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On the 20th of March 2026, students on the LLM travelled to Dublin to visit the Criminal Courts of Justice.  The visit provided an important opportunity for students to engage directly with the Irish criminal justice system and to see how the courts operate in practice when dealing with serious crimes prosecuted on indictment.  Students met with Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Judge of the Supreme Court, and Adjunct Professor at the University of Galway, who spoke about his work and experience on the bench.  They also met with Mr Justice Alexander Owens of the Court of Appeal in the judges’ library, where there was discussion of the appellate process and judicial decision-making.  Students also had the opportunity to meet Ms Justice Karen O’Connor of the High Court, which is known as the Central Criminal Court when dealing with criminal matters.  A particular highlight of the visit was the opportunity to observe a jury being impanelled, providing a direct insight into a key stage of the criminal trial process.  The visit included a tour of the Criminal Courts Complex Building and an opportunity to meet with judicial assistants working within the Courts Service.  This provided valuable insight into the day-to-day operation of the courts and potential career pathways for graduates of the programme.  The visit formed an important part of the LLM programme’s emphasis on connecting academic study with practice, and students found the experience engaging and informative.  The School of Law is very grateful to the members of the judiciary and Courts Service who facilitated the visit.