Graduate Evening
Graduate Evening-Wednesday 23rd November
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies hosted a Graduate Evening for students in the Leaving Certificate cycle. The School of Law had eight graduates speak about how their law degree from UL had prepared them for their chosen career. Aaron Desmond (Barrister at Law) is a Graduate Entry LLB graduate. Aaron practices on the Southwestern Circuit with a general practice that encompasses both Civil and Criminal matters. Aaron is an adjunct lecturer in Dublin Institute of Technology and teaches both Constitutional Law and Land Law. He also has a keen interest in Alternative Dispute resolution and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators London.
James Delaney is a secondary school teacher who is a graduate of Law and European Studies (now Law Plus). James completed the entrance examinations to become a solicitor and was offered a traineeship with a top Law firm in Dublin. However, James decided to pursue a career in secondary school teaching. James completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education in UCC in 2010-2011 and is currently studying for a Master of Education in Trinity College Dublin. James still combines his interest in law and education as his Master’s dissertation is examining the area of criminal liability and cyberbullying in schools.
Duncan Casey is a professional rugby player with Munster Rugby. He started the Law Plus programme in 2010 and after taking a leave of absence due to sporting commitments, has recently returned to complete the final year of his degree. Duncan has benefitted significantly from the elite athlete programme at the University of Limerick.
Gerry Greaney holds primary degrees in Business (BBS), Law (LLB) and a master’s degree in International Commercial Law (LLM) from the University of Limerick. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (FCA), where having trained and qualified in practice with PWC, he has extensive international business experience as a Finance Director in the multinational sector. His research interests are in the areas of Commercial, Company and Contract Law, Intellectual Property Law and International Tax Law. He is currently undertaking PhD research in the area of Intellectual Property at the School of Law.
Alicia Maher graduated with a BA in Law and Accounting in 2016. After completing her degree, Alicia decided to pursue a Masters in UL. Alicia is currently a student in the LLM General which allows students choose from a wide range of commercial law, human rights and criminal justice modules. Prior to coming to UL, Alicia worked in tourism and came to UL as a mature student. For her cooperative placement, Alicia worked as a Research Assistant in the School of Law.
Siobhain Phayer graduated with a LLB in Law Plus in 2012. As part of the Co-Operative Education programme in UL, Siobhain worked as an Executive Officer within the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in Custom House in Dublin. After Law Plus, Siobhain graduated from Queen’s University of Belfast with a Masters of Law in Human Rights and Criminal Justice in 2013. While in Belfast, Siobhain took part in a Judicial Shadowing Programme and shadowed Justice McCloskey at Belfast Royal Courts of Justice and gained first hand-experience of how the justice system of Northern Ireland works in practice. At present Siobhain is working as a Trainee Solicitor at Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors within the Plaintiff Litigation department and will begin her studies in Blackhall Place in September 2017.
Stephen Strauss-Walsh received a LLB degree from the University of Limerick in 2015. That same year he was awarded a UL School of Law scholarship to help him pursue a PhD under the tutelage of Professor Shane Kilcommins and Dr John Lombard. In 2016 he was also awarded a Research Postgraduate Residential Scholarship. His research project, entitled ‘Victims’ Rights: A Voice for the Voiceless?’ explores the victim's re-emergence within the Irish criminal justice system. As an undergrad he was awarded the Catherine McGuiness Prize for clinical legal excellence and opted to spend a year studying at the University of Bologna, Italy. His research interests include human rights, philosophy and criminology.
Dr Kathryn O’Sullivan, a Law lecturer in the School of Law, is a graduate of Law and European Studies and completed her PhD in UL under the supervision of Dr. Una Woods. Kathryn taught abroad for a year after graduating with her PhD. She lectures and researches in the areas of Land Law and Equity and Trusts. Kathryn, as Director of International Education within the School of Law, highlighted the international opportunities available to our law students, more detail see: https://ulsites.ul.ie/law/node/17921
The School of Law would like to thank all our speakers. The Event showed the different paths our graduates have taken. We would also like to thank the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for organising the event, in particular, Mary Heuston, Claire Ryan, Jess Beeley and Rina Carr.
