TY Module Overview:
Welcome to the 2022 Online Look into Law TY Programme from The Bar of Ireland
Welcome to the second Online Look into Law TY Programme from The Bar of Ireland. The first online programme was a huge success and allowed over 10,000 TY students across the country to access the programme from home while the country was in lockdown. This year we have made the programme even more flexible and accessible in shorter chapters to allow you and your school access it in the way that suits your timetable. We hope you enjoy it.
We just ask that you engage with the programme and enjoy it! We encourage all students to interact with each other and also through Padlet. Link to Padlet is here – we just ask that you post anonymously, just using first initial and county – L from Dublin, M from Kildare etc. Any interactions on social media should use the hashtag: #LookIntoLaw2022. Please encourage students to visit regularly and to scroll down through other comments to add any thoughts or observations. There is a new column for each module.
Finally, get your questions ready for the live Q&A panel discussions that will take place later in 2022. Make sure your teacher signs up for one of the dates and submit your question to them.
Archived TY Module Overview:
The content on this page relates to the 2022 Online Look into Law TY Programme from The Bar of Ireland.
This content is now archived and may no longer be relevant. In addition, much of the content was recorded during Covid-19 restrictions. However, we are leaving this page live as there are a few schools who wish to continue to access it.
Please note if you decide to access the online programme on this page:
· Some of the information and links contained within may no longer be correct.
· The padlet link is no longer active.
· The Big Legal Q&A takes place on 3rd February at 9am. Register here before that date.
If you would like to access the new Look into Law: Bitesize programme which contains four lesson plans and further bonus material, please click here for further information.
Module 1
This module will introduce you to early life as a barrister. Maura McNally SC, Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland and The Hon. Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell, Chief Justice, both give a brief welcome and introduction to the programme in this module. In addition, you will be introduced to the King’s Inns and the early days of life as a barrister as a devil/pupil. In each module, you will meet six barristers in the faces of the bar section, each of them with a different story of how they got to where they are now. In each module you will hear from the President of each court, in this first module it is the President of the District Court.
Learning Outcomes:
- Introduction and welcome
- Learn about the District Court from its President
- What is the Bar
- Why are barristers self-employed in Ireland?
- How do you become a barrister
- What is devilling/pupillage
- Get a tour of the King’s Inns buildings
- Meet some faces of the bar
Module 2
This module will explain criminal law to you. You will hear what it’s like to be a criminal law barrister including the differences between the defence side and the prosecution side. You will hear from a defence solicitor as well as a member of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). A criminal law judge describes the view from the bench and you’ll also hear from a former prison warden and a member of An Garda Siochána. You will hear from the President of the Circuit Court and meet another six faces of the Bar.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the Circuit Court from its President
- Criminal law from the prosecution and defence perspectives
- Life as a criminal law judge
- Life as a defence solicitor
- The role of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution
- Life as a member of An Garda Siochána
- Meet some faces of the Bar
Module 3
This module will explain civil law to you. You will hear about various aspects of civil law practice including drafting and mediation. You will also hear about legal aid and how members of the public can access it. You will learn about four specialised areas of the law from practitioners and how these areas might impact on your daily life. You will hear from the President of the High Court and meet another six faces of the bar.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the High Court from its President
- Learn about the areas that fall under civil law
- The role drafting plays and the importance of getting it right
- Gain insights into the role of mediation as an alternative to litigation
- Discover five different specialist areas of law – EU law, sports law, immigration law, family law and climate law.
- Meet some faces of the Bar
Module 4
This module will explore how the media reports on the legal processes from arrest to prosecution and the outcome of trials. It will look at what can and cannot be said in all aspects of media, including across social media platforms. There will be a topical panel discussion on how the law can protect you from hate crime, defamation, online bullying and sharing of indecent images. This module also gives you the opportunity to hear from an Irish Times crime reporter and an RTÉ legal affairs correspondent. You’ll be encouraged to do some writing and reporting of your own! You will also hear from the President of the Court of Appeals and meet another six faces of the Bar.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the Court of Appeals from its President
- Discover the rules governing how the media reports on the legal process
- Hear how the law protects you on social media platforms
- Meet a crime reporter and a legal affairs correspondent and hear about their highs and lows of this career path
- Meet some faces of the Bar
Module 5
This final module will look at preparing for trial and will showcase the advocacy skills of barristers in the courtroom. You will be encouraged to think about the preparation needed for trial and learn the key terminology and concepts. There will be an entertaining segment with examples of good and bad questioning of witnesses. We will give you a template and provide you with a link to view a mock trial online. You will be given a case file for running your own mock trial, if you have the opportunity to do so at some stage in the future. Finally, you will hear from the President of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice and meet the final six faces of the Bar.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn about the Supreme Court and the role of the Chief Justice
- Preparing for trial
- Learn the terminology and concepts related to going to trial
- Discover the importance of advocacy skills when questioning a witness
- Review the sequence of events in a trial
- Meet the final group of faces of the bar
- Conclusion of programme and review of key concepts and learnings