DCU launches 2019/20 Graduate Law Mentorship Programme

On Tuesday 24th September, the School of Law and Government, Alumni Relations Office and the Careers Service hosted the Opening Ceremony for the 2019/ 2020 Graduate Law Mentorship Programme, which is the first official Graduate to Graduate Mentorship Programme in Dublin City University (DCU).

This mentorship initiative, which is now in its third year, includes graduates from the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Economics, Politics and Law (EPL), Joint Honours (JH) and Masters of Law (LLM) degrees. Approximately 70 law graduates are participating in the programme this year. It is based on the ‘3 cups of coffee’ programme and requires mentors and mentees to meet on at least three separate occasions over a seven month period. It aims to establish a graduate network of support between mentors and mentees, to provide encouragement and advice on various aspects of the legal profession, including the pathway to qualifying as a solicitor/ barrister (and Blackhall Place and King’s Inns entrance exams), as well as alternative employment opportunities and options for law graduates.

Following a wide response from law graduates across the various programmes, the Opening Ceremony took place in DCU’s Moot Court room. During the evening, Mentorship training and guidelines on the programme were provided, and the mentors and mentees had the opportunity to meet. On completion of the programme, there will be a Closing Ceremony in April 2020 to celebrate the Volunteering efforts of the Alumni community during which time mentors and mentees will report on their experience and provide feedback to further enhance the programme.