1. Experiential hands-on learning
One of the greatest strengths of the School of Law at the University of Limerick is its commitment to practice-orientated tuition delivered by a highly experienced team of academics, who have direct practical experience working as barristers and solicitors within some of Ireland’s leading law firms, such as Arthur Cox and Holmes O’Malley Sexton.
Postgraduate students not only have an opportunity to engage with senior associates and partners of Ireland’s top-tier law firms at specifically organised, private networking events, but they also get to interact with international stakeholders at a host of clinical seminars hosted throughout the year. These events allow students to apply their existing academic knowledge in practical legal contexts in order to gain a deeper understanding of how their skills apply in the wider world. Guest lecturers at the School of Law have included attorney Dean Strang of Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” amongst others.
Students also partake in numerous on-site visits in the surrounding mid-west region. The LLM/MA Human Rights in Criminal Justice students take annual class trips to Limerick Prison, Henry Street Garda Station and the Garda college. This facilitates students’ deep and flexible understanding of the realities associated with human rights in the criminal justice process in real world scenarios.
LLM/MA Human Rights in Criminal Justice students on a visit to the Garda College in Templemore, Co.Tipperary.
2. International focus
The ever-increasing number of international students studying at the School of Law has enhanced classroom discussions and critical analysis of course materials which in turn enhances students’ knowledge and understanding of the scope and substance of national and international sources of law and policy issues. In recent years, our international graduates include students from Nigeria, Massachusetts, New York, Norway and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo).
The School of Law offers an impressive range of internationally focused taught modules. Students can study modules such as International Business Transactions and Global Competition Law delivered through the LLM in International Commercial Law. Through the LLM/MA in Human Rights in Criminal Justice, students can study modules including Comparative International Protection of Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, and Comparative Criminal Justice. Alternatively, students can design their own programme of study by undertaking the LLM (General) where a wide variety of diverse modules can be chosen.
The School of Law has numerous international links with partner universities across the globe including across Europe, South America and Asia.
3. External recognition
The LLM (General) degree at the University of Limerick has an outstanding reputation both nationally and internationally. The programme was also awarded ‘Best Postgraduate Course in Law’ in Ireland at the Higher Education Authority Awards 2017/18. For the third year in a row, the LLM/MA in Human Rights in Criminal Justice programme has been shortlisted by the Higher Education Authority Grad Ireland in the ‘Best Postgraduate Course of the Year in Law’ category.
The School of Law also won the AIB Law School of the Year in 2017 where the School was commended for its innovative clinical legal education, high graduate employability and its excellence in teaching and research.
The School of Law, UL is ranked in the top 200-250 Law Schools in the world, according to the latest QS World University Rankings (2020). UL is ranked in the 101-150 range in the Young University Rankings Times Higher Education (2019) which is indicative of the high-quality courses, student experience, graduate attributes, excellence in teaching and learning, research and publication outputs and engagement with external stakeholders.
4. Industry focus and great employer links
By harnessing both the professional expertise of the School of Law’s staff and their established network of industry experts, this has allowed for the development of strategic relationships with key stakeholder institutions at both a national and international level.
The School has also been proactive in preparing graduates with the creation of a unique practice-orientated, employer-led, professional development module. Designed in consultation with legal academics and employers, and delivered in a blended learning environment by the University of Limerick’s award winning Cooperative Education and Careers Division, the professional development module is designed specifically to enable students to identify their unique talents and translate these into professional strengths which will enhance their employability.
The School also supports a number of internships detailed here which further increase graduate employability post-graduation. Read about how one postgraduate student has benefitted from the Chief Justices summer internship which was supported by the School of Law at UL.
5. Alumni Success Stories
Many postgraduate students have gone on to have extremely successful careers in a variety of different fields. Read some of their experiences below and how completing a postgraduate programme at the School of Law helped fulfill their career goals.
Lorcan O’Flaherty (LLM (General) graduate, 2009) who is currently Head of International Trade at the consultancy firm, Hume Brophy in their Brussels office, has cited the LLM as giving him the necessary skills and training to execute his current role: “The LLM gave me a solid grounding in the skills I use on a day-to-day basis in a fast-paced and challenging environment.”
Another LLM (General) Graduate, Pablo Cortes describes how apart from meeting his now wife whilst studying at the University of Limerick he was also able to pursue a career in academia through the support and guidance he received at the University of Limerick. “The LLM helped me to develop my research skills and gave me the opportunity to assist in teaching undergraduate students. The experience was so fulfilling that I moved on to write a PhD, building on a research topic that I identified during my LLM dissertation under the supervision of Professor Friel. The LLM, together with the instrumental support from the academic staff from University of Limerick, served me as the springboard to obtain a scholarship for a PhD and later to pursue an academic career in the UK”
Denis Kennedy who is currently a research fellow at the Courts Service of Ireland described how the LLM/MA Human Rights in Criminal Justice his lawyering skills which has benefitted him in his current role: “The LLM in Human Rights and Criminal Justice enabled me to study modules that developed my lawyering and research skills both critically and analytically and had the added advantage of being presented in a multi-jurisdictional setting.”
Eimear Cleary, a graduate of the LLM International Commercial Law describes her experience at UL and how the LLM benefitted her in her current job as an associate in Arthur Cox: “My experience at UL prepared me to competently overcome challenges and embrace opportunities in my professional training. I am now an associate in the commercial property department in Arthur Cox. Arthur Cox’s reputation of excellence in commercial property impressed me. As an associate, I am engaged in the highest quality legal work. Multiple and diverse learning opportunities are presented on a daily basis. I work in a very stimulating, collaborative and rewarding environment. In my opinion, UL not only facilitates education, it is instrumental in shaping character.”
Why not pursue a postgraduate degree at the School of Law in UL and further your own personal and career goals in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Watch our recent webinar recording to learn more about postgraduate programmes at the School of Law, UL.
