Look Into Law Transition Year Programme

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Online Look into Law TY Programme 2021

We are no longer taking applications for this programme. All applicants have been assigned a unique ID number and sent an excel spreadsheet which we need the school to return to us with student names. The links to the course will remain active until the end of May 2021.  However, please note that as it can take at least a week to get certificates of attendance to each school, please ensure that you fill in the online completion form at least a week before you need to receive the Certificates of Completion.

More about the Online Look into Law TY Programme 2021

The Bar of Ireland's "Look into Law" Transition Year Programme is an exciting initiative aimed at increasing students' awareness of the work of The Bar of Ireland and to encourage students to consider a career as a barrister. This annual "Access all areas" programme aims to encourage schools and students from a wide cross-section of society to apply to take part. Due to Covid-19, this programme moves online for 2021. Although the programme will be different from the usual TY Programme, the advantage of it being online is that are no limits to number of schools and students who can apply.

The programme will be released online at 12pm each Monday for five weeks beginning on Monday 22nd February 2021 until Monday 22nd March 2021 for teachers and students to access in their schools or at home. This online content will be available until the end of April so you can choose whether to use it each week or wait until near the end of the programme and use it over a couple of school days. We will require schools to verify student attendance so that we can issue certificates of attendance at the end. 

Schools and students will be actively encouraged to get involved with tasks suggested each week and to share them with the other schools. We will also be encouraging engagement over social media with photos and contributions but this will be voluntary. We have created an interactive noticeboard through Padlet and we do encourage students to engage on Padlet without their names, just giving their first initial and county – such as D from Meath.

Look into Law 2021 Frequently Asked Questions

Look into Law TY Programme 2022

Full details about what is planned for 2022 will be published on our website by September 2021. Please check back regularly for more details. Applications typically open in late October and we only accept applications from schools, so if you are a parent or student, please ensure that your TY Coordinator is aware of your interest and ask them to apply when applications open.

Please contact transitionyear@lawlibrary.ie for any further queries. 

Gallery of photos from previous years:

Programme Contents

In the mornings, participating students will be assigned to groups where they will shadow a designated barrister. They will be introduced to the many different facets of a barrister's working life and will have the opportunity to experience the reality of life as a barrister.

During the afternoons, the students will participate in a range of different activities and students are expected to attend all organised activities:

  • Trial viewing
  • A tour of King's Inns
  • A tour of the Four Courts
  • A walk-through of the Criminal Courts of Justice
  • A talk from a member of An Garda Siochana
  • A talk from a member of the DPP and a defence solicitor
  • A talk from a sitting Judge
  • A talk from a Legal Affair Correspondent
  • Participate in an interactive Mock Trial

The highlight of the week is the mock trial, held in the Green Street Courthouse, where students participate in a case complete with judge and barristers. This provides the students with a unique, interactive experience where each student is given a role to play in the courtroom including defendant, witnesses and jury members.

Upon completion of the programme, each student is presented with a certificate to mark their participation.

 

FAQs – Transition year programme

Student Testimonials

"I feel honoured to be the first student to participate from my school in this programme. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to The Bar of Ireland for their flawless organisation of the programme and the genuine kindness and knowledge they displayed to every student throughout the week. I believe this programme has greatly influenced my view on what I would like to become later in my life."

Dylan Glancy, Lanesboro Community College, Longford

"Participating in the mock trials in Green Street Courthouse was probably the highlight of the entire week. It was fantastic to have the chance to put what we had seen in the courtrooms all week into practice."

Dearbhla Tracey, St. Colmcille’s School, Knocklyon, Dublin 16

"It was an absolute privilege to have had such a unique opportunity to explore the legal system in Ireland. I also had the honour of meeting Chief Justice Susan Denham. Truly, was one of the best weeks of my life!"

Oisίn Bowyer, Carndonagh Community School, Co. Donegal

"I most enjoyed the trips to the Four Courts and the Criminal Courts of Justice because I was able to see the court setting and how barristers work. The tour of the King’s Inns was absolutely fantastic, to see all those painting, wear the robes that students wear to dine and see the huge dining room."

Weronika Ozog, Mount Carmel Secondary School, Dublin 1