Mayo students take part in national ‘Look into Law’ programme

Two Transition Year students from Mayo were among those who took part in a national legal education programme hosted by The Bar of Ireland last week.

Students from St. Mary’s Secondary School Ballina and St Patrick’s College Lacken Cross participated in the annual Look into Law programme, which gives Transition Year students an opportunity to learn about Ireland’s legal system and the work of barristers.

Now in its eleventh year, the initiative welcomed students from 60 schools across the country, including 23 DEIS schools.

First established in 2015, the Look into Law programme has introduced hundreds of students to the legal profession, with some participants going on to pursue careers at the Bar.

During the week-long programme, students explored the legal world through a series of immersive experiences. They visited The Honourable Society of King’s Inns and toured the historic Four Courts, gaining first-hand insight into the daily work of legal professionals.

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Participants also heard from senior members of the judiciary, including Donal O’Donnell, Chief Justice of Ireland, and Mary Rose Gearty, a judge of the High Court.

The programme concluded with students taking part in a mock trial, allowing them to apply what they had learned and experience how court proceedings operate in practice.

The aim of the initiative is to provide students from all backgrounds with access to the legal profession and to encourage them to consider future careers in law.

Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland, Seán Guerin SC, said the programme continues to play an important role in inspiring young people.

“By engaging directly with the profession and seeing the law in action, students gain invaluable insights into how justice is administered and the vital role advocates play in society,” he said.

The programme, which originally ran entirely in person, now follows a hybrid format.

This year’s event included an online opening day followed by three days of in-person activities in Dublin. The online session was also made available to schools that applied but were not selected for the full programme.