Many Maynooth University Law students are members of a society or group. While some activities are of a competitive nature, many are cooperative and networking ventures. They aim to enrich the intellectual community and provide focal points for engagement between students and the Department.
Further information on some of the student societies are listed below.
Maynooth University Law Society caters for over 500 law students from across all of the School of Law and Criminology's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Law Society is one of the biggest, most active, and most vibrant societies on campus, involving members from a wide range of departments and not merely Law.
Maynooth University Law Society is a student-run organisation that is dedicated to providing Maynooth University undergraduates and postgraduates with an opportunity to learn about the field of law and the career options it provides. The Society seeks to promote a greater awareness and understanding of these opportunities within the field of law by appropriate means such as publications, meetings, seminars, and other educational events.
The Society encourages professional development which is aided through the annual inter-varsity Silken Thomas Moot Court Competition. Students are given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the role of a barrister, and, for the duration of the competition, students will argue a fictitious case against other students from different universities, both nationally and internationally.
Maynooth University Law Society also encourages students to enjoy themselves while they are studying law. The Society hosts many social events throughout the year, including the Law Ball, which usually takes place in December.
About ELSA International
Established in 1981 by students, The European Law Students' Association is the largest independent law student organisation in the world, with over 60,000 members in 44 countries around Europe. Ireland is one of the newest countries to join. In 2008, ELSA signed a Human Rights Partnership agreement with the Council of Europe. ELSA has developed strong bonds with firms and institutions. In 1994, ELSA was granted Consultative Status in Category C in UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation); in 1997, ELSA obtained Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council). In addition UNCITRAL (UN Commission on International Trade Law) is inviting ELSA delegations to participate in their sessions.
ELSA Maynooth
ELSA Maynooth is a constituent member of both ELSA Ireland and ELSA International. As well as encouraging our students to participate in international opportunities available through the ELSA network, the ELSA Maynooth committee hosts local events, such as Human Rights Week, a Speaker Series, and in International Negotiation Competition.
The Department of Law is proud to sponsor the annual ELSA Maynooth International Negotiation Competition. The negotiation competition was the first of its kind to take place in Ireland: an international negotiation competition for current third-level law students.
Competition Overview
Participants will compete against each other in teams consisting of two persons (i.e. two teams, each consisting of two persons, compete against each other). In advance of the competition, each team will receive some mutual facts and some individual, confidential facts concerning a given case, in which they will represent one of the parties. Teams will be required to negotiate the resolution of an international dispute.
Why Negotiation?
Most disputes in which lawyers are involved do not end up in the courts. Instead, they are settled by way of some form of compromise between the parties - a negotiated agreement. In order to ensure that a client’s best interests are protected in the context of a negotiated, out-of-court agreement, it is imperative for lawyers to possess effective negotiation skills. This applies on both a national and an international level.
The ELSA Maynooth International Negotiation Competition is designed to foster the skills of negotiation in students of law at an early stage in their careers and to provide the opportunity to gain first-hand negotiation experience!
Mooting is a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends, while also boosting your academic credentials. It plays a vital role in legal education and at the Department of Law in particular.
Moot Court is promoted extensively to Department of Law students and we are one of the few universities in Ireland who offer Moot Court as a compulsory or elective course in our degree programmes. It is very much a part of law students' academic life; which is all the more reason to compete socially.
The best way to learn, not only the art of Moot Court, but several other skills such as team-work, researching skills, presentations skills, reactive skills etc., is through competition and practice.
FLAC clinics provide free, confidential legal advice to the Maynooth community. They provide the student volunteers the ability to apply their legal knowledge in an informative manner in response to real legal issues.
Currently, FLAC are holding clinics online via the Zoom platform. These clinics are open only to Maynooth University students and available through booking.
Maynooth FLAC also hosts the Johanna Airey Moot Court Competition, a unique, social justice and human rights themed competition. Maynooth FLAC also runs social events, workshops, and joint events with other societies within Maynooth University and other institutions. Maynooth FLAC's student legal rights handbook " A Guide to Student Rights" is available in the John Paul II Library as well as online through our website.
FLAC is a great opportunity to allow Law students to put into practice what they learn in the classroom, help the community and make friends along the way.
The Legal Tech Society aims to teach members about the ever-evolving technological sector in a fun but educating manner, especially in the areas of law, justice, e-commerce, biotech, intellectual property, data security, telecommunications, broadcasting and psychology. As well as to explore the modern advancements of technology that effect our everyday lives and to broaden our understanding of new technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, Self-Sufficient Energy, Virtual Currencies and Data Protection, virtual reality and augmented reality, among others. A large part of our activities will include hosting events, such as competitions, quiz nights, guest speakers and debates, aiming to ignite a passion for technology in the university. We want create a space where open discussion and debate, especially around the technological aspects of life, are welcome and encouraged. This society aims to be an outlet for those who wish to showcase their knowledge and abilities in the form of student talks, invention showcases and frequent informal meetings. Our wish is to also create a space outside of the academic environment where socialisation can happily occur, and friendships can be made.