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Waterford law students get practical, hands-on experience through new work placement programme
Posted: Fri, January 9, 2009 |
Law students at Waterford Institute of Technology are getting a unique insight into working life and invaluable experience to boost their future employment prospects through a new work experience programme.
The various law programmes in the Institute’s Department of Applied Arts have teamed up with Waterford Law Society to develop the work experience initiative for legal studies and criminal justice students. The programme gives students an opportunity to see what it is really like to be a solicitor.
In today’s more challenging employment market, having the right work experience on your CV is critical when applying for work, according to law lecturer, Jennifer Kavanagh. “We are very grateful to the Law Society and its members for allowing our students put theory into practice. Students are really benefitting from the program and learning a phenomenal amount from the professionals,” she added.
The work experience programme is a new development and is proving very popular with those on placement. Students from the Higher Certificate in Legal Studies; BA in Legal Studies; BA in Legal Studies in International Trade; BA (Hons) in Business and Legal Studies; BA (Hons) in Legal Studies and BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice are eligible to apply for it.
“Our Higher Certificate in Legal Studies is a particularly popular programme and is one of the few in the country to cover both conveyancing and litigation – the two major income-generating areas for solicitors. From the two year programme, students can go on to do the BA in International Trade and BA in Legal Studies,” Ms Kavanagh added.
Two of the legal studies students who’ve already been out on work practice thoroughly enjoyed their stint in the workplace. Erika Graf is a 3rd year student of the Legal Studies degree and worked in Bowe O’Brien Solicitors in Waterford while Maria Flynn is in 4th year and worked in Bernadette Cahill’s practice, also in the city. Both students are interested in qualifying as solicitors and found the work experience gave them a very good insight to the legal profession.
Maria Flynn said it allowed her put theory into practice. “I found the work experience very interesting and good in the way it gave me a hands-on approach to the kind of work I’ll be doing after college.
“I got to go to court and sit in on a criminal case and it was very interesting. I sat in on the last day of a four-day trial so I heard closing speeches and the judge’s speech summing up which was great. I also got to familiarise myself with contracts for the sale and purchase of land and also with wills,” she added.
