Graduate Spotlight: Marianne Joyce, LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law:

14 Jan 2026

School of Law graduate, Marianne Joyce, discusses her experience of the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law. 

''My experience in the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law in UCC was transformative, both personally and professionally. I completed my undergraduate degree in Civil Law and had a keen interest in family law, in particular due to youth work I had done as a teenager related to the voice of the child in divorce and separation proceedings. I also knew I did not want to pursue the solicitor or barrister route, and wanted to focus more on research. The LLM seemed like a perfect fit for my interests and so I chose to do it part-time over two years, in order to live and work in Cork.

The LLM covers a wide range of areas including children’s rights, juvenile justice, and family property. It also provides a unique opportunity to work on active cases through both the Child and Family Law Clinics. The Clinics allowed me to work on cases concerning access and maintenance, which allowed me to gain practical experience.

The most valuable aspect of the course for me was the mentorship provided by the lecturers throughout my time in UCC. I received fantastic support and guidance from the faculty, giving me the opportunity to gain work experience and improve both my research and writing skills. I was able to publish work with Professor Conor O’Mahony and Professor Louise Crowley, developing my professional abilities. I completed my dissertation on the sexual and reproductive health of children and young people in Ireland, a part of which I was subsequently able to publish in the Irish Journal of Family Law.

Following the completion of the LLM, I have been able to work in roles related to human rights, children’s rights, and law reform, and the qualification is looked upon highly by employers. Choosing this course was a fantastic decision for me, and I cannot recommend it enough.''

To find out more about our LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law, please visit our website: 

www.ucc.ie/en/ckl29/