Look Into Law Transition Year Programme

                                                                                *Applications for 2021 will open October 2020*

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.

The next Look into Law programme will take place February 2021 and the application process will open in October 2020. Please check back in June for full details. Applications received outside of this time will not be accepted.

The programme is aimed in particular at those who would otherwise have no access to the Bar. To help achieve this, 20% of places are reserved for DEIS schools. 100 places are available with a minimum of 20% given to DEIS schools and the remaining places allocated by a random lottery draw performed by The Bar of Ireland. All schools will be notified shortly after if they have been successful or not. Students can come from Transition Year up to 6th year. Students will be based in The Bar of Ireland, Church Street, Dublin 7 with daily visits offsite which will include the Four Courts, the Criminal Courts of Justice and King's Inns. 

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.

How To Apply

The process for the 2020 programme is closed and applications will open in October 2020 for the 2021 programme. Please check back in June for full details. Applications received outside of this time will not be accepted.

Application Process

The School chooses 1 student only from any of the years between Transition Year and 6^th Year. Please ensure that both student and parents/guardians have read the FAQs before submitting an application. 

The School submits the following information to transitionyear@lawlibrary.ie in the application period when open.  

1. Please indicate in your email to us if your School is designated as a DEIS school
2. Student name
3. Student year
4. School Name, address and email
5. Relevant teacher’s contact details-mobile and email

The draw is completed within a few days of the closing date in November and schools are then notified if their students have been successful. Any applications received outside the application process dates cannot be accepted. Due to high demand and the limit of places to 100, each school is asked to nominate one student only for the draw. Please ensure that another teacher has not submitted a separate application.

FAQs – Transition year programme

Student Testimonials