A Year in Review 2024 - Student Highlights

13 Jan 2025

As we bid farewell to another year, we reflect on some of 2024’s highlights at the UCC School of Law.  

In this part, we look back on key student achievements from the year. 

New and revised programmes 

The School is committed to ensuring that its programme portfolio continues to be relevant and fit for purpose.  Reviews of both the postgraduate and undergraduate (UG) programmes have been conducted with review recommendations being implemented for postgraduate offerings while implementation of the UG review report recommendations is being taken forward by two working groups within the School.  The postgraduate review resulted in the launch of the new LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution from September 2024.  This LLM is being offered either over 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.   As the demand for skills in the area of alternative dispute resolution continues to grow, this new programme will equip students with the advanced mediation skills required in practice through participation in class exercises and intensive roleplay simulations.  Professional accreditation by mediation and arbitration bodies has been secured. To find out more about the LLM ADR, watch the video below:  

With the appointment of the Matheson Lecturer in Law, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nessa Lynch, in March 2024 (see Staff Highlights), the School’s former LLM in Intellectual Property and E-Law was relaunched in November 2024 as the LLM in Law, Technology and Innovation for entry in September 2025, with with applications now open.  This relaunch fits with the PG review’s aims of ensuring programmes remain current and relevant.   This refreshed programme, led by Dr Nessa Lynch, a globally recognized expert in law and policy relating to emerging technologies, the programme reflects contemporary development of the field from a standalone sphere to a cross-cutting field.  It will appeal to law graduates who wish to pursue careers in the in-demand sphere of law and technology and law and the digital economy, or practitioners and policy professionals who want to expand their skills and knowledge in contemporary areas such as regulation of artificial intelligence, European Union regulatory developments, cybercrime and intellectual property. It will also appeal to suitably qualified non-law graduates who are interested in compliance, ethics, or trust and safety roles in the Irish and global technology context.  Listen to Dr Nessa Lynch in the video below to find out more about the programme:  

The School is also working on enhancing its LLM in Business Law for relaunch in 2025.  All of these developments are designed to support student success, a key aspect of the UCC Strategic Plan. 

January 2024 - New LW3377 Courtroom Ethnography Module visit to partner Institution University of Gothenburg (supported through a SATLE Large Grant with PI Dr Samantha Morgan-Williams) 

In January 2024, 8 students from the new LW3377 Courtroom Ethnography module along with module lecturers Dr Samantha Morgan Williams and Dr Fiona Donson, visited our partner Institution University of Gothenburg. This trip, supported through a SATLE Large Grant (PI Dr Samantha Morgan-Williams) was designed to facilitate a knowledge-sharing initiative between University of Gothenburg and University College Cork within courtroom ethnography, as a novel method of legal education.  
Courtroom ethnography requires students to visit courts, observe court processes and consider their observations through frameworks such as legal geography and law and emotion, exploring how members of society experience courtrooms. It is a useful means through which to expose students to the realities of the 'law in action.'  The students considered the trip to be hugely 'enriching' and 'a wonderful exploration of alternative methods of learning within final year law.' 

January 2024 – Child Law Clinic supports FLAC in successful Supreme Court Appeal 

On 22 January 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment in O’Meara v Minister for Social Protection {2024] IESC 1, in which the restriction of surviving partner's pension to married couples was found to be unconstitutional. The first plaintiff, represented by FLAC, had lived with his partner for almost 20 years and they had three children together, before she sadly became ill and died. The father applied for a survivor’s pension, which he would have been entitled to if the parties had been married; but his application was refused on the basis that the pension was not available to unmarried couples. 

A constitutional challenge to this decision was dismissed in 2022. The Supreme Court granted permission for a leapfrog appeal, which was heard in 2023. At the request of FLAC, the Child Law Clinic assisted the O’Meara’s legal team in preparing their submissions to the Supreme Court by providing a research brief directed towards the children’s rights aspect of the case. 

Visit www.ucc.ie/en/childlawclinic/ for details. 

Mooting Competitions 

This year, our students participated in numerous debates and competitions – both in Ireland and abroad.  

Annual UCC School of Law Gala Moot 2024 

This year’s Moot competition was held on Monday 11th March in Cork City Courthouse on Washington Street. Four students from the UCC School of Law participated in this year’s Gala Moot incorporating the James D Donegan Memorial Prize.  

Ms. Rachel Foster and Ms. Rosa Simmonds appeared as counsel for the Appellant, with Ms. Rose Cotter and Mr. Luke Kirrane appearing on behalf of the Respondent. The students presented and defended legal submissions before Her Honour Ms. Justice Miriam O’Regan. The Gala Moot incorporates the James D. Donegan Memorial Prize, which is awarded each year to the student who, in the opinion of the judge, should be awarded the prize of ‘outstanding speaker’. The prize was generously donated again this year, by S. Donegan and Co. Solicitors, Cobh, Co. Cork, who have supported the Gala Moot and sponsored the prize for many years. BCL International student, Rose Cotter, was this year’s recipient of the prestigious prize.

European Law Moot Court (ELMC) Competition 

The ELMC is a bilingual competition, offering a unique platform for students from across the European Union to compete in front of a simulated EU Court of Justice.  The ELMC was held this year at the end of March in Sofia, Bulgaria and marked the first time a UCC team had the opportunity to showcase their legal prowess and in-depth understanding of EU law in the ELMC, besting dozens of teams in the written stage of the competition to advance to the oral pleadings. The team, comprising Diarmaid Byrne (BCL, second year), Noa Marie Pilger (License de droit, third year), Géraldine Thomann (License de droit, third year), and Enguerran de la Poix de Fréminville (Master droit européen), received guidance and coaching from Dr. Luigi Lonardo, Acting Director of the Centre for European Integration. They rigorously prepared for the competition, dedicating months to honing their advocacy skills and developing a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of EU law and its legal systems.   The team was generously sponsored by RDJ. 

31st Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot  

At the end of March, a UCC team consisting of School of Law students Pepper Robson and Emily Wycherley, Roisin Farrelly, Michela Thenahandi, Elaine Treacy and Aoife Fealy and coached by Amy O’Rourke travelled to Vienna to participate in the 31st Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition.  The purpose of the Vis Moot is to foster the study of international commercial law and arbitration and provide a practical training to students for resolving international business disputes.  Throughout the week, the students competed in four preliminary rounds against Paolo University, The Pontifical Catholic University of Compinas, the University of Eastern Finland and UNESCO University of Iran. The team was generously sponsored by the Southern Law Association.  

March 2024 Annual Visit of the School of Law to the EU Institutions in Brussels & Luxembourg  

March saw the return of the hugely popular and highly regarded EU Trip, which offers second year law students a unique opportunity to become informed practically, about the various EU Institutions. Accompanied by School of Law academic staff, students visited the Court of Justice of the EU, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Irish Permanent Representation.

LLM Children's Rights and Family Law family moot court  

On 17th April, students from the LLM Children's Rights and Family Law took part in a family law moot court in Court 6, Courthouse, Washington Street as part of their Family Law Clinic module.   The School is grateful to all involved, including the Court Services, Registrar Aisling Kett and Judge David Riordan.

Other Student Achievements 

UCC College of Business and Law Scholarship and Prizes Award Ceremony 

The College’s Scholarship and Prizes Award Ceremony was held in March 2024 with students and their families welcomed to the UCC campus for the college's annual Scholarship and Prizes Award Ceremony.  This is a special occasion where we celebrate the academic and personal achievements of our students.  

The 23rd Edition of the Cork Online Law Review launched  

In April the 23rd Edition of the student run Cork Online Law Review was officially launched on by the Honourable Ms. Justice Siobhán Stack of the High Court, in the UCC Academic Council Chamber of University with a number of awards for best articles in various categories. Ms. Justice Stack has subsequently been appointed as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Law.

East China University of Political Science & Law's Summer School, Shanghai 

In July, LLM Business Law student Tara Geraghty attended the East China University of Political Science and Law Summer School in Shanghai. This experience was made possible by the generous scholarship awarded by UCC, on behalf of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, that included accommodation, tuition fees, meals on campus, insurance and educational travel excursions. The programme brought together students from eleven different nationalities to learn about Chinese Political and Legal Culture. The experience was both enriching and inspiring, offering a unique blend of cultural immersion and academic growth.  

Washington Ireland Programme 2024 

The prestigious Washington Ireland Program supports, inspires, and develops leaders from a wide range of communities and backgrounds who are committed to building a future of peace and prosperity for Northern Ireland and Ireland.  As part of this programme, 30 students from across the island of Ireland travel to Washington DC during the summer to complete leadership and service experience, including a work placement in various organisations and public institutions in the US capital. Now in its 30th year, alumni of the Washington Ireland Program include former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.  Two students from UCC School of Law were selected for the WIP Class of 2024, namely Oisín Ó Síocháin (BCL Law & Irish) and Alex Sheehan (BCL Law & French).  Alex and Oisín spent 2 months in Washington DC undertaking a general service and leadership development programme, also completing a 2-month placement. Alex completed a placement at the U.S. Senate in the Office of Senate Majority Leader and Senator for New York, Chuck Schumer, while Oisín completed a placement at the Laborers' International Union of North America. 

August 2024 – UCC Fulbright Irish Awardees Forge Links in the USA 

From August 2024 to August 2025, the Fulbright UCC Scholars will attend leading U.S. institutions to research, study, teach, and collaborate with experts.  The UCC Scholars include Róisín Ní Bhroin (Master’s Student in the School of Law) who secured a Foreign Language Teaching Assistantship Award. 
Róisín graduated with first-class honours in Law and Irish from UCC in 2023. She is currently completing a Master’s in European Law and Irish in UCC. Róisín is looking forward to teaching Irish at the University of Notre Dame as a Fulbright FLTA Awardee. 

24th Annual UCC Law Society Conference - The Legislature’s Duty to Respond to Progressing Criminal Trends; Stalking and an Examination of the Legal and Societal Impact of Recent Legislative Reform 

The Law Society held their annual conference in November.   The successful event was organised by Auditor Carmel O’Donoghue and Maeve Harney and her committee and featured speakers including Prof Louise Crowley and Dr Catherine O’Sullivan from the School of Law. Thanks to William Fry for their generous sponsorship of the event which in turn proudly sponsored the charity, Women’s Aid. 

Law Quercus Scholarships 

As well as academic achievements, School of Law students continue to pursue success in other areas via Quercus Scholarships.  The UCC Entrance Scholarship Award Ceremony for the College of Business & Law took place on November 27th. 

PhD Student Success 

No fewer than 9 PhD students successfully defended their Theses, with further detail noted in Research Highlights.