NUI Galway launches law and technology masters degreeThe Law School at the National University of Ireland Galway is launching a new masters programme, the LLM in law, technology and governance.
This new course offers postgraduate students an innovative and internationally focused programme dealing with law, commercial activity, science and technology.
The course includes mandatory modules in regulation, governance and enterprise, and optional modules dealing with topics such as internet regulation, copyright in the digital era and biotechnology.
The dean of the law faculty, Donncha O'Connell, has also announced that a scholarship, generously funded by Galway's largest commercial law firm RDJ Glynn Solicitors, is available to students taking this course.
Further details of this are available from the programme co-ordinator at llmltag@nuigalway.ie.
This programme builds on the success of the existing LLM in public law, which was launched in 2005.
Further information on the NUI Galway Law School's postgraduate programmes is available at www.nuigalway.ie/law/postgrad/
Law conferences in Trinity
The Law School of Trinity College Dublin is holding three conferences. The first of these, "Legal issues facing school principals and teachers in 2008: some practical solutions", took place last Saturday.
It examined issues of equality and discrimination in schools, stress claims from staff and pupils and tackling the use of mobile phones and networking sites.
The papers from this and most other conference are available to purchase. The schools materials cost €60 for a complete set and can be purchased from Kelley McCabe ( lawevent@tcd.ie ).
The other conferences are on "Freedom of information: a 2008 update" on March 8th, and "Children's rights and the Constitution: a 2008 update" on March 13th.
The conference on the FoI is in the Thomas Davis Theatre, Arts Building, from 9.30am until 1pm this Saturday.
Among the issues it will consider are the practical impact of the implementation of the new directive on retaining e-mail and telephone records; a public body's obligations under the environment regulations 2007; whether the legal representative of a deceased person is entitled to access that person's personal records; and whether a parent or guardian can require release of a minor's personal records.
The conference on children's rights takes place from 5pm-8pm on March 13th. Further information from www.tcd.ie/law/events
Judicial fellowships
Interviews took place last week for new positions as judicial fellows, working as assistants to High Court judges.
The advertisements were placed in national newspapers last December.
Applicants had to have a 2.1 honours degree or higher in law or with law as its major subject, a proven ability in legal writing, experience of or a particular interest in judicial review or commercial law and good IT skills.
Each fellow will be assigned by the president of the High Court to work with one or two judges whose major commitment is to judicial review, chancery and commercial and competition law lists in the High Court.
The judicial fellows will, in consultation with the judge to whom they are assigned, prepare a draft summary of relevant facts and law and the submissions of parties for inclusion in the first draft of a judgment.
The fellows will be independent contractors, working on two-year contracts at a fee of €50,000 a year.
Costs system to be assessed
A new assessment of the costs system has been promised by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
It is understood the forthcoming Legal Services Bill will include information for the public on the law and on clients' entitlements relating to costs, with a mechanism to collect, analyse and publish data on this subject.