This week, the School of Law and Criminology, represented by Dr Elaine Burroughs and Ms. Marie Therese Ward, celebrated the success of the Dentons Legal Insights Programme with a special event at Dentons’ Dublin offices. Students, mentors, Dentons partners and associates, and several eminent barristers came together to mark the programme’s achievements. The barristers were especially generous with their time, offering valuable advice about careers at the Bar and fostering an inclusive and approachable atmosphere. Over Semester one, students benefited from at least three mentoring sessions with their assigned mentors, who provided exceptional support and guidance. This event highlighted the programme’s success in breaking down barriers, building networks, and opening doors to the legal profession.
As a School, we are immensely proud of the students’ dedication and growth throughout the programme and are eagerly anticipating the next key milestone: the mock placement interviews in February 2025. These sessions will offer students critical experience as they prepare for future legal opportunities.
This programme is a powerful example of how collaboration can foster access and opportunity in the legal profession. By bringing together students, mentors, legal professionals, and institutional partners, it breaks down traditional barriers and creates a supportive pathway for students to navigate their legal careers. Through mentorship, networking, and career guidance, the programme promotes inclusivity and provides students with the tools to succeed. It demonstrates the value of partnerships between academia and industry in creating meaningful opportunities and contributes to a more diverse and dynamic legal landscape, ensuring the next generation of legal talent is better supported.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dentons for their unwavering support, with special appreciation to our key partners in Dentons Dublin, Ciara FitzGerald and Bernadette O'Sullivan, for their commitment to this initiative. Thanks also to the barristers and mentors for their generosity and to our MU partners— MU Careers and Employability Service, the Access Office, and Development Office—for making this initiative possible.