Law Students Awarded for Contribution to University Life by Arthur Cox
L-R Prof Jason Last, Dean of Students with this years winners Margaret Ann Gallagher and Conor Gallagher
The Sutherland School of Law was delighted to host an awards ceremony to honour law students who have made a real contribution to life on campus. The awards, which are generously sponsored by law firm Arthur Cox, are designed to reward students who have demonstrated that they have made a difference to the wider university while they have been a student: be it through sporting activities; student societies; initiatives to improve the university community or the relationship between the university and the wider community. There are two annual awards, one for Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) students and one for Business and Law (BBL). On this occasion there were twelve nominees for the awards, all having demonstrated outstanding achievements. Nine of the finalists and their parents attended the awards and the two winners were announced on the evening. Dean of Law, Professor Imelda Maher introduced the speakers who were Professor Jason Last, who had been on the judging panel and Rob Cain, a partner at Arthur Cox who then presented the winners with their awards. Each speaker acknowledged the exceptional standard of the nominees and their achievements while studying for the Law degree in the Sutherland School of Law.
Arthur Cox has become involved in these awards because of their commitment to encouraging students to avail fully of the opportunities that university offers them; to be innovators and catalysts for change; consistently to improve their community; increase their potential and contribute towards a sound society and dynamic economy. The Contribution to University Life award has become a significant milestone for students at the Sutherland School of Law.
L-R Cian Montague, Shane O'Donoghue, Rory Curtis, Sarah Murphy, Robert Lee, Margaret Ann Gallagher, Conor Gallagher, Charlotte Ashmore and Tara Casey.
Also shortlisted but unable to attend were Kian O’Connell, Juliette Fauvarque and Anna O’Duffy. Kian and Juliette are BCL/Maîtrise students and are studying in France and Anna was due to attend but was delayed on a flight back from Lourdes where she had been volunteering.
L-R One of this years two winners Conor Gallagher BBL student with Rob Cain of Arthur Cox
Conor Gallagher is a third year Business and Law student currently on Erasmus at Bocconi University in Milan. He is also a UCD Ad Astra Scholar.
Conor has taken part in a number of recently established innovative student initiatives. For example, for the last three years, he has been involved in UCD’s Student Managed Fund. He is also a member of the organising committee for the Irish Student Entrepreneurship Forum for 2017, serving as head of Public Relations. Conor has also contributed to the UCD Relay for Life, a charity event organised in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. He volunteered as a peer helping incoming first years to settle into Business and Law, and served as an Ad Astra buddy helping incoming first years to integrate into the Ad Astra Academy.
Conor also found time to represent his classmates on the UCD Quinn School of Business Staff/Student Forum and participate in debating competitions.
L-R One of the 2017 Winners Margaret Ann Gallagher BCL with French Law student with Rob Cain of Arthur Cox
Margaret Ann Gallagher is currently in the final year of her Law with French Law degree.
Margaret was a recipient of the Arthur Cox award for her contributions to university life through an active involvement with the UCD Law Society, volunteering with UCD Volunteers Overseas, editing the UCD Law Review, as well as a number of national awards and international nominations. She served as Debated Convenor for the 105th Session of the Law Society, a period for which the society was awarded ‘UCD Society of the Year’. Margaret also took part in the UCD Volunteers Overseas South India Project 2016, which saw her travel to India to teach English from grades six through nine at the Butterfly Hill Campus for orphans and children suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Nominees Sarah Murphy (Law with History) and Shane O'Donoghue (Business and Law)
Maureen Reynolds BCL Programmes Manager
Margaret Maher Business & Law Programme Manager
Nominees Robert Lee (Law with Economics), Conor Gallagher (Business and Law) and Sarah Murphy (Law with History)
Nominee Tara Casey (BCL)
Ms Bláthna Ruane SC, Adjunct Professor in the UCD Sutherland School of Law with Dean of Law, Professor Imelda Maher