LAW SCHOOL NEWS

Issue 42 | WInter 2015

In this Issue

Pages 4 & 5: INC photos

Page 6: Street Law

Page 7: Trainee Activities

A team of two law students from the University of Minnesota, Winnipeg, came first place at the International Negotiation Competition (INC) 2015, which was hosted by the Law School from 6 to 10 July. Shimon Leibel and Andrew Slough beat 23 other teams from across the world to claim the top spot, after competing in three competitive rounds to ascertain who had the sharpest negotiation skills. Teams from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, the National Law School of India University and the University of Otago, New Zealand came in joint second. A team from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany, came in third place. The Law School was represented by two trainees from the 2014 PPC I class – Mark Thuillier and Thomas Timlin (A&L Goodbody) who came in fourth place. They were coached by John Darby, solicitor, of Flynn O’Driscoll. Mark and Thomas also received a special award for ‘Maximising Joint Gains’ in each of the negotiation rounds. A total of 24 teams from 22 countries took part – from the US and Canada, to France, Russia, Qatar, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea – to name but a few. This year’s competition was the largest ever; with new teams from France and Poland participating, and more non-native-English-speaking teams taking part than native speakers. This is the second time the Law School

LAW SCHOOL HOStS INtErNAtIONAL NEgOtIAtION COmpEtItION

has hosted this prestigious international competition (the first being in 2005) and is the third large-scale competitive event that the Law School has hosted in the past few years - following on from the successful International Client Consultation Competition in 2012 and International Mediation Tournament in 2013. The INC format sees a team of two law students representing a party or client negotiating either an international transaction or the resolution of an international dispute with an opposing team of two law students. The purposes of the INC are to promote greater interest among law students in legal negotiation; provide a means for law students to practice and improve their negotiating skills in cross-border transactions and disputes; enable law students to meet law students and lawyers from other countries; provide law students with a critique of their performance from experienced legal negotiators; and help law students become aware of and experience the special aspects of international legal negotiations, including the enhanced difficulties of cross-cultural communication as well as the potential differences in negotiating styles, ethical limitations, social norms, and business practices. For each of the competition’s three rounds, competing teams are provided with a problem outlining the facts of the issue, and each team receives additional facts

specific to their own client, detailing the best alternative to a negotiated agreement the client is willing to accept. It’s up to the law students to then reach a settlement that is in both of their clients’ interest. Each round is overseen by a panel of local and international judges, who alone know both sides of the issue and who keep a keen eye on the proceedings. The judges score the students in a number of categories such as planning, relationships and teamwork, ethics and outcomes. Many local practitioners volunteered swathes of their time to judge the INC, which also provided them with an opportunity to network with their fellow practitioners and make connections with many of the international lawyers and lecturers who travelled to Dublin simply to take part. “I enjoyed my week as a judge at the INC,” says David Soden, a sole practitioner based in Dublin. “Larry and the committee gave a detailed briefing with Q&A each morning and all of the judges knew exactly what was required. Jane’s team started each session punctually and looked after us throughout the day.” Although obviously a competitive environment, the INC places a strong emphasis on learning too. The week-long event commenced with a series of masterclasses and training sessions, led by international law professors. Mark Saunders of Kingston University Law School, London, discussed cross-cultural issues in negotiation; Anne Fenton of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast, and Prof. Nancy Schultz of Chapman University, California, also led sessions on specific issues relating to the rounds’ problems. Within each round, the students were given the opportunity to reflect on and self-analyse their own negotiation skills and to receive feedback from the judges overseeing them – another important educational element of the competition. “I think what makes the INC truly unique

Participants at the INC

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Keith O’malley, Head of Support Services

How you fare within your training contract has a huge influence on how your career works out thereafter. Many trainee solicitors take a passive approach to this stage of their career. They treat their training contract as a kind of purgatory - a time to be passed through before qualifying – and one that they have little control within. That’s a mistake. There are a whole lot of beneficial things that you can progress during your training contract; things that can provide you with a significant head start post qualification.

BuILd AChIeveMeNTSBeing able to provide information about achievements that you’ve had in your career to date is critical if you job seek after qualifying. So too is the ability to talk about benefits that employers and clients have enjoyed because of how you did your job.

In order to maximise career success after qualifying, you need to be able to tell stories about your time as a trainee, about how you made suggestions, solved problems and ‘went the extra mile’ within your work and about the benefits that were enjoyed as a result.

MAke ChoICeSMake sure you properly explore the different kinds of work that you can do as a solicitor and figure out what will suit your interests and aptitudes best after qualifying. use your training contract to identify the exact kind of work and work environment that suits you long term. You may not be able to get a lot (or any) work experience in the area of law that most interests you within your training firm. If so, try and get a secondment. At the very least, learn everything possible about the area – including how careers are most successfully developed in this area, who is currently most successful, and how work practices are evolving.

GeT INvoLvedSuccessful solicitors tend to have lots of involvements and to play active roles in all sorts of bodies from campaigning organisations, to sporting and leisure clubs, through to legal professional groups. Join organisations that you expect to enjoy being involve with and seek to play an active role within, ideally in the central management team.

BeCoMe ACCoMPLIShedAs your training contract progresses, seek to take full responsibility for jobs, from start to finish. Aim to be capable of working with minimum supervision by the time you qualify. Look to get involved in business development if you can. Seek business from personal contacts and start developing yourself a following. In short, seek to become as close as you can to the real deal – a fully functioning solicitor – by the time your traineeship ends.

tHE SuCCESSfuL trAININg CONtrACt

Freda Grealy, Head of the Diploma Centre and John Lunney who leads the Diploma Centre’s Street Law volunteer programme presented on Street Law at the recnt 8th GAJE ( Global Alliance for Justice Education)   worldwide conference which took place at Anadolu University in Eskişehir, Turkey. They were joined in their presentation by Sean Arthurs from the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s, Education Leadership Program. The presentation titled “Incubating citizen solicitors in Ireland” looked at the positive outcomes of the Diploma Centre’s Street Law programme and particularly the impact that teaching Street Law in Secondary Schools has had on the PPC I trainees who volunteer for the programme. Freda and John also co-presented on the Irish experience of being part of a global mock trial programme which looked at Mock Trials as a means to teach about fundamental freedoms in a global context. PPC II trainees facilitated four Dublin schools involvement in this project, which had students from a number of countries engage in a Mock Trial based on identical facts and subsequently compared the outcomes in different jurisdictions. Pictured here after their mock trial in the Law Society are students from St Marys College Rathmines and the Trinity Access Programme; Pathways to Law with PPC II facilitators Julia Chwist, Eoin Collins, Gillian Hobbs and Aisling McHugh.

2015 gAJE CONfErENCE

VIS mOOt

The International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition (vis Moot) Team for 2016 from left to right: Niall hayes (Mcdowell Purcell, dublin), Clodagh Gill (Smyth and Son Solicitors, drogheda) Sean o’halloran (James o Riordan & Sons, Cork).

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Bank of Ireland recently hosted an exciting programme of activity for local businesses and the wider social and schools community in Smithfield.  The Enterprise Community Schools initiative, aimed at encouraging wider social engagement was organised by the Bank in partnership with local businesses and the Law Society of Ireland.  As part of the schools programme, 50 TY students from St. Josephs Secondary School, Stanhope St (Girls) and St. Pauls CBS, North Brunswick Street (Boys), participated in range of activities. The students experienced real courtroom drama as teams from the boys and girls schools went head to head in a debate in the Mock Court Room in Blackhall Place on the theme ‘This House would have fought in the 1916 Rising’. The Judges on the day were Cillian MacDomhnaill and Gabriel Brennan from the Law Society of Ireland & Ronan Brennan of Bank of Ireland. Commenting on the debate, Ronan Brennan, Branch Manager, Bank of Ireland, Smithfield said: “We were thrilled with the response from students and teachers for this programme. Tension and excitement ran high as pupils passionately argued their case with memorable contributions from both sides. We are very grateful to the Law Society for giving students this unique opportunity to debate in the Mock courtroom. The winning team took home the Annual Bank of Ireland & Law Society Shield, which we hope will be fought for annually in the same competitive manner as this year.”

BANK Of IrELANd ENtErprISE COmmuNIty prOgrAmmE

Pictured deep in conversation during their debate at Blackhall Place Mock Court are the boys team from St. Pauls CBS, North Brunswick Street

tHE pHILIp C. JESSup INtErNAtIONAL LAW mOOt COurt COmpEtItION

The Jessup team from left to right: emmett Connolly (A&L Goodbody), Christine Simpson (Matheson), katie o’Leary (McCann FitzGerald), Andrea Bowdren (Arthur Cox), Sarah Morrissey (A&L Goodbody).

Colette reid, team Coach

The Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition is the world’s largest moot court competition, with participants from over 550 law schools in more than 80 countries. The Competition is a simulation of a fictional dispute between countries before the International Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the United Nations, and each team must submit written pleadings and present oral arguments. The Law Society’s team will join thousands of law students from around the world as they take on the challenge of this year’s Jessup Problem, which focuses on the legality of cyber-surveillance and cyber-attacks under international law. The national rounds will take place in the New Year with the national champions progressing to the International rounds in Washington DC from 27 March 2016 to 2 April 2016. The Law Society’s team is Andrea Bowdren (Arthur Cox), Emmet Connolly (A & L Goodbody), Sarah Morrissey (A & L Goodbody), Katie O’Leary (McCann FitzGerald) and Christine Simpson (Matheson). We wish the team the best of luck in the Jessup Moot Court Competition.

Training Contract Seminar 26 January 2016 2.00 pm – 5.30pmKnow any family, friends, sons or daughters of friends, etc. looking for a training contract? Feeling pressurised to help?Tell them about the Finding Your Training Contract Seminar 26 January 2016. For information and to book http://www.lawsociety.ie/Public/Become-a-Solicitor/

Transform your Traineeship Event 1 February 2016 For more information and to book go to Moodle. To book your place, email the Traineeship Section traineesection@lawsociety.ie before 15 January 2016. Places are limited to 60 PPC I trainee solicitors. We are also looking for Post PPC II and newly qualified solicitors to act as tutors on the

day. Training will be provided. If interested in tutoring this event please contact the Traineeship Section.

Calling all potential training solicitors and trainee solicitors to check out the Law Society web siteIf you are a solicitor thinking about taking on a trainee and you would like more information about the role of training solicitor log in to the members’ area of the website. Once logged in go to “Running a Practice” and “Hiring a Trainee”. You can also contact the Traineeship Section if in doubt. Remember training contracts can also be provided by solicitors working in-house. Trainees can also access the Law Society Website to find useful information and to access the Secondment Register.

trAINEESHIp SECtION

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is the range of teams taking part,” says David Ridley, member of the Scottish team from University of Aberdeen. “There are very few academic competitions that bring together teams from such a diverse range of countries. Negotiation is a concept which is fundamentally the same across the world but which every country does slightly differently. This made the experience more challenging but far more

interesting than we could have imagined”. Despite the wide range of participating teams, everyone appeared to gel together, which created a productive environment in which to negotiate. David Soden adds, “The general atmosphere was serious but by no means po-faced, and truly collegiate: the teams got to know each other well out of hours and it assisted the process hugely. All of the judges were in awe of the high standard of English across the non-anglophone teams.”

In addition to the rounds and the classes, the Law School provided a well-rounded social programme to welcome the students to Ireland and to show our reputation for hospitality is well-deserved. The week commenced with a formal Opening Ceremony on Monday 6 July in the Blue Room. Law Society President Kevin O’Higgins and Education Committee Chair Valerie Peart addressed the delegations, and Mr Justice Michael Peart of the Court of Appeal delivered the keynote speech. The President advised the participants to “network and build relationships to use

INtErNAtIONAL NEgOtIAtION COmpEtItION

The ukrainian and Japanese teams get underway with their negotiations

Teams do some last minute prep before their negotiation round

INC Convenor Jane Moffatt with solicitors doug Sadlier and Gareth Murphy, who won the competition in 2003 for the Law Society - they returned this year as judges

The Indian team, Anusri kumar and Sonia Shad, receive their certificates of participation

President of the Law Society kevin o’higgins with the Northern Irish team, Scott McWhinney and Nicholas Compton

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into the future” and Ms Peart spoke of her hopes that they would take away a “great sense of pride” in themselves after the event.Mr Justice Peart spoke of the growing importance of non-litigious dispute resolution in the legal system and how “the art of negotiation is a powerful tool”. Following the Opening Ceremony, a traditional Irish céilí broke the ice and got everyone to know each other – these relationships and friendships were strengthened as the week progressed, through other social events such as a movie

night, student dinner night out and a day long cultural event. On Thursday 9 July, the participants were given a break from the competition and took part in a smartphone-based treasure hunt around Dublin. Groups of ten were each provided with a smartphone and a Twitter account, and had to decipher clues and complete activities at various points around the city to earn points and win the hunt. The INC culminated in an Awards Dinner at the Guinness Storehouse, where all teams received Certificates of

Participation and the top six teams were announced. Although that marked the end of the week’s events, it certainly was not the end of the INC experience, as the relationships, networks and friendships continue to flourish across all four corners of the globe. The Law School would like to congratulate Mark and Thomas for their excellent performance in the INC. The INC experience was captured on Twitter – to sample it, visit www.twitter.com and search for the hashtag #INCdublin15More images capturing the event are below.

The Norwegian team, karoline Wergeland and Thea Willas Bure, dressed in traditional bunad, receive their certificates of participation

The winning team, Shimon Leibl and Andrew Slough show off their first place certificates at the INC Awards dinner

Judge Michael Peart of the Court of Appeal delivers a keynote speech at the INC opening Ceremony

The Qatari team, Sajeda Zeyad Abufara and Noor Mohammed Al-Mulla receive their certificates of participation at the INC Awards dinner

The New Zealand, Poland, Norway and Law Society teams smile before their four-way negotiation

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39 PPC I trainees attended this year’s Street Law Orientation weekend in October. This volunteer programme run by the Diploma Centre places trainees in a number of Dublin based DEIS schools where they teach a Street Law course to transition Year students. Street Law is based on a unique learner-centred methodology and aims to have participating pupils realise that law isn’t some alien concept for other people but actually something that affects them every day. We were fortunate to have Street Law experts Sean Arthurs (Harvard), Melinda Cooperman (American University) and Jessica Gallagher (Georgetown) onsite to facilitate orientation for trainees in in advance of their school placements. This year we were also delighted to welcome representatives from a number of participating schools to the Law Society for our introductory Friday night session. Good luck to all involved who are currently out in the schools as part of their six week placement. Pictured below are PPC I students getting involved over the weekend.

StrEEt LAW OrIENtAtION WEEKENd

The LLM degree is a new departure for the Law School and is offered in collaboration with Northumbria University. Solicitors are given academic credit for their qualification, representing two thirds of the LLM. They are required to attend a brief research course and submit a dissertation to get the qualification. It marks external validation of Irish solicitor training by one of the more innovative university law schools. Course applications rapidly exceeded the number of places available for the first offering of the Master’s which commenced in September. However, it is envisaged that the degree will be offered on an annual basis with an expanded number of places on offer. While the course is primarily aimed at solicitors, it is also open to trainees who have enrolled on the PPC II. Any student enrolled on the PPC II at the same time as the LLM Advanced Legal Practice must satisfactorily complete the PPC II before they can be awarded the LLM. The timescale for the two-year programme has been designed to take account of the need for students to be able to complete the LLM while meeting their work commitments. If you are interested in more information on the LLM, please see the Diploma Centre pages on the Law Society website.

ExCELLENt rESpONSE tO fIrSt OffErINg Of dIpLOmA CENtrE’S LLm AdVANCEd LEgAL prACtICE

CONgrAtuLAtIONS

Congratulations to Simon Murphy, Associate Faculty member and past Chair of the education Committee on his appointment as President of the Law Society.

tENNIS LEAguE fINAL

Beginners League Finalists: From Left to Right - Winners: Niall hayes (Mcdowell Purcell), Ailbhe kilcullen (Colm o’Cochlain & Co.), Runners up: Catherine Collins (Gartlan Furey Solicitors), Peter Crawford (Phillip Lee Solicitors)

Intermediate/Advanced League Finalists: From Left to Right - Winners: dermot McClean (Lavelle Solicitors), orla donovan (holmes o’Malley Sexton), Runner up: Andrea Bowdren (Arthur Cox), Jack kennedy (Mcdowell Purcell).

ppC gO WILd IN tHE COuNtry

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tOtALLy AWESOmE 80s pArty WELCOmE 2015 ppC I

50 PPCI trainees from around the country set off to Bundoran in Donegal on a Surf Trip this November. Undeterred by the stormy winter weather, the group headed right into the water and were looking like pro surfers in no time. For many it was the first time they had tried surfing, but they still showed great promise as beginners and were catching great waves. It is a new hobby for many and the group was surprised how well the wetsuits kept out the cold!. This is a picture of the surfers after they thawed out!

SurfINg

The Hiking Society had our third outing in November. We headed to Glendalough and the 9km Spinc trail. Despite Storm Clodagh battering the country, 14 hardy souls made the journey. We began by ascending the steps from the base of the Poulnanass Waterfall at the Upper Lake. It was difficult beginning with such a tough ascent and was even more difficult when we left the tree cover and were exposed to the strong winds. However, the strenuous uphill climb (supposedly, 600 steps but we were not counting!) was rewarded when we reached the Spinc ridge with its beautiful panoramic views. We continued along the length of the Upper Lake, descended towards the Glenealo River and down to the lake side passing the Miners’ Village. Despite strong winds and an overcast sky, we avoided the rain which made us very happy. The Spinc trail is a lovely walk with spectacular views. Great for Blackhall bonding! We highly recommend it!

HIKINg SOCIEty

Do you know that after you qualify you can apply for a Stage in Paris? Every year, the Paris Bar organises an international Stage and invites a limited number of lawyers from each jurisdiction to participate. The Stage is a fantastic opportunity for lawyers to spend two months discovering and practicing French law in the heart of Paris. The programme includes a month attending the l’Ecole de Formation du Barreau and a month of work experience in a law firm.

Candidates must:• BequalifiedinIrelandandregisteredintheLawSociety,• HaveagoodknowledgeofFrench,• Beunder40yearsofage,• Haveinsurancecover(foraccidentsanddamages). The EU & International Affairs Committee of the Law Society normally seek applications in May. Look out for application details in the Gazette in April and check the Law Society webpage and social media sites.

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Congratulations are due to –• Robert Lowney, Course Assistant, who recently completed

his MSc at DIT in Applied eLearning – the culmination of two years hard work,

• Dr. Gabriel Brennan, Course Manager and Caroline Kennedy, IT Coordinator who presented a paper on the Law School’s iPad project at the 8th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation in Seville, Spain in November. The paaper entitled ‘Eating the Apple: Integration of the iPad into Irish professional legal education’ was very well received,

We are pleased to welcome back Irene O’Reilly, PPC Course Administrator after her maternity leave. Steve Collender who provided maternity cover for Irene has joined the Diploma Centre as Course Administrator. Claire O’Mahony has also joined the Diploma Centre as Diploma Executive. Paul Manley has joined LSPT as an Administrator.

PPC I 2015 Student Representatives are: Education and Welfare: Anita MurphySocial: Chris O’Connor

StAff NEWS

What’s going on?’ was the question on the lips of visitors and staff a few weeks ago. The Law Society was filled with ghostly figures in victorian clothes. No it wasn’t time travel just a film company using the playing fields to film a football match scene for an episode of the television drama ‘Ripper Street’.

keeP IN TouCh! Follow us on Twitter • @lawsocEduLike us on Facebook • TheLawSchool–Law

Society of IrelandConnect with us on LinkedIn • TheLawSchool

Professional Training• DiplomaCentre

ANd FINALLY... Articles for inclusion in the next edition should be sent to : Katherine Kane, Editor, The Law School News, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. E-mail: k.kane@lawsociety.ie Next Issue date: Summer 2016Editor: Katherine Kane Design: paperdoll.ie

StAgE IN pArIS 2016

ppC I HALLOWEEN BALL

A cheque for €10,055 was presented in November in Cork by the newly appointed Law Society President Simon Murphy to Irish Rule of Law (IRLI) Director Michael Irvine and Coordinator Emma Dwyer. The money was raised at a CPD seminar organised in Cork by Professional Training and the Business Law Committee. IRLI was established in 2007. It has collaborated with academics, judges, legal practitioners, policymakers and civil society around the world to advance collective knowledge of the relationship between rule of law, democracy, sustained economic development and human rights. For more information on its work see www.irishruleoflaw.ie.

IrISH ruLE Of LAW INtErNAtIONAL

rIppEr StrEEt