The Law Society, University College Cork
Encyclopedia
The Law Society, University College Cork is an academic student society
at University College Cork (UCC). Its functions include "House Meetings", debating, education
, moot court
and social. The society hosts the annual Law Conference in University College Cork (UCC) which is attended by students and local practitioners alike. The society is responsible for editing and publishing the annual Cork Online Law Review (COLR). The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland, The Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray
said of the society in 2005,
with the UCC Philosophical Society
. On 4 November 2009, the Law Society was addressed by noted journalist Robert Fisk
, attracting a capacity crowd in UCC's largest lecture theatre. Other notable figures to have spoken at House Meetings of the society include Taoiseach
John A. Costello
in 1956, then Senator Mary Robinson
in 1976, Fianna Fáil
Party Whip and future Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
, author and advocate for the legalisation of cannabis Howard Marks
in 1997 and talk-show host Ryan Tubridy
. In the area of education, the Law Society spearheaded a campaign by Irish law students - which culminated in a successful legal action - against unfair changes to entry requirements by the Law Society of Ireland
.
s, who are elected at either the end of the academic year or the beginning of the new academic year, depending on position.
The Executive Committee for each session consists of; an auditor, a vice-auditor, a finance officer, an education officer, a social secretary, a public relations officer, a recording secretary, an internal convenor, a moot convenor, a conference director and an editor-in-chief of the Cork Online Law Review, in addition to representatives for each of the Law Faculty class groupings.
Student society
A student society or student organization is an organization, operated by students at a university, whose membership normally consists only of students. They are often affiliated with a university's students' union...
at University College Cork (UCC). Its functions include "House Meetings", debating, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, moot court
Moot court
A moot court is an extracurricular activity at many law schools in which participants take part in simulated court proceedings, usually to include drafting briefs and participating in oral argument. The term derives from Anglo Saxon times, when a moot was a gathering of prominent men in a...
and social. The society hosts the annual Law Conference in University College Cork (UCC) which is attended by students and local practitioners alike. The society is responsible for editing and publishing the annual Cork Online Law Review (COLR). The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland, The Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray
John L. Murray
John Loyola Murray is an Irish judge and served as the Chief Justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011.Murray was born in Limerick in 1943 and educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, County Tipperary, University College Dublin, and the Honorable Society of King's Inns. He was...
said of the society in 2005,
"With alumni that have included such noted figures in public life as Jack LynchJack LynchJohn Mary "Jack" Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland, serving two terms in office; from 1966 to 1973 and 1977 to 1979....
and Gerald GoldbergGerald GoldbergGerald Yael Goldberg was a lawyer and politician who in 1977 became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork...
, it is beyond question that the role the Law Society has played in the education of the students of U.C.C.'s Law Faculty has always been a significant one."
Public profile
The Law Society attracts consistent attention from student and local media in Cork, as well as attention from the national media on occasion. From 27 December 2008 to 4 January 2010 the Law Society jointly hosted the largest academic competition in the world, the World Universities Debating ChampionshipWorld Universities Debating Championship
The World Universities Debating Championship is the world's largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. It is a parliamentary debating event, held using the British Parliamentary Debate format. Each year, the event is hosted by a university...
with the UCC Philosophical Society
UCC Philosophical Society
The UCC Philosophical Society, Commonly known as the Philosoph, is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. The Philosoph was founded in 1850, making it the oldest society at UCC...
. On 4 November 2009, the Law Society was addressed by noted journalist Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent. As Middle East correspondent of The Independent, he has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported on the United States's war in Afghanistan and the same country's...
, attracting a capacity crowd in UCC's largest lecture theatre. Other notable figures to have spoken at House Meetings of the society include Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
John A. Costello
John A. Costello
John Aloysius Costello , a successful barrister, was one of the main legal advisors to the government of the Irish Free State after independence, Attorney General of Ireland from 1926–1932 and Taoiseach from 1948–1951 and 1954–1957....
in 1956, then Senator Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
in 1976, Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
Party Whip and future Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
, author and advocate for the legalisation of cannabis Howard Marks
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks is a Welsh author and former drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug...
in 1997 and talk-show host Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
. In the area of education, the Law Society spearheaded a campaign by Irish law students - which culminated in a successful legal action - against unfair changes to entry requirements by the Law Society of Ireland
Law Society of Ireland
The Law Society of Ireland is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in the Republic of Ireland...
.
Origins
Each academic year of the society's existence is referred to as a "session". The society is currently in its 80th session, suggesting that the society as it exists today originated in 1929. Notably however, the constitution submitted by the Law Society to the college authorities in 1950 was remarkably similar to a document entitled 'House Rules of the Law Students' Debating Society', which was submitted in 1928. Whatever the actual moment of genesis for the society as it exists today, it is likely that the Law Students' Debating Society and the Law Society ultimately coalesced.Constitution
The Law Society is governed by a constitution. The constitution has existed in various guises throughout the history of the society, having frequently been redrafted or amended. The constitution provides for a society consisting of a president, a patron, fellows, an auditor, an executive committee, sub-committees, "Honorary Life Members" and "Ordinary Members". The current ex-officio patron of the Law Society is U.C.C. Dean of Law, Professor Steve Hedley while the current President of the Society is Professor David Gwynn Morgan, formerly of the U.C.C. Law Faculty.Executive committee
The Society is run by an Executive Committee consisting of 15 studentStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s, who are elected at either the end of the academic year or the beginning of the new academic year, depending on position.
The Executive Committee for each session consists of; an auditor, a vice-auditor, a finance officer, an education officer, a social secretary, a public relations officer, a recording secretary, an internal convenor, a moot convenor, a conference director and an editor-in-chief of the Cork Online Law Review, in addition to representatives for each of the Law Faculty class groupings.