A Year in Review 2023: Alumni, External Engagement, and Internationalisation Highlights

22 Dec 2023

As we bid farewell to another year, we reflect on some of 2023’s highlights at the UCC School of Law.

Now is the turn of key Alumni, External Engagement and Internationalisation Highlights. 

Key External Engagement and Internationalisation Highlights from the year

This year, The School of Law has continued to foster relationships and partnerships with universities across the world, providing students and faculty more opportunities to study and research abroad, as well as gain new insights and new perspectives. New partners include Bergen, Norway, Verona, Italy, Madrid, Spain and Dalhousie, Canada and a number of new or renewed partnerships are under negotiation in China, India and the USA.  Colleagues made visits to Canada, China, Dubai and the USA as well as to European states to further our global engagement.

The UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership was launched in March. The new sponsorship will support the creation of a new lectureship and scholarship, as well as a series of lectures and collaborative events in the area of law, technology and innovation. Highlights include The Matheson Lecturer in Law, Innovation and Technology, a new lectureship designed to bring deep expertise in the area of law and technology, including areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and disruptive technologies and The Matheson Scholarship in Law, Innovation and Technology. The inaugural UCC and Matheson Hackathon took place at UCC on Wednesday 18th October, as part of the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership. Combining legal, technology and business expertise, participants came together to generate innovative ideas and explore emerging technologies. 

The International Law Summer School 2023, hosted jointly by UCC School of Law and the University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law, returned to UCC this May. The summer school gave students the unique opportunity to engage with internationally renowned scholars and for UCC and UM students to work together on global legal issues. On successful completion of the programme US students participating can receive credits from the American Bar Association and UCC students are awarded a micro-credential (Digital Badge).

In May, UCC and Arthur Cox LLP announced the renewal of their legal scholarship programme. The Arthur Cox UCC Law Scholarships support 40 law students at UCC who face economic and societal barriers to participating fully in their studies. The scholarships are available for three academic years, starting with this current academic year and will provide assistance to students looking to pursue a career in law.

Key Alumni Highlights from the year

We were delighted to hold an Alumni and Friends event a with the Law Society at the Aula Maxima in February, 2023. At the well-attended event, Professor Mark Poustie provided an update on developments in the School and reflected on the achievements of the school over the past years.  Melissa Ferris, auditor of the Law Society (2022-2023) spoke about the society's accomplishments and spoke about the society's close relationship with the School and its staff. 

UCC Law alumnus, Michael Jackson, Managing Partner at Matheson LLP and current chair of Guaranteed Irish, was awarded anAlumni Achievement Award alongside other trailblazing alumni in November 2023. Under his leadership, Matheson partnered with UCC to create scholarships and lecturing opportunities in law, technology and innovation.

We were thrilled this year to renew scholarships benefitting students from across a range of our programmes.  Click here for more details on our scholarships.