The Chief Justice's Summer Placement Programme for Law Students 2026

Between Monday 15 June and Friday 3 July, the Office of the Chief Justice had the pleasure of hosting 18 Irish and international law students on the annual Chief Justice’s Summer Placement Programme for Law Students.  For three weeks of Trinity Term, students nominated by their university law faculty are provided the opportunity to shadow a judge of the Superior Courts.  This year's participating students were assigned predominantly to the Central Criminal Court, the Commercial Court, the Planning & Environment Court, and the family, non-jury/judicial review, and personal injuries lists of the High Court. 

In addition to observing court proceedings, participants had the opportunity to attend talks by staff of the Courts Service, members of the judiciary, and other professionals working in the justice sector, engage in workshops hosted by judicial assistants, and visit and hear from those working in the Drug Treatment Court.  This year's Placement Programme concluded with a moot court convened by the judicial assistants to the Supreme Court, which gave participating students an opportunity to practice their advocacy and legal drafting skills before a member of the judiciary.  

The programme takes place in conjunction with the annual Hardiman Lecture Series, named in honour of the late Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman of the Supreme Court, which involves a range of lectures given by highly regarded speakers from members of the judiciary, legal practice, and academia.  This year's Hardiman Lectures were delivered by Dr Patrick Geoghegan of Trinity College Department of History, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore of the Supreme Court, and Ms Ruth Cannon BL of TU Dublin.  

The Office of the Chief Justice would like to thank all of the participating members of the judiciary, their judicial assistants, the the staff of the Courts Service without whom the running of the placement programme would not be possible.