NUI Galway was named Law School of the Year at the prestigious Irish Law Awards last week.
With a strong reputation for legal research and numerous changes undergraduate law programmes over the past year, the Law School at NUIG was able to secure this accolade for the first time in 2019.
Dr Charles O’Mahony Head of the School of Law said that this was a “wonderful recognition” not only for the School of Law, but the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Centre for Disability Law and Policy at NUIG as well.
“This is also tremendous recognition of our collective contribution to our city, region and broader society through our scholarship and work on law and public policy engagement.”
A number of new law degrees at NUIG are being brought in including Law & Business (2019), Law & Human Rights (2019), Law & Taxation (2020), Law Criminology & Criminal Justice (2020).
Dr O’Mahony added that “We were delighted to see our student Rebecca McKittrick selected as a finalist in the ‘Law Student of the Year’ category.”
Additionally, the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness a great friend of the School of Law and Chair of the University’s Governing Authority received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the ceremony.
Dr O’Mahony said that the award was a “fitting recognition of her extraordinary career and enduring commitment to the law, justice and public service.”
In a piece of legal history this year, the School of Law played host to the Supreme Court which sat in the Aula Maxima in March.
This was the first time that the Supreme Court sat outside of a courthouse since it returned to the Four Courts in 1932, and its first ever visit to the west of Ireland.
All students studying law at NUI Galway have the opportunity for students to gain real world experience through work placement or study abroad in the third year of their degree.
The university has partnered with local, regional, national and internationally recognised law firms and businesses who offer high quality professional work experience for our law students.
They also have the opportunity to study abroad with partner institutes in Australia, Canada, China, Europe and the United States.
Congratulating the School of Law on their award, President of NUI Galway Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said that it recognises the “immense work and dedication” towards the students that has been shown in recent years.
