Introduction

My name is Sally and I'm a final year law student in UCD.

I did debating throughout secondary school, and I suppose people perceive law as being the natural progression for annoying debater types, but honestly I had no idea what I wanted to do in college. Alternating combinations of English, Psychology, Politics and Film Studies fought for attention on my CAO form. Eventually, whilst studying history, I came to the somewhat badly thought-out conclusion that both Parnell and Isaac Butt had law degrees and had gone on to be of some importance, so I should do one too.


Parnell - what a guy!

I probably shouldn't mention this, but I put Trinity first on my CAO form. During the first week of starting college I got a letter telling me my Leaving Cert appeals had been successful, and I could jump ship if I wanted, but I had already fallen for the social life, the atmosphere and the lectures in UCD, and I don't regret my choice for a moment.

The law lecturers are fantastic. It's not unusual to hear one mention in class something they argued in the High Court last week, to see them as panelists on Prime Time or to read their views in the Irish Times. Many have written the leading text books in their fields, or have been published in international journals.

Last year I spent the year on exchange in Sydney, Australia, studying in the University of New South Wales. Students from my year went to Paris, Prague, Chicago, California, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Berlin  and numerous other locations across the globe.

Whether I go on to practice law or not, the degree has given me brilliant analytical, research and essay writing skills, along with a far more informed view of the world around me. The chance to travel and study abroad gives an international advantage, and the 150 clubs and societies on offer in UCD mean that your time here doesn't have to focus on just academics. With some of last years graduates heading off to Harvard, University of Chicago, to sit the New York Bar, study in London or to move into completely different fields altogether, you really can go anywhere from UCD law!