Ulysses Medal Awarded to Judge Síofra O'Leary
(l to r) Prof Laurent Pech, Judge Síofra O'Leary, Prof Orla Feely, Prof Cathryn Costello
Judge Síofra O'Leary, the first female President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and the first Irish person to serve in the role, has been awarded the UCD Ulysses Medal, the highest honour that University College Dublin can bestow.
At the award ceremony, UCD President, (opens in a new window)Professor Orla Feely said “This award recognises Judge Síofra O'Leary’s remarkable contribution to human rights law over the course of an illustrious career as a legal scholar, judge, and judicial statesperson”, and commented that she represents a powerful role model for UCD students.
(opens in a new window)Professor Cathryn Costello delivered the citation on behalf of the university and praised Judge O’Leary’s performance in the role of the President of the Court, commenting, “There is a resounding consensus amongst the human rights community on the commitment, gravitas, and strategic vision she displayed as President, befitting this challenging moment in European history”. Read the citation in full here.
Judge Síofra O’Leary holds a doctorate from the European University Institute in Florence and has held a number of academic roles throughout her career. Thus we were extremely honoured when she agreed to deliver a PhD workshop to a group of doctoral students on the day of the awards. Organised by (opens in a new window)Professor Imelda Maher, the workshop was a unique and inspiring opportunity for PhD researchers to engage in an informal discussion with someone of Judge O’Leary’s standing.
(l) Prof Imelda Maher with Judge Síofra O’Leary, (r) Prof Cathryn Costello and PhD researchers from Sutherland School of Law
Professor Cathryn Costello and Dr Maebh Harding awarded European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants
Professor Cathryn Costello (l) and Dr Maebh Harding (r)
The Sutherland School of Law is proud to announce that Professor Cathryn Costello and Dr Maebh Harding were awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator grants in December 2024. They are two of five University College Dublin researchers awarded €2 million for their projects at this time - the highest number awarded to an Irish university in one call.
These two additional awards bring to seven the overall total of ERC grants awarded to the School. Six of these projects will run in parallel in the School by the end of 2025, an unprecedented number for any law school this size in Europe.
Details of these groundbreaking projects from our two colleagues are outlined below:
Professor Cathryn Costello: RefLex: Is International Refugee Law Effective?
RefLex entails a global comparative study of the workings and effectiveness of International Refugee Law (IRL), a body of international law that is implemented, domesticated and judicialised to varying degrees across the world.
“RefLex aims to provide vital insights at a time when the global refugee regime is increasingly adrift from International Law," said Professor Cathryn Costello. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with two scholars I admire immensely – Professors Lamis Abdelaaty (Syracuse University, USA) and Ashwini Vasanthakumar (Queen’s University, Canada) – and to build a new research team to work at the cutting edge of research on international law and politics.”
Professor Costello is a leading scholar of international refugee and migration law and has pioneered the study of the intersection of labour and migration law. Professor Costello has a DPhil in Law from the University of Oxford, an LLM from the College of Europe, Bruges, and a BCL from University College Cork. Prior to joining UCD Sutherland School of Law in 2023, she was Professor of International Refugee and Migration Law at the Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford.
Dr Maebh Harding: Redefining Legal Parenthood as a Legal Interdependency between Parent and Child (REDEFPARENT)
Dr Harding’s project provides a new way to think about the legal nexus between parent and child as a two-way legal interdependency. This new legal conceptualisation will reflect the interests of both parents and children and recognise that obligations and vulnerabilities fluctuate over the life course.
Reassessing the very basis of family law, the project will interrogate the historical, legal and social dimensions of legal parenthood in Ireland, England and Wales, Sweden and Poland to expose the gaps between the regulatory work that the concept of legal parenthood is currently doing and the social expectations that are placed on the concept.
“This new way of thinking will be groundbreaking to how we understand the obligations and vulnerabilities of family life," said Dr Maebh Harding.
Dr Harding joined UCD Sutherland School of Law in 2021 after 13 years as a Family Law academic in England and Wales at the University of Portsmouth and later as Associate Professor at Warwick Law School. She is widely published on family law, most recently co-editing, Family Law in Context (Clarus Press 2023) with Dr Deirdre McGowan from TU Dublin. She is a founding member of the Doing Feminist Legal Work (DFLW) network (opens in a new window)ww.dflw.ie.
Details of the five UCD academics who were awarded ERC Consolidator Grants in December 2024 can be read here.
'Soirée du Droit' hosted in UCD Sutherland School of Law
Pictured (l to r) Prof Laurent Pech, Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Maxime Millon, H. E. Céline Place, Dr Beverley Toudic, Dr Marie-Luce Paris, Dr Síofra Pierse and Delphine Tessier
In October we had the honour of hosting a 'Soirée du Droit' in UCD Sutherland School of Law. The 'Soirée du Droit' was organised with The French Embassy in Ireland and was dedicated to a discussion of the 'The Rule of Law and Democracy in France and Ireland'. We were particularly honoured that the event was opened by H.E. Céline Place, the newly appointed Ambassador of France to Ireland, in one of her first engagements. Two legal researchers Maxime Millon (University of Bordeaux), and Beverley Toudic (University of Lille), spoke alongside Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland and Dr Marie-Luce Paris, Director of the UCD Centre for Human Rights. The debate was moderated by Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law.
This event was designed to echo the Nuit du Droit in France celebrating the anniversary of the French Constitution, and offered guests the opportunity to discuss, in French, the relationship between law and democracy, in a comparative approach between France and Ireland.
A large group of alumni, invited guests and current BCL Law with French Law and BCL Maîtrise students attended the talks and the reception. . It was a very engaging evening for all attendees and a wonderful opportunity to welcome the new ambassador to University College Dublin.
Dr Niamh Howlin Book Launch in the Supreme Court
Pictured (l to r) Mr Justice Maurice Collins, Rev. Robert D. Marshall, Judge Paul Kelly, Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell, Dr Donal K. Coffey, Dr Niamh Howlin, Mr Daire Hogan, Dr Kevin Costello, Dr Mark Coen, Dr Róisín Costello, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan and Dr Tom Mohr
The launch of ”A Century of Courts, The Courts of Justice Act 1924", edited by Dr Niamh Howlin, took place in late November. Unusually, the launch was held in the Supreme Court itself with many of the judiciary, including the Chief Justice, present.
The book is a compilation of contributions to a conference held in Dublin Castle in April 2024, which marked the centenary of The Courts of Justice Act 1924. It includes papers from legal scholars, historians and members of the judiciary.
Dr Howlin on the Supreme Court bench with the Chief Justice (centre) and Mr Justice Maurice Collins
The launch of the book in the Supreme Court concluded a programme of events organised by the Courts Service and Judiciary in a collaboration between the Courts Service, An Post, University College Dublin, UCD Sutherland School of Law, the Office of Public Works; the Irish Legal History Society and the contributing authors. The authors who contributed to this prestigious volume were:
Dr Thomas Mohr; Mr Justice Maurice Collins; Mr Evan McGuigan; Dr Mark Coen; Dr Bláthna Ruane SC; Mr Daire Hogan, Prof Laura Cahillane, Mr Robert Marshall; Dr Kevin Costello; Judge Patricia Ryan; Mr Justice David Barniville; Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell; Mr Justice Gerard Hogan; Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh; Dr Róisín Á Costello BL; Dr Lynsey Black; Dr Danielle Jefferis; Prof Brice Dickson; Prof Hilary Biehler; Dr Donal Coffey; Judge Paul Kelly and Prof Diarmaid Ferriter.
The front cover of the volume features an image from the Irish Architectural Archive of the proposed new Supreme Court from the TJ Byrne collection. The book is available to purchase from (opens in a new window)Four Courts Press.
The Dublin Castle Conference in April included guided tours showing where the courts of justice sat in Dublin Castle for several years following the destruction of the Four Courts. Attendees were shown the rooms where the various courts sat in the 1920s. An Post launched commemorative stamps for the centenaries of both the Courts of Justice Act 1924 and the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924.
One element of the multimedia visual exhibition was ‘Judicial Attire in the Free State’, a series of panels put together by UCD and the Courts Service. This showcased two sets of colourful designs for judicial robes which were ultimately not adopted in the 1920s, but which demonstrate the creative possibilities of the period. The first set was designed by well-known portrait artist Charles Shannon, the second set was designed by the Dun Emer Guild.
The Exhibition took place in the Round Hall of Dublin Castle
Milestone Reunion of the Classes of 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014
In November 2024 we were delighted to welcome back alumni from the Classes of 1984, 1994, 2004, and 2014 to celebrate their Milestone Reunions at UCD Sutherland School of Law. It was an evening filled with warmth, nostalgia, and the joy of reconnecting with old friends.
The evening began with classmates gathering in the Gardiner Atrium where they enjoyed canapés and wine while catching up with their old classmates. Laughter and heartfelt conversation filled the room as bonds were rekindled. A full gallery of photographs capturing the atmosphere of the evening can be viewed (opens in a new window)here.
Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of UCD Sutherland School of Law, extended a warm welcome, inviting everyone on a nostalgic journey through the School’s history. For many it was their first visit to the Sutherland School building which officially opened in late 2013.
Later, each class moved into breakout rooms for more personal conversations, anecdotes and reflections of their time in UCD. Each of the classes celebrating their reunions is captured in the group photographs below. In the case of the BCL and BBL classes of 2014, the School was able to feature their original class photograph, taken in the Sutherland School of Law Atrium ten years ago, on screens in the breakout rooms.
The BCL Class of 1984
The BCL Class of 1994
The BCL Class of 2004
The BBL Class of 2004
The BBL Class of 2014
The BCL Class of 2014
We are grateful to the Class Speakers and Class Representatives, whose support was instrumental in reaching out to classmates and ensuring such a fantastic turnout and special atmosphere. Their efforts, along with the support of everyone involved, made the evening a resounding success.
If you’d like to stay informed about your own upcoming law reunion or other UCD events, we encourage you to let us know of any (opens in a new window)updates to your email address. By staying connected, you’ll be the first to hear about exciting gatherings, news, and alumni related opportunities at UCD and Sutherland School of Law.
All photos from the evening can be viewed on the (opens in a new window)UCD Alumni flickr page, capturing the highlights of this memorable occasion.
John O'Donnell honoured with UCD Law Alumni Award 2024
John O’Donnell SC with Deborah Obarisiagbon (Law with Politics student) and Professor Orla Feely, President of UCD.
The annual UCD Alumni Awards, held in October 2024, honoured John O’Donnell with the UCD Alumni Award in Law, recognising his career in law and literary achievements alike. The awards brought together exceptional members of UCD's global alumni network, celebrating their invaluable contributions across fields such as business, law, culture, healthcare, and the arts.
John graduated in 1980 with a BCL from UCD, later earning a Master’s in Law from Cambridge. Known for his expertise in civil and corporate litigation, John became a Senior Counsel in 2001. His book Examinerships is considered the leading text on corporate insolvency and rescue law in Ireland.
Beyond his legal achievements, John has excelled in literature, winning the Hennessy Award for Poetry and the Hennessy Award for Emerging Fiction, the Irish National Poetry Prize, New Irish Writing Awards for Poetry and Fiction, the Ireland Funds prize and the RTÉ Francis McManus Short Story Award. He has published five poetry collections. His first short story collection Almost the Same Blue was a Sunday Independent Book of the Year. Rainbow Baby, an RTÉ radio play, won a New York Festivals Radio Award. His documentary about the 1979 Fastnet disaster, ‘Back To The Rock’, was broadcast on RTÉ’s Doc On One. An Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair winner in 2024, his debut novel Second Skin is forthcoming, as is a new short story collection. John has been a member of the board of Poetry Ireland, and has served on the board of the Arts Council. At the awards ceremony John spoke fondly and with great humour about his time studying law in UCD.
John O’Donnell accepting his award with MC Pat Kenny and Professor Orla Feely in the background
Professor Imelda Maher, John O’Donnell SC and Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law
The nine awardees at this year’s ceremony included Dr Emma Donoghue, celebrated writer (Arts and Humanities), Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap (Business), Dr Clíodhna Lyons, Director, Advanced Product Strategy & Planning (Engineering & Architecture), Dr Patrick Boland, pioneering orthopaedic surgeon (Health and Agricultural Sciences), John O’Donnell SC, Barrister, poet, and author (Law), Dr Patricia Scanlon, Ireland’s AI Ambassador (Research, Innovation and Impact), Paul Gillen, cybersecurity trailblazer (Science), Dr Martín von Hildebrand, Hero of the Amazon and defender of Indigenous rights, (Social Sciences, Ciara Mageean, Athlete (Sport).
John O’Donnell is the eleventh recipient of the UCD Alumni Award for Law. Nominations for the award are sought from our alumni and stakeholders and we encourage you to get involved with the annual selection process by emailing alumnicommunications@ucd.ie with suggestions for future awardees. The distinguished alumni who have been received this award over the past ten years, are as follows:
UCD Alumni Award for Law
2014 (opens in a new window)Maeve O’Rourke
2015 (opens in a new window)Miriam O’Callaghan
2016 (opens in a new window)Benjamin Cleary
2017 (opens in a new window)Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC
2018 (opens in a new window)Vincent Keaveny CBE
2019 (opens in a new window)Colin Ryan
2020 (opens in a new window)Sally Hayden
2021 (opens in a new window)Fiona McEntee
2022 (opens in a new window)Bill Shipsey SC
Mr. Declan McCourt, RIP
The Sutherland School of Law is greatly saddened by the sudden death of the Chair of our Development Council, Mr. Declan McCourt, BA, MA, MBA, BL, PhD (hon. causa). Declan has been an outstanding friend to the School over many years in his role of Chair of the Development Council, the advisory board to the Dean. Declan worked tirelessly to advance the ambitions of the School on all fronts, showing an astute sensitivity to our education and scholarly ethos. Despite this being an entirely voluntary role, he was always on hand for the many Deans who worked with the Development Council over the years: Niamh Howlin, John Jackson, Imelda Maher, Joe McMahon, Paul O’Connor, Laurent Pech and Colin Scott. Declan was seminal in supporting key initiatives in the School, most notably the new law building. He worked with enthusiasm, focus and determination with the UCD President, the UCD Foundation, four Deans and the Academic Director to secure philanthropic support to realise the vision of the project, culminating in the first purpose-built law school in Ireland since the Kings Inns opened in 1700.
In addition to bringing his outstanding business acumen to School, he and the Walsh family were donors to the building, creating a lecture series and LLM scholarship to honour the eminent jurist and Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Brian Walsh.
Declan was conferred with an honorary LLD in 2013, two years after the opening of the Sutherland School building. He continued to chair the Council and support new philanthropic initiatives that have advanced equality of opportunity within the School and transformed the lives of students through scholarships and bursaries. It is a fitting tribute to Declan that in our recent quality review, the assessors noted the importance of the Development Council and the support it has given to the School.
A distinguished and highly successful businessman, Declan remained committed to public service and to the importance of education and scholarship in general and in UCD Sutherland School of Law in particular. His dedication and generosity over many years have left a legacy of real, lasting, and beneficial difference to Irish society. We will miss his astute judgement, dynamism, boundless energy and wonderful good humour.
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his wife Margaret, his family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
Law Micro-credentials: A Flexible, Accredited way to Upskill and Reskill Professionals
UCD Sutherland School of Law offer an extensive range of short courses known as Micro-credentials. These are designed to provide professionals with a flexible, accredited way to enhance their legal knowledge and skills. This initiative addresses the growing demand for continuous learning and professional development in a rapidly evolving job market.
The Law Micro-Credentials offer a suite of short, focused courses that cover a range of legal topics, from corporate law, environmental law and human rights. Each micro-credential is tailored to meet the needs of professionals seeking to upskill in specific areas or reskill for new career opportunities.
Flexible Learning for Modern Professionals
Micro-credentials are highly flexible, enabling professionals to learn at one's own speed and on one's own schedule. Learners can choose from online or hybrid delivery modes, allowing them to balance their studies with work and personal commitments.
"I highly recommend UCD micro-credentials to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge in a field of interest via flexible learning that fits into a busy life. I chose Irish Law and Legal Studies as it was primarily a topic of interest and the learning offered very relevant transferrable knowledge and skills to my current role. It has given me an appetite for more and I will definitely be continuing on this journey."
Siobhan Mac Sweeney, Head of Research
Accredited and Industry-Recognized
Each micro-credential course is accredited, with each learner gaining University credit in the form of ECTS upon successful completion. The courses have been developed in consultation with industry leaders and legal experts to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and aligned with current professional standards.
However, if you organisation is interested in upskilling employees and our existing offering does not meet your specific needs, please email (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie to discuss opportunities for the development of bespoke micro-credentials.
Diverse Course Offerings
Our Law Micro-Credentials cover a wide array of topics designed to cater to different interests and career goals. Popular offerings include:
- Foundations of Environmental Law (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 80% Fee Subsidy)
- Natural Resources Law (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 80% Fee Subsidy)
- Law of the European Convention on Human Rights (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 50% Fee Subsidy)
- Arbitration Law and Procedure (Level 9 | 5 ECTS | 50% Fee Subsidy)
- Irish Law and Legal Procedure (Level 9 | 5 ECTS | 50% Fee Subsidy)
- Climate Change Law and Policy (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 80% Fee Subsidy)
- United Nations Human Rights Practice (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 50% Fee Subsidy)
- Cybersecurity Law and Regulation (Level 9 | 10 ECTS | 80% Fee Subsidy
These courses are open to professionals from various backgrounds, not just those currently working in the legal sector.
Supporting Career Advancement
Micro-credentials delineate UCD's broader commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. By offering targeted, practical legal education, the program aims to support career advancement and empower individuals to navigate complex legal environments with confidence.
Enrolment Now Open
Enrolment for the UCD Law Micro-Credentials is now open, with the first courses set to begin in September 2024. Prospective learners can find more information and apply through the UCD Micro-credentials website.
Explore all Law micro-credentials: UCD Micro-credentials-Law.
Special celebration for the John M Kelly Lecture 2024 to mark ten years of Sutherland School of Law
Judge Suzanne Kingston delivering the John M Kelly Lecture 2024
The John M Kelly Lecture is one of the most important events in the calendar of UCD Sutherland School of Law. This year, the School marks its tenth year in the Sutherland School of Law building and the lecture was a special celebration of that milestone. The School was very pleased to welcome Judge Suzanne Kingston of the General Court of the European Union to deliver the John M Kelly Memorial Lecture 2024. Judge Kingston was a very highly regarded Senior Counsel practising at the Irish bar, prior to her appointment to the bench. She has also been a faculty member at UCD Sutherland School of Law since 2007. From 2015 to 2017 she led a major project in the School funded by the European Research Council (ERC). This was the first ERC funded project at UCD Sutherland School of Law. The achievement was groundbreaking and since then, the School has acquired four more prestigious European Research Council projects.
As part of the ten-year celebrations, the school was honoured that the President of UCD, Professor Orla Feely also attended the lecture and made a speech to the large audience. She welcomed the guests which included the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, many members of the judiciary, distinguished members of the wider legal profession and staff and students. She acknowledged the enormous contribution that philanthropy has played in the success of the School, both in the capital project for the building but also in providing financial supports for students and funding academic research and teaching posts.
The evening started with two current students speaking about their experiences of studying in UCD Sutherland School of Law. BCL Law with Politics student, Aisling Maloney, talked movingly about how the supports she has received, including a Cothrom na Féinne scholarship, have been transformative for her university experience. BCL Law with History student, Robert Grendon then spoke about the richness of his college experience, especially in contrast to the start of his degree during the pandemic when all classes were taught virtually.
Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law spoke about the history of the John M Kelly lecture, honouring as it does, a former faculty member who also served as a government minister and attorney general who was a renowned, and often quoted, expert on constitutional law.
Chief Justice, Mr Donal O’Donnell, a former student of Professor Kelly in UCD, described him as one of the most brilliant people to have taught in the School of Law. He also acknowledged the enormous contribution of the late Peter Sutherland in the area of European law. The Chief Justice introduced Judge Suzanne Kingston and expressed his great admiration for her achievements, commenting on how she has successfully managed to intersect an academic and a practising career and, at all times, demonstrate an unfailing commitment to the pursuit of excellence.
Judge Kingston’s lecture title was "On the role of constitutional identity: Teach solais or will-o’-the-wisp?” and in a highly informative overview of the subject, she talked about how the concept has given rise to a heated debate in the EU, with some regarding it as a guiding light and others arguing, equally vociferously, that it is essentially an opportunity for constitutional relativism. Citing a myriad of cases from across the European Union, from the formation of the EEC to the modern day, Professor Kingston finished by concluding that, in her opinion, the concept of constitutional identity is here to stay.
A full video recording of Professor Kingston’s lecture will be available shortly and a paper will be published in the next issue of the Irish Jurist.
The Chief Justice, Mr Donal O’Donnell congratulates Robert Grendon and Aisling Maloney on their speeches
Former Supreme Court Justice, Mary Finlay Geoghegan with Judge Suzanne Kingston and Professor Orla Feely
Stephen Holst, Managing Partner of McCann FitzGerald with James Healy and Professor Laurent Pech
Professor Cathryn Costello with Michael Jackson, Managing Partner of Matheson LLP and Dr Amy Strecker
Former Attorney General, Harry Whelehan, Elizabeth Mullan and Declan McCourt, Chair of the UCD Sutherland School of Law Development Council
The audience included many PhD candidates and staff from UCD Sutherland School of Law
‘Digital Markets and the Law’: Workshop on emerging issues for businesses
Professor Imelda Maher welcoming practitioners, students and faculty to the workshop
As part of our celebrations of ten years in the UCD Sutherland School of Law building, we were pleased to host the ‘Digital Markets and the Law’ workshop in April 2024.
The UCD Sutherland School of Law provides an ideal space for legal practitioners, scholars and students to come together in order to discuss and debate emerging issues in law and business. This offers an opportunity for all to benefit from insights from the cutting edge of academic research combined with the perspective of some of Ireland's legal commercial law firms.
In this workshop entitled ‘Digital Markets and the Law’, the School was delighted to welcome representatives from leading Irish and international law firms to the Sutherland School of Law for a productive afternoon of discussion and debate. The workshop focused on emerging issues for businesses trading on digital platforms, an area of legal practice which is undergoing rapid and radical evolution as policy makers, business leaders and lawyers seek to build a regulatory architecture for the digital economy.
At the workshop, which was coordinated by Dr Noel McGrath and Professor Imelda Maher, we were delighted to welcome leading practitioners Nicholas Blake-Knox (Walkers), Rosaleen Byrne (McCann FitzGerald), Rory Curis (Arthur Cox), Liam Heylin (Mason Hayes & Curran), Killian Morris (AMOSS) and Calum Warren (Matheson). Our colleagues from the world of professional practice were joined by a range of faculty members with expertise in competition law, contract and company law, tax, and intellectual property law. Twelve of our students were also given the opportunity to take part – they included three PhD candidates, Aoife McPartland, Stephanie Fitzpatrick and Somsubhra Banerjee, Masters student, Tom Griffin and Undergraduates, Andreena Corrigan, John Ryan, Mark O'Rourke, Christina Colgan, Simon Conran, Amber Madden Doyle, Robin Jowett and Elliot Baude.
Based on a case study provided by Dr Noel McGrath, participants discussed how traditional legal remedies such as injunctions and damages claims can be adapted to novel forms of legal dispute generated between businesses as traditional trade in goods and services is increasingly restructured and carried on through electronic trading platforms dominated by private companies.
Workshop group (l to r) Dr Emer Hunt, Rosaleen Byrne, Partner at McCann FitzGerald, Aoife McPartland and John Ryan
Killian Morris, Partner at AMOSS LLP
Students Andreena Corrigan and Simon Conran in discussion with Rory Curtis, Associate at Arthur Cox
The Workshop was part of the School’s Celebration of Ten Years in the UCD Sutherland School of Law building
Students Simon Conran, Tom Griffin, Mark O’Rourke, Amber Madden Doyle, Andreena Corrigan and Christina Colgan
The James C Brady prize for 2022/2023 awarded to two outstanding students
Prize-winners Jessica Harte (second from left) and Gráinne Kinsella (third from right), pictured with Professor Oonagh Breen, James Brady’s daughter Sinead and granddaughter Clodagh and Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law.
At the recent UCD President’s prize giving in O’Reilly Hall, two outstanding law students were awarded joint medals for the James C Brady Prize for the academic year 2022/2023. They were 2023 Law with French Law graduate, Jessica Harte, and final year Law with Social Justice student, Gráinne Kinsella. The ceremony was attended by two members of the late Professor Brady’s family - his daughter Sinead and granddaughter, Clodagh.
This annual prize commemorates James C Brady (1940-1998), Professor of the Law of Property and Equity in University College Dublin. It was established in 2001 by the James C Brady Memorial Trust as a tribute to Professor Brady and his skills in teaching and research in the field of equity and trusts. The prize includes a gold medal and a copy of the Liber Memoralis in honour of Professor Brady. It is awarded to the student who achieves the best combined result from two specific modules. The prize is awarded annually and is open to students from all law undergraduate degree programmes.
Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellow appointed at UCD Sutherland School of Law
(L-R) Matheson Director of Learning and Development, Nicola White; Newman Fellow Dr Saoirse Enright; Matheson Managing Partner, Michael Jackson; Assistant Professor at UCD Sutherland School of Law, Dr Sara Benedi Lahuerta and Dean of UCD Sutherland School of Law, Professor Laurent Pech
We are pleased to announce that Dr Saoirse Enright has been appointed as the Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellow at the UCD Sutherland School of Law. Matheson has funded the Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellowship to support research-based evidence in the field of access to legal education for under-represented groups, and to identify hurdles experienced by those groups to access and remain in the legal profession.
Dr Enright will join the law school to deliver a two-year, interdisciplinary project focused on identifying the barriers faced by under-represented groups to pursue a career in the legal profession, and aims to lead the development of current and new initiatives to improve access to law degrees and the profession more broadly. Dr Enright’s work will be conducted under the supervision of Dr Sara Benedí Lahuerta.
Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law and Head of the Sutherland School of Law said: ‘Dr Enright is a welcome addition to UCD Sutherland School of Law. Her research will allow us to better understand what barriers under-represented groups are facing to becoming practising lawyers, thus informing new initiatives for a more diverse legal workforce. We look forward to seeing the outcome of this project and the impact it will have on the legal profession in Ireland. This project would not be possible without the generous support from Matheson. Matheson are the first law firm to support a Newman Fellowship at UCD and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.’
Matheson has funded the Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellowship to support research-based evidence in the field of access to legal education for under-represented groups, and to identify hurdles experienced by those groups to access and remain in the legal profession.
Michael Jackson, Managing Partner, Matheson, said: ‘The Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellowship is a key component of Matheson’s commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) as part of our Impactful Business Programme. To create a truly diverse and inclusive profession, we are matching our efforts to create a diverse workplace that values and celebrates differences, with the broader need to understand barriers to entry to the legal profession. Law firms and practising lawyers who have a more informed understanding of the barriers to entry should be able to more effectively empower and assist students and graduates from diverse backgrounds to overcome those barriers and pursue successful careers as practising lawyers.
Welcoming the appointment of Dr Enright, her supervisor, Dr Sara Benedí Lahuerta said: ‘It is my pleasure to welcome Dr Saoirse Enright to UCD Sutherland School of Law. Dr Enright recently completed an Irish Research Council Funded PhD at the University of Limerick under the supervision of Dr Laura Cahillane and also holds a first class honours in Bachelor of Laws as well as a Master of Laws. This is an important area of research and it is wonderful to have someone with Dr Enright’s level of experience taking up the role. I’m really looking forward to working with Dr Enright on this project.’
Dr Saoirse Enright said: ‘Despite much effort across the profession, many under-represented groups still face barriers to pursuing a career in law. This research project will seek to understand these barriers and identify what changes and initiatives need to be introduced so that we can create a profession that reflects the population it serves. I’m delighted to be taking up the role of Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellow at UCD Sutherland School of Law and contributing to the creation of a more diverse and inclusive legal profession. I feel privileged to have received a Newman Fellowship. This prestigious award will allow me to enhance my research skills and create knowledge for a better world by providing me with the means to explore a cutting-edge research topic that is long overdue. I am looking forward to learning and developing my research skills under the expert guidance of Dr Benedi Lahuerta.’
The Fellowship is part of the wider Newman Fellowship Programme at UCD, which since its establishment in 1989, has seen leading Irish and multinational corporations, semi-state bodies, voluntary organisations and individuals support high-calibre, post-doctoral research across the humanities and sciences. Matheson is the first law firm to support a Newman Fellowship at UCD.
The Matheson Impactful Business Programme is designed to enhance the impact the firm makes by aligning and integrating its D&I, corporate social responsibility, environmental sustainability, arts and pro bono strategies within one dedicated programme. Matheson was the first organisation in Ireland to achieve the Investors in Diversity Gold Standard Award from the Irish Centre for Diversity for its commitment to D&I practices and, in 2022, became the first organisation to achieve re-accreditation of the Gold Standard.
Guide for 2024 Referendums on Family and Care
On Friday 8 March 2024, Irish Citizens are being asked to vote on two proposed changes to the Constitution.
To assist voters in understanding the changes being proposed, the UCD Centre for Constitutional Studies has published the following comprehensive guide to the referendum.
The Centre for Constitutional Studies promotes research and discussion of constitutional law and politics in Ireland, Europe and internationally. The Centre is housed in the Sutherland School of Law in UCD. It provides an open space for discussion and collaboration between scholars and practitioners from different disciplines and different institutions.
Professor Eoin Carolan is the Director of the Centre. His profile can be (opens in a new window)viewed here.
The Deputy Director of the Centre is Dr Sarah Fulham-McQuillan. Her profile can be (opens in a new window)viewed here.
The Centre's Chief Outreach Officer is Seána Glennon, who is currently a Doctoral Scholar at the School of Law. Her profile can be viewed here.
Professor Aisling Swaine joins UCD Sutherland School of Law
Professor Aisling Swaine has joined UCD Sutherland School of Law from 1 January 2024 from the UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.
In 2023 Professor Swaine was awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant of €2 million to lead ‘GENCOERCTRL’, a project examining women’s experiences of coercive control in armed conflict, and approaches to the issue in transitional justice, which now transfers to UCD Sutherland School of Law.
Professor Swaine’s research is important because, to date, coercive control has received little scholarly attention as a lens to understand women’s experiences of armed conflict. Professor Swaine’s project addresses this gap and specifically examines international legal responses to the issue through transitional justice mechanisms. By developing new methodological approaches to understanding this gendered phenomenon, and speaking with women across Colombia, Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka, ‘GENCOERCTRL’ will uncover the lived experience and nature of coercive control in conflict settings, and expand feminist scholarly critique of international law’s responses to women’s experiences of conflict.
Professor Swaine said: “This funding will push the boundaries of what we, as researchers, currently understand to characterise women’s experiences of armed conflict. There is so much more to conflict-related gendered harm than physical violence. This grant will allow us to uncover the more subtle ways that armed conflict dynamics impact women. By centering women’s own articulation of their lived experience of conflict, the project will advance not just better understanding of gendered harm, but also pathways towards better accountability through international law and global justice mechanisms.”
Commenting on Professor Swaine’s transfer to UCD Sutherland School of Law, Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Professor Swaine, a leading scholar in the area of gender studies, to the school. Her project will allow us to create new synergies across several complementary disciplines and important areas of research. The school now hosts four European Research Council funded projects, a rare achievement for any law school in Europe and one that we are extremely proud of."
Aedamar Comiskey is honoured as Law Alumni Award Winner 2023
Law Student Darragh Gorman, Aedamar Comiskey and Professor Orla Feely
The annual UCD Alumni Awards Ceremony honours remarkable members of UCD's alumni network, highlighting their outstanding contributions to society, business, culture, and industry. In a celebration in O’Reilly Hall in November, Aedamar Comiskey received the prestigious Alumni Award in Law for 2023. Aedamar's remarkable journey led her to become Linklaters' Senior Partner and Chair in May, making history as the first female to hold this position in the firm's 183-year history. In the five years leading up to this, Aedamar was the Global Head of Corporate, responsible for managing the Firm’s corporate practice around the world. She currently chairs the Partnership Board and, before that, was a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee for five years. Known as a trailblazer in public and private M&A law, Aedamar's leadership extends to overseeing the firm's relationship with international giants such as HSBC, Visa, Capita, and Tate & Lyle.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of Aedamar's priorities. As a champion for progress, she actively sponsors Linklaters Women's Leadership Programme, supporting women in reaching senior leadership positions. Aedamar's accolades include being named among Europe's Most Influential Female Lawyers 2023 and recognized in City A.M.'s Power 100 Women List. Her dynamic personality and ability to navigate complex issues with good-humoured candour have earned her admiration from colleagues and clients alike.
Reflecting on her university days at the ceremony, Aedamar shared a lighthearted story of seeking guidance from a fortune-teller in Dublin's Temple Street. Encouraged to pursue law, Aedamar's journey at UCD's School of Law unfolded, marked by academic excellence including her winning first prize for Jurisprudence in final year in college.
Read more about the (opens in a new window)UCD Alumni Awards, hear about (opens in a new window)Aedamar's motivation and outstanding achievements and watch(opens in a new window) the ceremony's highlights.
Aedamar Comiskey is the tenth recipient of the UCD Alumni Award for Law. Nominations for the award are sought from our alumni and stakeholders and we encourage you to get involved with the annual selection process by emailing (opens in a new window)alumnicommunications@ucd.ie with suggestions for future awardees. The distinguished alumni who have been received this award over the past ten years, are as follows:
UCD Alumni Award for Law
2014 (opens in a new window)Maeve O’Rourke
2015 (opens in a new window)Miriam O’Callaghan
2016 (opens in a new window)Benjamin Cleary
2017 (opens in a new window)Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC
2018 (opens in a new window)Vincent Keaveny CBE
2019 (opens in a new window)Colin Ryan
2020 (opens in a new window)Sally Hayden
2021 (opens in a new window)Fiona McEntee
The new Individual Accountability Framework in Financial Services Ireland
In November 2023, UCD, in collaboration with Eversheds Sutherland, hosted a conference on the new Individual Accountability Framework in Financial Services in Ireland. Pictured above are Ciaran Walker of Eversheds Sutherland, Professor Elizabeth Sheedy of Macquarie University, Gerry Cross of the Central Bank of Ireland, Professor Blanaid Clarke of Trinity College Dublin and Dr Joe McGrath of UCD Sutherland School of Law.
The new Framework is set out in the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023. The conference brought together leading academics, industry leaders, practicing lawyers and representatives from the Central Bank of Ireland to discuss the implications of this major new development, which is aimed at improving governance and culture in financial services in Ireland. Drawing together national expertise and international experience, and harnessing insights from law and behavioural psychology, the aim of conferences such as this is to build a community of practice to share learnings to promote ethical behaviour and positive banking cultures. In particular, it serves to facilitate constructive engagement between academic experts, practitioners, regulators and policy-makers to address issues of importance to financial services in Ireland.
The conference was convened by Dr. Joe McGrath, Sutherland School of Law and Ciaran Walker, Eversheds Sutherland. Other contributors included Professor Niamh Moloney of the London School of Economics, Dr Wieke Scholten of BR Insights, Neil Freshwater, CEO, Zurich Insurance plc, Brian Hayes, CEO, Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland, Michael D’Arcy, CEO, Irish Association of Investment Managers, Dr Margaret Cullen of the Institute of Directors, Evelyn Cregan of the Institute of Bankers and Joanne Hyde and Sophie White, both partners in Eversheds Sutherland. The conference was opened by Professor Colin Scott, Registrar of University College Dublin since 1 December 2023.
Leading scholar of EU Law and Labour Law joins UCD Sutherland School of Law
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dagmar Schiek to the position of Full Professor of EU Law and Labour Law at UCD Sutherland School of Law.
Dagmar Schiek has moved to UCD from University College Cork, where she held the Synnott Family Chair in EU law and directed the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence EU Integration and Citizens’ Rights. She has been a professor of EU law from 2000, and a Jean Monnet ad personam Chair from 2011, with a background in comparative labour law and anti-discrimination law.
She joins UCD Sutherland School of Law with the project RIGHTS TO UNITE, which develops a new socio-legal theory of European integration, questioning the extent to which the Union can rely on the integrative capacity of its law in its Member States and neighbouring countries. It combines theoretical inquiry with comparative research in 8 smaller states in the EU and its neighbourhood (Czechia, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Northern Ireland (UK), North Macedonia, Norway, Sweden).
Professor Schiek has a PhD from the University of Hamburg, where she studied law, and a Habilitation from the University of Bremen, where she commenced her academic career as an associate professor. She has established interdisciplinary centres for EU research at the University of Leeds (2007-2014) and Queen’s University Belfast (2014-2020), and has held visiting positions at University of Melbourne, University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), University of Christchurch (New Zealand), Kyiv Mohyla Akademi Law School, London School of Economics and Maastricht University.
Commenting on Professor Schiek’s appointment, Professor Colin Scott, Principal, UCD College of Social Sciences and Law and Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at UCD said: “Professor Schiek joined the Faculty on November 1, bringing not only outstanding research credentials and extensive international teaching experience, but also great experience in research leadership. At UCD, she will develop new institutional collaborations on EU Law and Comparative Labour Law”.
Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law and Head of the UCD Sutherland School of Law added: “The Sutherland School of Law is delighted to welcome Professor Schiek, a leading expert in socio-legal studies of EU Law and Labour Law and the first legal scholar in Ireland to secure a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant. Professor Schiek’s appointment will further strengthen our research and teaching capabilities in the field of European studies and provide us with the unique opportunity to hire a team of researchers working in multiple jurisdictions due to the comparative nature of Professor Schiek’s ERC research project.”
Four Adjunct Professors Appointed to UCD Sutherland School of Law
(L to R) Rossa Fanning, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Sally Hayden, Dr Michael O’Flaherty
UCD Sutherland School of Law was pleased to welcome four distinguished Adjunct Professors to our faculty at the start of the academic year 2023 – 2024. Attorney General Rossa Fanning, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Sally Hayden, and Dr Michael O’Flaherty, have all agreed to take on the role of Adjunct Professor at the school. All four are graduates of the School of Law in UCD.
Rossa Fanning SC has served as the Attorney General of Ireland since December 2022. He was called to the Bar in 1999 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2016. He has worked across a broad spectrum of commercial cases including insolvency and restructuring, commercial leases, defamation, debt recovery, repossessions and professional negligence. He has a strong connection with UCD having taught in the School of Law in his early career. He is also a past auditor of UCD LawSoc.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC is a prominent human rights lawyer who practises as a barrister with Doughty Street Chambers in London. She has acted in many landmark human rights cases before the European Court of Human Rights, United Nations bodies and other international tribunals. Her prominent work has included acting for bereaved families and survivors of the 7/7 London bombings and the Hillsborough disaster.
Sally Hayden is an award-winning journalist who has reported extensively on issues related to migration, conflict, human rights and humanitarian crises for many of the world’s leading news publishers. Her book “My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World’s Deadliest Migration Route” won the 2022 Orwell Prize for Political Writing and was named the An Post Irish Book of the Year.
Dr Michael O’Flaherty is Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, has served as Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, was a member of the UN Human Rights Committee and head of a number of UN Human Rights Field Operations. He was previously a Professor of Human Rights Law at the University of Galway.
Adjunct Professors are appointed by UCD Sutherland School of Law to enhance our teaching, contribute to our research profile and to add to the intellectual life of the school. These prestigious appointments reflect our desire to offer students the opportunity to engage with inspirational professionals throughout their time in UCD.
Commenting on these appointments, Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law said “We are delighted to welcome back four of our most eminent BCL alumni to our School as adjunct professors. We look forward to working with them more closely at a time where the UCD Sutherland School of Law is working on further enhancing its clinical, teaching and research activities in multiple fields, including European law, fundamental rights law, global migration law and rule of law related issues.”