The Law Society, University College Cork, is an
academic
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, ...
student society
A student society, student association, university society, student club, university club, or student organization is a society or an organization, operated by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists o ...
at
University College Cork
University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork.
The university was founded in 1845 as one ...
(UCC). Amongst the society's core activities are hosting regular house debates and guest addresses,
debating
Debate is a process that involves formal discourse on a particular topic, often including a moderator and audience. In a debate, arguments are put forward for often opposing viewpoints. Debates have historically occurred in public meetings, a ...
, representing the
education
Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
al interests of its members, running various
moot court
Moot court is a co-curricular activity at many law schools. Participants take part in simulated court or arbitration proceedings, usually involving drafting memorials or memoranda and participating in oral argument. In most countries, the phrase " ...
competitions and organising a social calendar. The society hosts an annual law conference which is attended by students and local practitioners alike, and is responsible for the editing and publication of the Cork Online Law Review (COLR).
Activities
House meetings
As one of the two debating unions at University College Cork, the Society gathers regularly to debate topical motions relating to students and other topical issues of importance, and to hear addresses from notable guests. This is one of the oldest activities of the society and typically takes place on Wednesday evenings in the Kane building or another lecture theatre on campus. Guest speakers related to the topic are often invited to engage with the motion and address the students. Meetings such as the address by journalist
Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk (12 July 194630 October 2020) was a writer and journalist who held British and Irish citizenship. He was critical of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, and the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. His stan ...
, have attracted a capacity crowd in UCC's largest lecture theatre. Notable figures to have spoken at House Meetings of the Society include then candidate for
President of Ireland
The president of Ireland ( ga, Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of Ireland and the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces.
The president holds office for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms.Constitu ...
Michael D. Higgins
Michael Daniel Higgins ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...
,
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government, or prime minister, of Ireland. The office is appointed by the president of Ireland upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann (the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's national legislature) and the o ...
John A. Costello in 1956, then
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil (, ; meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny' or 'Warriors of Fál'), officially Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party ( ga, audio=ga-Fianna Fáil.ogg, Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach), is a conservative and Christia ...
party whip
A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. This means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology ...
Bertie Ahern
Bartholomew Patrick "Bertie" Ahern (born 12 September 1951) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008, Leader of Fianna Fáil from 1994 to 2008, Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997, Tánaiste a ...
, then
Senator Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson ( ga, Máire Mhic Róibín; ; born 21 May 1944) is an Irish politician who was the 7th president of Ireland, serving from December 1990 to September 1997, the first woman to hold this office. Prior to her electi ...
in 1976, author and advocate for the legalisation of cannabis
Howard Marks
Dennis Howard Marks (13 August 1945 – 10 April 2016) was a Welsh drug smuggler and author who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases. At his peak he claimed to have been smuggling consignmen ...
in 1997, talk-show hosts
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy (born 28 May 1973), nicknamed 'Tubs
' is an Irish broadcaster. He presents ''The Ryan Tubridy Show'' and '' The Late Late Show''.
Tubridy previously presented RTÉ 2fm breakfast radio show ''The Full Irish'', which at its end was ...
and
George Hook
George Hook (born 19 May 1941) is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He formerly hosted ''The Right Hook'' and ''High Noon'' on the Irish radio station Newstalk.
He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, be ...
, prominent
Queen's Counsel
In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister o ...
Michael Mansfield and members of the Irish judiciary.
Competitive debating
The history of debating at the Law Society can be traced back to its forefather, the Law Students' Debating Society – which contested debates with students of other institutions such as the
King's Inns. In more recent times the Society has been successful at Irish intervarsity debating competitions, such as the Irish Mace Debating Championships, the
John Smith Memorial Mace
The John Smith Memorial Mace (known as the Observer Mace from 1954 to 1995) is an annual debating tournament ( British Parliamentary format) contested by universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The equivalent competition for second ...
and the
European Universities Debating Championship. From 27 December 2008 to 4 January 2010 the Law Society jointly hosted one of the largest annual international student events in the world, the
World Universities Debating Championship
The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the world's largest debating tournament and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. WUDC is held in the British Parliamentary Debate format (involving four team ...
with the
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. The society carries out a number of ...
.
Moot court
The Society has held an annual moot court competition since 2006/2007, named after sponsors Matheson Ormsby Prentice. The winners of the competition represent UCC at the National Moot Court Competition hosted by the Dublin University Law Society.
Education
In the area of education, the Law Society spearheaded a campaign by Irish law students – which culminated in a successful legal action – against changes to entry requirements by the
Law Society of Ireland
The Law Society of Ireland ( ga, Dlí-Chumann na hÉireann) is a professional body established on 24 June 1830 and is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland. As of 2020, the Law Society had ...
.
Origins
Each
academic year of the society is referred to as a "session". As of 2009, the society was in its 80th session, suggesting that the society originated in 1929. However, the constitution submitted by the Law Society to the college authorities in 1950 was 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 and organisation
The Law Society is governed by a constitution which has existed in various guises throughout the history of the society, having been redrafted and amended over time. 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 position of ''ex officio'' patron of the Law Society is vested in the office of Dean of the Faculty of Law.
The society is run by an Executive Committee consisting of 15
students, who are elected at either the end of the academic year or the beginning of the new academic year, depending on position.
The Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Ireland,
John L. Murray, said of the society in 2005,
"With alumni that have included such noted figures in public life as Jack Lynch and Gerald Goldberg
Gerald Yael Goldberg (12 April 1912 – 31 December 2003) was an Irish lawyer and politician who in 1977 became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork. Goldberg was the son of Lithuanian Jewish refugees; his father was put ashore in Cork with oth ...
, 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".
Publications
The Cork Online Law Review (COLR) is an online law journal, which was founded in 2002, and is associated with the society.
The online journal has "links on the websites of
.St Louis University, New York University and the Library of Congress in the United States".
As of 2021, the journal was sponsored by Irish law firm
Arthur Cox.
The journal accepts submissions in Irish, English and French and grants prize money to medal recipients.
Its articles are featured on the website of the Irish Legal Information Initiative.
It is operated by students and on a non-profit basis,
and, at the time of its creation, was "Ireland's only online law review to be run solely by law students".
References
External links
Website of The Law Society, UCCWebsite of the Cork Online Law Review
{{University debating
Student debating societies
University College Cork
Student debating societies in Ireland