Award-winning business law firm, Mason Hayes & Curran, have today announced their sponsorship of Innovation in Professional Practice, a unique module in the Bachelor of Law degree at Maynooth University. Designed by Dr Peter Robbins, Director of the EDEN Centre for Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation, in collaboration with the Maynooth University Department of Law, the module is a unique and valuable opportunity for law students to think about the future of law and the future of lawyers.
Speaking at the announcement, Dr Robbins said: “Many students graduating with a law degree will have, during their career, the opportunity to be self-employed as a barrister or solicitor. This module gives them the chance to think about how to make their particular value proposition distinctive and compelling in the overall legal ecosystem.”
Highlighting the importance of the sponsorship for Mason Hayes & Curran, Ian O’Herlihy, Partner and Head of Education Law, said: “The creative element of this truly unique law module will enhance the learning and development opportunities for current and future Maynooth University students. The Innovation in Professional Practice module will benefit students as well as employers in the Irish and international legal sectors. We are delighted to be involved in the sponsorship of this innovative module and the EDEN Centre for Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation at Maynooth University.”
Course Director Dr Claire Hamilton commented: “The Department of Law is delighted with the development of this exciting new module, by Dr Robbins. While legal education fosters many important student skills, including those relating to critical thinking and problem-solving, the traditional rules-based paradigm of law teaching can potentially limit scope for encouraging creativity. The development of this unique module encourages students to think outside the box.”
Dr Robbins continued: “This module gets to the heart of what we're doing with EDEN by bringing innovation and entrepreneurship to the centre of subject curricula for the first time. Not only will it help the students develop a high level of creative competence and a creative confidence - it will also help employers distinguish Maynooth graduates by virtue of their higher level of imagination and purposeful creativity.”
“We are delighted to be associated with Mason Hayes & Curran, which has an international reputation for excellence. Their dedicated team of education lawyers have been responsible for some of the most important legal precedents established in education and employment law over the last number of years.”
About Mason Hayes & Curran
Established in 1968, Mason Hayes & Curran is Ireland’s fastest growing full service business law firm with offices in Dublin, New York and London and over 400 staff, including 77 partners and consultants. Our main service offerings are financial services, corporate, dispute resolution, real estate, technology and data management, tax, employment and benefits and construction. We also offer specialist services in charities’ law, administrative law, corporate governance and secretarial, corporate insolvency, debt recovery, trusts and estates, healthcare and childcare law.