The launch of the Graduate School of Professional Education took place on 11th March. Proceedings started with the Lord Chief Justice, the Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr chairing a session with the current trainees in the School’s new accommodation in the MG building. Recent conversion work has seen the transformation of most of the top floor of the building from the Intelligent Systems Research Centre to the Graduate School’s new centre. This now includes two lecture theatres, one capable of conversion to a courtroom (complete with Judges’ bench) a Boardroom for meetings, a smaller workroom, space for trainees to study or relax and a suite of offices for staff and school administrative staff. A state of the art recording system allows trainees’ practical exercises to be recorded and played back for feedback and assessment.
Following his discussion with the trainees, the Lord Chief Justice was given a tour of the new premises. He then mingled with guests at a reception in the School. Guests included Mr Gerard Diver, Mayor of the City of Derry, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice Chancellor, Mr. Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Professor Ann Moran, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The reception also provided local members of the legal profession and of course parents and partners of the current trainees an opportunity to see the School.
The party then moved to the Great Hall where the Lord Chief Justice delivered a speech entitled, “The Role of the Legal Profession in a Devolved Northern Ireland”during which hereferred to the tradition of legal scholarship in Derry stretching back to before the time of Saint Columba. He reminded the trainees that upon qualification they would not “merely be lawyers, you will be members of a profession whose purpose is to serve the community and the concept of justice – or perhaps in the fuller phrase, of justice according to law.” He also stressed the importance of the Human Rights Act as providing “an agreed vocabulary and structure within which to discuss the difficult value judgments at the limits of law. It is the language of rights that we now often use to clarify ambiguities and to remedy possible injustices and defects.”
At the conclusion of proceedings the Lord Chief Justice officially launched the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education by unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion.
From left to right
Professor Ann Moran, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Paul Mageean, Director, Graduate School of Professional Legal Education; The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; Mr Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland
The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr unveils the plaque watched by Professor Richard Barnett, Vice –Chancellor.
Professor Richard Barnett, Vice –Chancellor and the Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr during the reception.
Dr. Donal Keegan, Lord Lieutenant for Londonderry; The Mayor of the City of Derry, Councillor Gerard Diver; The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr and Professor Richard Barnett.
Trainee Solicitor Catriona McCorry with her parents
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.
GSPLE LAUNCHED BY LORD CHIEF JUSTICE
The launch of the Graduate School of Professional Education took place on 11th March. Proceedings started with the Lord Chief Justice, the Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr chairing a session with the current trainees in the School’s new accommodation in the MG building. Recent conversion work has seen the transformation of most of the top floor of the building from the Intelligent Systems Research Centre to the Graduate School’s new centre. This now includes two lecture theatres, one capable of conversion to a courtroom (complete with Judges’ bench) a Boardroom for meetings, a smaller workroom, space for trainees to study or relax and a suite of offices for staff and school administrative staff. A state of the art recording system allows trainees’ practical exercises to be recorded and played back for feedback and assessment.
Following his discussion with the trainees, the Lord Chief Justice was given a tour of the new premises. He then mingled with guests at a reception in the School. Guests included Mr Gerard Diver, Mayor of the City of Derry, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice Chancellor, Mr. Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Professor Ann Moran, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The reception also provided local members of the legal profession and of course parents and partners of the current trainees an opportunity to see the School.
The party then moved to the Great Hall where the Lord Chief Justice delivered a speech entitled, “The Role of the Legal Profession in a Devolved Northern Ireland”during which he referred to the tradition of legal scholarship in Derry stretching back to before the time of Saint Columba. He reminded the trainees that upon qualification they would not “merely be lawyers, you will be members of a profession whose purpose is to serve the community and the concept of justice – or perhaps in the fuller phrase, of justice according to law.” He also stressed the importance of the Human Rights Act as providing “an agreed vocabulary and structure within which to discuss the difficult value judgments at the limits of law. It is the language of rights that we now often use to clarify ambiguities and to remedy possible injustices and defects.”
At the conclusion of proceedings the Lord Chief Justice officially launched the Graduate School of Professional Legal Education by unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion.
From left to right
Professor Ann Moran, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Paul Mageean, Director, Graduate School of Professional Legal Education; The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland; Mr Barry Finlay, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland
The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr unveils the plaque watched by Professor Richard Barnett, Vice –Chancellor.
Professor Richard Barnett, Vice –Chancellor and the Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr during the reception.
Dr. Donal Keegan, Lord Lieutenant for Londonderry; The Mayor of the City of Derry, Councillor Gerard Diver; The Right Honourable Sir Brian Kerr and Professor Richard Barnett.
Trainee Solicitor Catriona McCorry with her parents
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.