referring to the now overdue statutory review of the Charities Act 2009, the judge hoped those tasked with this important work would bear in mind the fine line between necessary regulation and over-regulation. A Bloomsbury podcast interview with Professor Breen on Irish charity law and regulation can be accessed. A Bloomsbury podcast interview with Professor Breen on Irish charity law and regulation can be accessed (opens in a new window)here.
Orla O’Connor, Chair of Arthur Cox introduces the speakers
Aedin Morkan, Mazars, Geoff Moore, Arthur Cox in conversation with Ian Brady of Davy
Prof Breen’s colleagues at the launch included Dr Noel McGrath and Dr Mark Coen
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Professor Breen with family at the launch of her book
Sutherland Law Seminar Series 2020
The Sutherland Law Seminar Series features lectures on a wide range of topics delivered by Sutherland School of Law adjunct professors and faculty plus a number of distinguished guest speakers.
The seminars take place on Thursday evenings between 6pm and 7pm and are attended by law students, staff and guests of the School of Law.
In 2020, the series featured the following distinguished speakers:
6 February 2020: Adjunct Professor Emma Redmond: 'The Real-World impact of Privacy by Design'
Emma Redmond practices privacy and data protection at Stripe and was formerly Head of International Data Protection at Ancestry.com and LinkedIn.com. She acts as Chair of the General Counsel forum at the American Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the Inner Temple and the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
13 February 2020: Adjunct Professor Paul Gallagher SC: 'The Court of Justice - Legal Reasoning and the Rule of Law in the context of Data Protection'
Paul Gallagher has been practising at the Irish Bar for 41 years. He was appointed a Senior Counsel in 1991 and a bencher of the King’s Inns in 2005. He was Attorney General of Ireland between 2007 and 2011 and is a former vice chair of the Irish Bar Council. He holds degrees in law (UCD, King’s Inns, Cambridge University) and in History and Economics (UCD). He practises widely in the areas of commercial law, european law and public law.
20 February 2020: Professor Imelda Maher: ‘EU Law in Court: Scotland and Ireland compared’
Professor Maher holds the Sutherland Chair of European Law and is the current Dean of Sutherland School of Law. She previously worked at the London School of Economics; the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University; Birkbeck College, University of London; and Warwick University. She is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and was a founding member of the European Law Institute. Professor Maher was also recently appointed an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple.
27 February 2020: Adjunct Professor, Raymond Byrne: 'How Codifying the Law is Our Future Present'
Raymond Byrne is the Law Reform Commissioner since April 2016. He qualified as a barrister in 1982 and has published widely on legal matters. He chaired a working Group whose work led to a Council of Europe 2009 Recommendation on Missing Persons and Presumption of Death. He is currently a member of the Research Ethics Committee of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. He was previously Chair of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers.
5 March 2020: Adjunct Professor Bláthna Ruane SC: ‘Legal chaos? The legal struggle for the Anglo-Irish Treaty 1921’
Blathna Ruane BA LLM (Cantab) PhD (Cantab) is a distinguished Senior Counsel, a UCD alumnus and established constitutional historian with a PhD in the field from Cambridge University. She was a partner in a leading law firm, McCann FitzGerald, prior to her call to the Bar in 1992. Her research publications include articles in scholarly and professional journals and in books with leading academic presses in the fields of constitutional law and legal history.
The following seminars were cancelled due to the Covid 19 situation. Rescheduled dates will be announced in due course:
Professor Matthew Kramer, University of Cambridge: ‘Freedom of Expression as Self-Restraint’
Matthew Henry Kramer FBA is an American philosopher and is currently Professor of Legal and Political Philosophy at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge. He writes mainly in the areas of metaethics, normative ethics, legal philosophy, and political philosophy.
Professor Oonagh Breen: Philanthropy in Ireland; Exploring the Who, the How and the Why.
Dr. Oonagh B. Breen is a Professor of Law at the Sutherland School of Law where she researches NGO Law, Governance, and Social Change, teaching both in this field and in the area of Equity and the Law of Trusts. She has worked with the non profit sector, charity regulators and policymakers in a number of jurisdictions (including Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada). She specialises in the area of comparative charity regulation and non profit-state collaboration in public policy formation and development.
Ercus Stewart SC: ‘Fifty Years at the Bar…’
Ercus Stewart SC has practised at the Bar since 1970 and since 1982 he has been a Senior Counsel. His practice centres on civil, commercial and labour law, litigation and arbitration. He is also a member of the Bars of Northern Ireland, England and Wales and Australia (NSW). In addition to his law practice, Mr. Stewart is an arbitrator, in international and domestic Commercial Arbitration, and also a Mediator and is a founder member and former chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Irish Branch.
For fiurther updates please email (opens in a new window)law.events@ucd.ie.
University College Dublin, Sutherland School of Law
Ad Astra Fellows (012040)
Applications are sought for Ad Astra Fellows within the UCD Sutherland School of Law. Closing Date 24 January 2020 (17.00 local Irish time).
In support of the 2024 University College Dublin Strategic Plan 'Rising to the Future', UCD has begun an ambitious plan to increase our faculty numbers by 500 over five years. With an initial 5-year contract, research support for these 5 years and the opportunity for an on-going contract subject to performance, there has never been a better time to join the faculty at Ireland's Global University and to live in one of Europe's most vibrant, friendly and connected capital cities.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL: UCD Sutherland School of Law is the leading Law School in Ireland and is currently the only Irish Law School ranked in the top 50 Law Schools in the World by the Times Higher. It is recognised for the quality of its research, its degree programmes and its wider impact in Ireland and internationally. A European Law School in Ireland with an international outlook, the School's distinctive mission is to support and lead on the transformative potential of law for contemporary societies.
APPLICATIONS/FURTHER INFORMATION: Prior to application, further information (including application procedure) should be obtained from the UCD Ad Astra Fellow website: (opens in a new window)http://www.ucd.ie/adastrafellows/
95 Lecturer/Assistant Professor (above the bar) Salary Scale: Euro 53,773 - 84,544 per annum
Appointment will be made on scale and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines.
Closing date: 17.00hrs (Local Irish Time) on 24th January 2020
Applications must be submitted by the closing date and time specified. Any applications which are still in progress at the closing time of 17:00hrs (Irish Local Time) on the specified closing date will be cancelled automatically by the system. UCD are unable to accept late applications.
Caoimhe Gethings & Andrea Whelton triumph in National Moot
(L to R) Tom Casey, A&L Goodbody, Caoimhe Gethings, Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Andrea Whelton and Ms Justice Carmel Steward
Sutherland School of Law congratulates two of our final year students, Caoimhe Gethings and Andrea Whelton, who were overall winners of the 10th National Moot Court Competition. Over 30 teams from 12 institutions competed in the biggest competition to date, sponsored by A&L Goodbody. Four teams – two from UCD, one from Cambridge and one from DCU – progressed to the semi-finals before the final between UCD and DCU.
The final was judged by Mr Justice John MacMenamin of the Supreme Court, Ms Justice Carmel Stewart of the High Court and A&L Goodbody partner Tom Casey.
Caoimhe, a final year BCL Law with Economics student has extensive debating and mooting experience and was recognised as the best speaker at the competition. Andrea, a final year Business and Law student has also a very successful record in debating and mooting, representing UCD many times in Ireland and the UK. She has previously won a medal for oratory from UCD Law Society, the Cecil Lavery Moot and was twice a semi-finalist in the Irish Times Debating Competition.
The Dean and Staff of Sutherland School of Law warmly congratulate these two outstanding students on their success.
Celebration of Twenty Years of French Law Degrees in UCD
Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor speaking at the celebration
In early November, the UCD Sutherland School of Law was delighted to co-host a celebration of Twenty Years of French Law Programmes with the Embassy of France in Ireland. The BCL Law with French Law Programme was first offered to students in 1999 and was followed by the launch of the unique, Law Dual Degree in 2006.
H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, French Ambassador to Ireland, joined Professor Colin Scott (College Principal), Professor Imelda Maher (Dean) and Dr Marie-Luce Paris (Academic Director of the Programmes), in welcoming Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor to the celebration. The theme of the evening’s speeches was ‘The Future of Legal Education in Irish and French Law: Law Languages and Legal Traditions’. The audience heard inspiring speeches from the Minister of Higher Education, Ambassador and Professor Guillaume Leyte, President, University of Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas. They were joined by graduates Richard Kelly (BCL Law with French Law 2008) and Juliette Fauvarque (BCL/Maîtrise 2018), both passionate advocates of their respective degrees. Richard and Juliette spoke about their experiences of studying in UCD and the excellent foundation that it provides for a future international career.
All four partner universities in France were well represented on the evening with guests including Professor Emeric Jeansen and Dr Georgia Schneider of University of Paris 2, Professor Peggy Ducoulombier of the University of Strasbourg, Professor Hervé De Gaudemar, Dean of Law Faculty, University of Lyon 3, Jean Moulin, Ms Emilie Presthus of Aix-Marseille University, and Dr Charlotte Rault of University of Toulouse 1 Capitole. Other guests included Mr Justice Michael McGrath and Mr Justice Tony O’Connor of the High Court of Ireland.
The event was organised by Dr Marie-Luce Paris, Academic Director of the French Law Programmes with colleagues from the Embassy of France. The speeches concluded with Professor Maher, Dean of Law, congratulating Dr Paris on her organisation of the event and her unrivalled commitment to the success of the degree programmes in the School of Law.
H. E. Stéphane Crouzat with Dr Marie-Luce Paris and Juliette Fauvarque
Students and Alumni with staff and distinguished guests
Alumnus Richard Kelly addressing the audience.
The evening was a wonderful celebration for students, staff, alumni and guests
Dr Marie-Luce Paris, Prof Imelda Maher and Prof Colin Scott greet the Minister
Professor Guillaume Leyte, President of University of Paris 2 in conversation with Juliette Fauvarque
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Students and Alumni celebrate the Reunion of French Law Programmes
Eoin Martin, Law with French Law student at Sutherland School of Law
Dr Paris is thanked by Prof Maher, Dean of Law