Sam Hare
I was a member of the first class of law at Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology. By choosing the Law and Arts programme, I had the opportunity to shape my degree in accordance with my own interests and abilities. I combined law with Spanish and mathematics in first year, continuing with mathematics for the duration of the programme. In addition to this, the law class had the option of taking an extra year to study abroad or undertake a work placement. I wanted to develop my language skills so I chose to pursue an Erasmus year at the University of Alicante.
Studying law at Maynooth University was a stimulating, challenging, and rewarding experience. The lecturers were approachable and engaging and the Department was helpful and receptive to any suggestions that we had. In relative terms, law at Maynooth University is still in its infancy. As such, students enjoy a unique and exciting opportunity to have a formative influence on many aspects of legal study at the University.
There is, however, more to life at Maynooth than just the academic experience. Being a university town, the social scene is very much student-focused. The town is quite small and everything is centrally located; so it is easy to meet new people and develop strong friendships. There is also a great variety of clubs and societies and almost every type of interest is catered for. I played rugby for the duration of my degree and was an active member of the Law Society.
I am currently studying for a master’s degree in law and finance at the University of Oxford. I will begin a training contract with one of Ireland’s “Big 5” commercial law firms in 2015, having secured the offer in my final year at Maynooth University.