Law firm McCann FitzGerald has launched its all-Ireland competition ‘The Advocate’ for the third year in a row, giving upcoming lawyers the chance to win a summer internship and a team prize of €3,000.
The Advocate offers Ireland’s law students the chance to compete against each other as they attempt to convince judges that they understand the crucial commercial issues of the day. The competition requires them to articulate and deliver practical legal responses under pressure.
“As a corporate and business law firm, we take a keen interest in developing commercial awareness among law students and raising the bar on the standard of legal education in Ireland,” said McCann FitzGerald chairman John Cronin.
“The Advocate gives students the chance to consolidate what they have learned and gain some practical legal experience, which will help them as they prepare for their legal careers.”
McCann FitzGerald is one of Ireland’s main law firms, employing around 450 people, including more than 270 lawyers and professional staff.
The competition is open to all third-level law and business/law students on the island of Ireland. Entrants will be given a case study and asked to submit a 1,000 word overview of their argument. This year’s opening topic relates to contract law.
A series of heats will be held at court locations throughout the country before finalists compete at the grand final, to be held in March 2012 at the Four Courts in Dublin.
Once again, the competition is co-sponsored by the Courts Service and the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.
