Kindly supported by Matheson Tobaccogate - plain and simple In light of the controversy surrounding the representation of cigarette companies in Ireland, Katie Glennon discusses law firms’ moral duties to clients Inside this issue A year in Uppsala: Sinead McDonagh reflects on her ‘life-changing’ Erasmus experience Out of Guantanamo - The Bay and Habeas Corpus: Patrick Rohan looks at habeas corpus as it applies to the prisoners of Guantanamo Bay Social Section: Kate Donegan brings us up to date on a range of extra-curricular activities that have taken place this semester From the Editor t the beginning of this academic year the editorial board Cunningham, alumnus of Trinity Law School and current set out to publish, for the first time, a Law gazette in Managing Director of Business Banking at Bank of Ireland, ATrinity College Dublin. We were of the opinion that such where he reflects on his own time in Trinity and offers advice a gazette had the potential to provide an array of benefits to the for current Law students. A second factor we felt was important Law students of Trinity, but we identified two primary goals in this was to engage with the wider professional legal community. In endeavour. The first was to encourage the engagement of the this issue, we are delighted to have interviews with partners Law student body with the pertinent politico-legal issues of our (both of whom are also Trinity graduates!) at Matheson and time, by providing students with a platform to have published Phillip Lee, two of Ireland’s top law firms. brief articles on a broad range of topics. The articles contained in this issue exemplify the myriad of important issues which have As the year is drawing to a close, the reigns must be passed on. captured the minds of Law students this semester; from I am delighted to announce that Peter Marshall will be taking Guantanamo Bay, to female genital mutilation, to property rights over as Editor-in-chief for the next volume of the gazette. He in outer space. The second goal was to add to the active student will be supported by Deputy Editor-in-chief, Katie Glennon. I life we are lucky to have in Trinity, by providing a place for am confident that they will do a fantastic job and ensure that activities coordinated by the student-run law organisations to be The Eagle establishes itself as a permanent feature of student broadcast and celebrated. This is an aspect which we sought to life at Trinity. improve on significantly since the last issue. To this end, we appointed Kate Donegan as Social Editor, who has provided a The publication of The Eagle would not have been possible substantial overview in this issue of various events enjoyed by without sponsorship. In that regard I must extend sincere students during the semester. gratitude to our title sponsors, Matheson, for their generosity, and also to Phillip Lee, the Boston Consulting Group and Beyond these two primary goals, there were other aspects we Deloitte for their support this year. also felt were important. One was to ‘catch-up’ with former alumni of the Law School. The benefits this can provide to Clare Kelly current students is evident in the interview with Mark Founder and Editor-in-chief Contents Editor-in-Chief Clare Kelly Interview: Bríd Munnelly, Matheson 3 Senior Editorial Board Lily Cantillon Lights, Camera, Actus Reus: Time to Nicola Cavey allow the camera into the courtroom? 4 Ciara Cosgrave Kate Donegan Out of Guantanamo – The Bay and Juliette Mills Habeas Corpus 5 One Giant Leap for Celestial Property Rights 6 Junior Editorial Board Katie Glennon A Prevalent crime without Prosecution 8 Eoin Hennessy Peter Marshall Tobaccogate – plain and simple 9 Maeve McDonough Print Away the Poverty 11 Róise Ní Mhaonaigh Benn Ó hÓgáin Advocacy in the Limelight 12 Illustrator Fearful Mr. Fox 13 Katie Glennon Erasmus: A Year in Uppsala 14 Photographer Connecting with Alumni: Mark Cunningham 15 Tomasz Szykulski View from the world of work 17 All opinions and ideas expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Eagle: Trinity College Law Gazette. Social Round-up 18 2 TheThe Eagle Eagle Gazette Gazette Issue 12 Interview: Bríd Munnelly, Matheson different clients, each of which regards theirs as being the most important thing. You want clients to feel that they are the only one. That can be difficult. In an international firm you are dealing with big, sophisticated clients. They expect a high level of professionalism and efficiency. Maintaining the highest quality of work with a fast turnaround is not easy. What is your favourite thing about working in an International firm? The feedback you get from clients can be really rewarding. There have been many occasions over the course of my career where I have been able to step in and help a client when they feel at their most vulnerable. Having that impact is really rewarding. You qualified as a solicitor in London. How do you think the training in Ireland compares to the training there? I think Dublin and London firms are very similar and the training you receive in both is on a par. In both cities you will find the look, structure and feel of big firms are quite similar. However, in Ireland you may get to do more variety of work, as in London it Bríd Munnelly is a Trinity law graduate from the class of tends to be speciality within speciality. This is perhaps an 1992. A former Auditor of TCD Law Society, Brid is currently advantage of training in Ireland. a partner in Matheson where she specialises in Dispute Resolution. She talks to Lily Cantillon and Katie Glennon Do you think it is more difficult for women to become about her experience of Trinity and life in a commercial law partners? firm. Certainly we’re more successful in law than in any other profession. The same things apply - getting married, having Did you always want to pursue a career in law? Not children. It doesn’t seem to be as much of an issue in law firms. particularly. Like some people I simply filled out the CAO form It’s hard in any career because women do have to make choices. and put down law, not understanding exactly what it entailed. I I would be in favour of any steps that can be taken to encourage didn’t have any real desire at the time to become a lawyer. more equal sharing of parental responsibilities. It should be However my favourite subjects in school were English, Irish, possible for leave to be taken by either parent, with even History and French. I was drawn to the arts and law seemed like compulsory paternity leave! However, a huge number of a good degree to do. Although we had no family connection, solicitors are self-employed, which can make taking time off for my father was an agricultural advisor and looking back now, I any reason difficult. think the idea of a career advising and meeting people was what drew me in. Thankfully, law was the right choice for me! I’ve never felt any discrimination, but it never really crossed my mind for there to be. In fact I think any innate sexism, if it is there, You did your undergraduate in Trinity; what are your fondest can work to a woman’s advantage. If a woman does well, people memories of your time there? I made fantastic friends in Trinity are surprised, but if a man does well, no one blinks an eye. A many of whom I am still in touch with today. My class was filled capable woman becomes memorable. Law is a good career for with interesting and determined people who had opinions, which women to come through. There’s more women successful in law I really liked. I also have very fond memories of the lecturers. They than in any other career - except maybe pop singing! were very approachable; a real wealth of knowledge. Apart from academics, what three qualities makes a great Do you think your degree in Trinity adequately equipped you lawyer? for life in practice? Hardworking. I’ve never met a lawyer I admired who didn’t work The course doesn’t necessarily equip you for life in a commercial hard. Secondly, picking an area that suits you. If you enjoy what firm but I don’t really think it needs to. I trained in London and you do it won’t feel like hard work and you’ll do well at it. Lastly, was surprised to find that less than 50% of my contemporaries having a considered and calm disposition is really useful in a legal had studied law in college. Although four years in Law School setting. initially helped me while at Guildford, when we entered the firm to start the formal trainee programme we got all the necessary What advice would you give a law student who ultimately training required. In reality, we were learning on the job. wanted to be a partner in an international firm? I found that people working in law are very collegiate. Talk to any What is the most challenging part of working in an lawyer you know or come across, or don’t even know! People are international firm like Matheson? willing. Don’t be afraid to talk to people, those are the ones you Juggling between clients is a tough challenge for all solicitors. can be honest with, not the people who are interviewing you. Managing the workflow can be demanding on occasion.