NOT YET out of their gowns, the first law class to pass through NUI Maynooth were already somewhat pessimistic about a future in the profession when they graduated earlier this month.
Founded in 2008, NUI Maynooth Law is the youngest law school in Ireland. Its inaugural graduating class this month consisted of 28 students, each of whom received either a Bachelor of Civil Law or Bachelor of Business Law degree.
“The way things are now I don’t think it is realistic to expect to walk straight into a job,” said Niamh McHugh (21) from Drogheda, Co Louth.
“I think really we are going to have to apply to as many places as possible and then have to do some voluntary work and get some experience before you expect to get a full-time job.”
This reality is in stark contrast with what their friends think the life of a young lawyer is like, said Aoife Kelly (21) from Carlow town.
“They think you are going to earn loads of money and you are going to be this, that and the other, but I was working for a solicitor’s over the summer and I got paid zero money and I worked three days a week posting envelopes and making them tea.”
She estimated that it would be at least 10 to 15 years before any of her class were comfortable and making “good money”.
“It is a long trek and we are probably going to be studying for a very long time to come. I’m starting my master’s degree in law now in two weeks and it is not as easy as people think it is going to be.”
The expected Legal Services Bill will change the legal landscape, but meanwhile the graduates had their own ideas about what needed to be done.
“Maybe could get a job in the public service and use their skills to good effect some other way as opposed to going on the dole,” said Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (20) from Dundalk.
The tales of astronomical legal fees arising from the tribunals has negatively affected the public’s perception of lawyers, he argued, and is something that needs to tackled.
“The way the country is at the moment, it’s not really the best thing for people to be hearing that we are getting further increases in taxes and that taxpayers’ money is going to pay these huge fees.
“We have a referendum coming up with the judges. A lot of them were asked to take a pay cut and a lot of them have refused to do that, so I think the proposals that Alan Shatter has would be fairly positive.”
A variety of different career paths lie ahead for this class. Ciarán Lowe (21) from Ashtown in Dublin is returning to Maynooth next year to study a taught master’s degree in military history and strategic studies.
“To be honest I don’t expect to walk into a job in the legal profession, part of the reason I’m doing the master’s degree is so I will have some other path open to me” he explained.
Naoise Ó Cearúil (22) was elected to a position in the university’s students’ union for the current academic year. Despite his degree in law, it is in politics that he sees his professional future.
“I’m interested in local politics and helping the local community, so that’s what I’m trying to do within the students’ union this year because I’m from Maynooth as well.”