The Chief Justice's Summer Placement Programme 2025

Over Trinity term, the Office of the Chief Justice welcomed 28 students to the Four Courts and the CCJ to particpate in the annual Chief Justice's Summer Placement Programme.  

The Chief Justice’s Summer Placement Programme for law students is an annual month-long programme which gives third level law students the opportunity to shadow a judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal or High Court for just over three weeks.  

In addition to attending court hearings, participants are given the opportunity to hear lectures from members of the judiciary, visit other courthouses in Dublin, and witness the operation of the Irish legal system from a front row seat.  This year, the Programme concluded with a mock trial for the participants, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, in which participants had the opportunity to practice putting together written submissions, oral arguments, and advocating in the Supreme Court with the guidance of the judicial assistants to the Supreme Court.  

The programme emerged out of longstanding links with Fordham University Law School in the United States and has gradually expanded to become an Irish and international programme involving the law schools of every Irish university, Fordham University School of Law, New York, and Bangor University, Wales.  The Office of the Chief Justice would like to thank this year's participants (pictured) for their enthusiasm, engagement, and eagerness to learn.