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School of Law

Archived Law School news

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Bangor Law Student Selected for Prestigious Course

A Bangor Law Student has been given a unique opportunity to build essential skills for a professional legal career after being selected to attend a prestigious residential school for first year law students in London.

                        

With only 100 places available, 20-year-old Emma Newens faced tough competition to gain a place on the City Solicitors’ Education Trust Summer School and went through an intense selection process following her initial application, which included an online analytical thinking test and then a telephone interview. 

“I surprised when I was offered a place as I know the competition and standard was very high, but I’m very excited” said Emma from Colwyn Bay, who has just completed her first year of a LLB Law with Accounting and Finance at Bangor. 

The four day intensive residential skills-training course will take place in July at Queen Mary University of London and involves sessions on practical law, commercial awareness, interview technique, debating competitions, case work and an opportunity to work on hands-on case studies and debating exercises with solicitors from top law firms.

Emma is hoping that the course will help plan her career in law and give her a competitive advantage. “I am currently trying to get as much legal experience as possible in a range of areas in order to develop key skills and help decide my future career path. I have already done work experience with a criminal defence solicitor and I have been accepted for a mini-pupillage with Linenhall Chambers in Chester this Summer.”

Want to Know More About Working in International Law?

11.00am, Friday 27/05/11, Alun building (room TBC)

Whether you are a Fresher or a Masters student, it’s never too early to start thinking about the next step of your legal career. Dr Suzannah Linton, recently appointed Professor of International Law at Bangor Law School, will this month be giving an insight into the sort of careers offered by the Public International Law and Human Rights Law sectors.

The session will cover both academic and practising career opportunities, with an insight into areas such as humanitarian law, public international law, the law of armed conflict / war and human rights. Students from all years at both undergraduate and postgraduate level are welcome to attend.

A qualified Solicitor in the United Kingdom, Professor Linton is widely acknowledged as being a leader in her field. She joins Bangor Law School following many years of practice in international organisations around the world including with United Nations peacekeeping missions, the Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as international courts and tribunals such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Claims Resolution Tribunal for Dormant Accounts in Switzerland.

She has served as a prosecutor for Serious Crimes before the Special Panel for Serious Crimes in East Timor and advised the East Timor CAVR (Commission for Reception, Truth, and Reconciliation) on International Law. Her focus has been on accountability for gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law, and the rebuilding of war-torn nations through rule of law. She has particular expertise in the Balkans, East Timor, Indonesia and Cambodia.

This event is an invaluable opportunity for anyone looking for some guidance about legal career opportunities. Don’t miss out!

 

Students Take Legal Knowledge to the Streets of North Wales

Two Bangor Law students have established a community-based initiative designed to improve legal understanding and advice amongst local people.

The brainchild of Iwan Emlyn Jones and Joshua Simpson, second year Law and Law with Business students respectively, Street Law aims to distribute useful legal knowledge to people in the local communities who would not normally have easy access to the legal issues and information that might affect them. The project sees Bangor Law students delivering interactive presentations on topics including Criminal Law, Consumer Law and Employment Law free of charge to organisations such as Youth Clubs, the WI and secondary schools.

Iwan and Joshua conceived the idea following a BPP open day in Manchester, feeling that there could be more provisions available to Law students considering careers away from the legal industry, in areas such as education. The project is an excellent opportunity for students to develop presentation, research, team work and public speaking skills – all highly sought-after skills in any field of employment. It also serves as an educational aid by enabling students to apply what they have learnt during the course of their studies in a practical and non-legal environment.

Student Director Joshua, from Anglesey, said: “During our trial run this semester, we have had over 20 students take part. Next year we will be promoting the project to all three years and we hope to have even more students participating”. Speaking of their first ever appointment, co-Student Director Iwan, from Caernarfon, added: “Street Law had great success at its first Consumer Law presentation to the WI in Menai Bridge (on Anglesey) – they want us back in September! This year has been all about trialling the project and we hope to get it off the ground properly in the new academic year.”

 

New Professor of International Law

Dr. Suzannah Linton, previously of the University of Hong Kong, recently joined Bangor Law School as Professor of International Law. Professor Linton is spearheading the introduction of four new LLMs in the area of International Law, and developing the Law School’s research agenda in these areas.

Professor Linton brings to Bangor a rich international background and many years of professional experience with the United Nations and other global organisations.  She teaches the Public International Law courses for Bangor undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as several specialised postgraduate options within the discipline, such as International Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law. Professor Linton lectures and presents regularly around the world, engages in international research projects, and teaches at international summer schools.

Widely published in top international titles such as the Leiden Journal of International Law, Chicago Journal of International Law, Criminal Law Forum, and Human Rights Quarterly, Professor Linton is currently working on an edited collection on Hong Kong’s War Crimes Trials for Oxford University Press, to be published in 2012. This follows her launch of the acclaimed Hong Kong’s War Crimes Trials Collection at the University of Hong Kong Libraries in December 2010.  She is also presently engaged on another publication for Oxford University Press, on the General Principles and Rules of International Criminal Procedure, along with colleagues from other universities.

In her new role at Bangor Law School, Professor Linton will be focusing on International Law, directing three of the new postgraduate programmes: LLM in International Law, LLM in International Law (specialising in Global Trade Law), and LLM in International Law (specialising in International Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law). She will also be leading the new LLM in International Law (specialising in European Law).

To read Professor Linton’s extended profile, visit the Staff pages.

 

New International Masters Programmes

Bangor Law School has developed an exciting range of cutting edge LLM programmes that are designed for internationally minded postgraduate students seeking a global education taught by experts. 

Students can choose to study the general LLM in International Law or one of our 4 specialised programmes (International Intellectual Property Law, European Law, Global Trade Law, and International Criminal Law & International Human Rights Law).  Students will develop, to postgraduate level, knowledge, expertise and skills in International Law, and selected disciplines within it.  Students will learn how to operate as lawyers in an increasingly globalised world, whether it be in problem solving or policy making.  Our range of programmes provides a flexible yet rigorous scheme of studies infused with a broad-minded and international perspective, as well as a sound balance of law, theory, politics and practice/skills that will equip students to become effective specialised or generalist International Lawyers and responsible Global Citizens. 

Employment opportunities for graduates of the programme will include work with international law firms, international organisations such as the United Nations, World Bank, World Trade Organisation and European Union, international courts and tribunals, ‘think tanks’ and research centres, non-governmental organisations and government (eg. Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs).  Having taken one of our programmes, there will, of course, also be possibilities for academically inclined students to pursue careers in teaching and research.

Click here for further details.

Bangor Law Students Achieve BPP Certificates

image of groupEighty three students from Bangor Law School recently travelled to Manchester to complete a career-enhancing course in Commercial Awareness.

The three-day course, offered free by BPP to all Bangor LLB undergraduates, highlights the need for Law students to be commercially minded and to have business awareness. Those attending the course were given the opportunity to put questions to Ian Hargreaves and Dan Bickerstaffe (Partners at Addleshaw Goddard LLP and Squire Sanders Hammonds LLP, respectively) to find out exactly what top law firms are looking for in the recruitment process. 

Commercial awareness is assessed by Law firms at each stage of the application process - application form, assessment centre and interview – and the BPP programme trains students to demonstrate these sought-after skills. BPP Liaison for Bangor Law School, Stephen Clear, said: “in these challenging financial times it is important that a student is able to demonstrate not only a sound legal knowledge, but a strong understanding of business. This programme was a fantastic way for us to develop those skills.”

Steffan Cooling, a third-year student, said: “the course gave me a good insight into the necessary requirements to gain work as a lawyer, as well as tips for the job application process”. LLB Law student Aaron Bridge added: “attending this event provided a great opportunity to network with professionals from the legal industry”.

Pictured below are some of the students receiving their certificates from Stephen Clear and Aled Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in Law and Social Policy. For a taste of what the course involves, watch the official BPP video here.

Stand out from the crowd

As more and more people graduate every year with degrees, have you ever thought what would make you stand out from a crowd, or what would make your job application stand out from a bundle of application forms?

image of claireWhy not combine your Law degree with a European Language? You do not need to have a GCSE or A-Level in a language to study for a language joint Law degree at Bangor University. Our School of Modern Languages offers beginners and intermediate language courses especially for joint-degree students studying at Bangor Law School. You can choose from French, German, Spanish or Italian. All Law with Languages degrees are 4-year programmes and include a year abroad in the third year. 

Claire Hughes is on her fourth and final year of a LLB Law with French degree. She spent her third year in Toulouse, France. Here’s her story…

“Law is a very competitive industry and Lawyers with extra linguistic skills are high in demand, especially with the growth of the European Union and how it effects our day-to-day lives. By choosing to study Law with French I now have a deep insight into another legal system. This not only makes me more knowledgeable but also more understanding towards our own system, and having another system to compare with has made it easier to visualise how it all works and links together.

“I spent my year abroad in Toulouse, France. It has been one of the most amazing years of my life. I started making French friends who were always happy to help and after 6 weeks of attending French Law School, I was reading and writing detailed French texts. Living abroad has changed my outlook on everything.  It has changed my identity, I feel more European, more open-minded, more cultured, more knowledgeable and I am fluent in French.  The Organisers who looked after us took us many trips skiing, to Barcelona, Paris and other tourist attractions, so it wasn’t all work!

The highlight was getting the opportunity to be fully exposed to another culture, becoming fluent in French and making friends from all over the world.

My aim is to become an EU competition Lawyer.”

Major European Grant Success for Law School

Bangor University Law School’s Professor Dermot Cahill and Ceri Evans have just successfully led a €4 million research grant bid (the WIT project), a collaboration with Dublin City University’s Strategic Procurement Unit led by Paul Davis of DCU Business School. This major award, announced last week against stiff international competition, will be funded until the end of 2013 by the European Union’s Ireland/Wales INTERREG Innovation & Competitiveness programme. Bangor University Law School will be the Lead Partner.

The project is expected to have a major impact on the cross-border economy in terms of wealth generation, employment integration, and in terms of generating more and better jobs, thus aligning with the Europe 2020 agenda. WIT outputs will also escalate Bangor Law School’s impact narrative for the UK’s Research Excellence Framework.

Major features of the WIT work Programme will include the carrying out of detailed research into the impact of the 2009 European Union Procurement Law Remedies Directive, drawing on Professor Cahill’s team’s experience in the area of European Procurement Law.  This Directive is already having a major impact, not only on the Remedies that the Common Law courts can, or cannot offer, disappointed tenderers, but also on the behaviour and strategic practices of public sector organisations (purchasers), as well as the SMEs who supply them with goods and services.  The WIT Project will occupy the interface between civil service practices, institutional memory and legal obligation, and will aid the implementation of the EU Remedies Directive in two EU Member States. This will be of considerable interest to the European Commission.

The project was ranked number 1 in the extensive evaluation process. Also during project development, WIT received major expressions of support from leading key stakeholders in both countries, including (on the Welsh side) the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Value Wales Procurement (Welsh Assembly Government), Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Department of Enterprise & Transport (WAG). These stakeholders will assist in supporting the “Winning in Tendering” (WIT) project’s implementation, and ensure its sustainability in the post-funding period (for example, WAG have offered to include the WIT outputs on the National Public Procurement Website, and incorporate elements into the Public Sector Procurement Route Planner and the Flexible Support for Business website).

INTERREG have designated the WIT project as Strategic in nature, reflecting the potential international transformational impact of the project. WIT will examine and devise methods which have the potential to transform the cross-border small indigenous supplier (SIS) community’s capacity and capability to win public sector tenders. Also WIT has the potential to revolutionise the cross-border public procurement culture by re-engineering public procurement practices thus aligning them with SIS vulnerabilities.

The WIT project was also singled-out as Strategic in status because of its potential to influence policy and because of the WIT methodologies' application to other European economies, particularly the Accession States that are likely to benefit most from knowledge transfer of WIT research and outputs.

Another major feature of the WIT Project will be the development of a unique “look-back” framework methodology, which, when developed, will allow small suppliers to identify why exactly they failed in previous tenders, and thereby empower them to re-enter the public tendering game. Post-funding, this methodology is earmarked for adoption in both Wales and Ireland by the national public bodies responsible for ensuring economic sustainability.

The WIT project will develop the first ever SIS-friendly procurement Competency Framework, which may well supplant and replace existing procurement competency frameworks currently used by public purchasers as it will be based on an entirely new qualitative and quantitative design approach. It is expected to prove a catalyst in ensuring public procurers adopt an approach that provides a level playing field for smaller suppliers.

This is drawing on research which Professor Cahill’s team undertook in 2008 and 2009 for the Welsh Assembly Government in the now widely praised “Barriers to Procurement” Report.  This Report is having a major impact on public purchasing practices and many of its recommendations have been swiftly acted upon by the Welsh Assembly Government who are now piloting its Recommendations with a view to assessing their impact on altering public tendering processes in Wales.

Another innovative feature of the WIT Project which is attracting major attention is the project’s plans for developing an on-line Diagnostic ‘health-check’ Tool which will allow SIS’s to self-evaluate their tender readiness or unreadiness, thus eradicating the risk of SISs chasing contracts they do not have the skills to win and also providing a route-map to enable them to leapfrog forward.

WIT research will also lead to the greater uptake of effective transparent lower value procurement practices, thus providing more contract opportunities of the perfect size for smaller suppliers that are prominent throughout the cross-border area. This is a particularly important aspect of the project, given the UK Government’s aspiration for 25% of public sector trade to be awarded to SMEs.

Welcoming the announcement of the award of this major funding, which will last for a 4 year period, Professor Cahill commented:

“This is a fantastic achievement for Bangor Law School, because in the Law School we have now brought together a range of skills, not just legal experts but also business and procurement process experts, who, when all of their combined skills are put together, present an extremely formidable 10-strong research team, credible in the eyes of major funding sources such as the European Union’s INTERREG programme. Our College of Business, Social Science & Law provides excellent depth of expertise to support the team’s operational needs.

This major award follows on recent grant awards made to several members of the Law School, and reflects the fact that the Law School’s academics are readily adapting to the new UK Research Excellence Framework indicator of international funded research achievement and excellence, where our research is increasingly recognised as having a positive impact on public policy formulation, in particular the Citizen - Business / Government interface.

We look forward to working with Dublin City University, who, led by Paul Davis, are the leaders in Strategic Procurement Education and Research in Ireland, and we look forward to engaging in extremely valuable knowledge transfer, in both directions, across the Irish Sea, for the mutual benefit of not only public sector purchasers in the region, but also, the small indigenous supplier sector.  We must not forget that both Ireland and Wales are lands populated by small businesses who will not have the chance to grow into serious medium-sized companies large enough to compete with their international peers, unless they have the right skills, knowledge and opportunities to grow their businesses.  One of the most effective ways to do this is by being able to better compete for public sector contracts for goods and services: the WIT Project fits neatly into that space, and will be a Strategic University-led contribution to the development of innovation and competitiveness across the entire Ireland-Wales INTERREG region.

What was particularly attractive about this project to the INTERREG evaluators is that many of its innovative outputs will be readily transferrable to other European Union Member States, in particular, most interest will probably come from the Accession States, and so we are particularly delighted that the selection process evaluated us so highly across a range of assessment indicators, ranging from economic and policy impact, sustainability, advancement of equal opportunities, legal reform, etc.”
Professor Ted Gardener of the College of Business, Social Sciences and Law said of the Award:

“The WIT project was won in the face of intense competition and will carry out detailed research into the impact of the 2009 EU Procurement Law Remedies Directive and is expected to have a major impact on the cross-border economy in terms of wealth generation, employment integration, and in terms of generating more and better jobs. This is a most important research project for Bangor University and for Wales. WIT is a project whose results are likely to have a direct bearing on economic growth and value added. As we continue to work for the post-crisis economic recovery, the importance of this major project cannot be overstated. This is an exciting and much needed investment in research that really matters”.

Chair in Law

3 Lectureships in Law

Bangor University invite applications for a Chair and 3 Lectureships in the School of Law.

The posts are available from 1 August 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.  Interviews are expected to take place in late July.

The Chair

The applicant for the Chair will be expected to have 3* and 4* REF outputs, either in progression or demonstrate the immediate potential for the same. While applications are welcome from strong candidates in all major fields of law, applications will be particularly welcome in the following fields: Commercial Law (any field); International Trade Law; International Human Rights Law / Public International Law; International Criminal Law; Company Law / Corporate Governance. 

The Lectureships (x 3)

Grade 7 / Grade 8: £29,853-£43,840 pa (depending on experience)

Lecturer candidates will be expected to have a high standard of research already in terms of publications that are suitable for REF assessment, and demonstrate commitment to maintaining same, as well as be committed to excellence in Law teaching. In particular, a record of some international excellence preferably demonstrated by publication in peer-reviewed journals of international standard and demonstrate commitment to further develop publications at such level.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, applications are also encouraged from early years candidates, committed to the rigours of an academic career who can demonstrate strong and immediate international level research output potential.

Further details of all four posts may be found on the Bangor University Job Opportunities webpages.

Bangor Law School welcome US Law School to Summer Law Academy

Bangor Law School is delighted to welcome 32 US Law students to Bangor University this week to participate in a one-week intensive Summer Law School Programme on International Intellectual Property Law, led by Howard Johnson.  This is a very exciting innovation for Bangor University, as it will be the first time that a large group of United States Law students will be visiting the Law School on the campus.

The Summer Programme has been set up by Head of Bangor Law School, Professor Dermot Cahill, who, for many years has served as the co-director of the University of Missouri (Kansas City)/Southern Illinois University Summer Law Academy in Ireland.  The Programme, now in its 11th year, has added an additional week to the Programme, and is now visiting Wales for the first time.

This will allow the Law students to compare and contrast the legal regimes in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, both Common Law countries, though with varying aspects.  In addition, the students, in taking the courses on International Intellectual Property Law, will be exposed to global legal concepts, and will also interact with local lawyers and members of the judiciary.

Announcing the imminent arrival of the Summer Law Programme to Bangor Law School, Professor Dermot Cahill said: "Bangor Law School is delighted to welcome these fantastic US Law students to Bangor University.  They are highly motivated, enthusiastic to learn, and work extremely hard on each day of the Programme to accumulate knowledge and broaden their legal horizons.  Bangor Law School looks forward to deepening this co-operation with the UMCK/SIU Law Schools, and I am delighted that my co-director, Professor Edwin T Hood, has agreed to bring the Programme to Bangor for the first time.  Edward T Hood is an expert in International Taxation Law, and I am sure that he will enjoy interacting with our International Trade lawyers, and Business lawyers on the Faculty.” 

“In addition, bringing the Programme here to Wales will give US Law students the opportunity to experience Welsh culture, and experience the beauty of the environmentally clean, natural landscape, and I have no doubt that their visit here will help spread Bangor University Law School's international reputation as the years progress.  Following on from the Law School's staging of the Regional Final of the European Moot Court Competition here in 2008 and 2009, bringing this international Law School to Bangor further enhances our international reputation and we are also establishing links between Bangor Law School and the US Law Faculties, who are involved in organising the Programme.  For example, one of the SIU Professors, who is an expert in Medical Ethics and Healthcare Law, will be spending a sabbatical year here in the Faculty in 2011, which will undoubtedly strengthen links between, not just the two Law Schools, but also between the American Law School and our new School of Medical Science."

McLaren Moot Court Competition Final

Moot10 teams and 32 students from Bangor Law School recently took part in the first McLaren Moot Court Competition Final, which was held in Caernarfon Crown Court. 

Organised by the Student Law Society and sponsored by BPP, the Moot case was a criminal one, which involved issues relating to manslaughter.  The panel included Judge Aled Jones, Ann McLaren JP and Aled Griffiths, with the support from the Clerk to the Justices for North Wales, Iolo Thomas.

The winners of the 2009/10 McLaren Moot Competition were Alison Davies and Magwen Lloyd Williams, with Chaynee Hodgetts and Charlotte Bates coming a close second.

Congratulations also to Aaron Bridge (year 1) who won our Easter competition for presenting the legal issues in a contract law scenario.

Stephen Clear, Master of the Moot, said: "The success of the very first McLaren Moot Court Competition this year reflects all the hard work, enthusiasm and dedication of all those that were involved. Students had a fantastic time in court. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being able to stand in a real life Crown Court before a real life Crown Court judge. We had a great judging panel this year. Not only did we have judges, solicitors, magistrates and academics from the UK, but we even had a guest judge sit on the panel from Australia, Dr Chris Davies. A big thank you goes to Professor Dermot Cahill and the Law School for all their support throughout this competition. We are looking forward to making next year’s Moot an even bigger success!"

A Moot Court celebration dinner was held at the Management Centre to mark the end of the competition and to present certificates, prizes, awards and shields to the winners, with live music by Bangor University Big Band. 

In the picture from left are:
Back row - Ann McLaren JP, Judge Aled Jones, Stephen Clear, Aled Griffiths, Iolo Thomas.
Front row - Stacey Roberts, Magwen Lloyd-Williams, Alison Davies, Chaynee Hogetts, Charlotte Bates.  

 

Success in the Students' Union’s Society Awards

Law SocietyCongratulations to our Student Law Society which has managed to retain its award winning status again this year at the annual Bangor University Student Union’s Society Awards. 

This year, Bangor Law Society was nominated for:

  • Achievement of the Year (Moot Court Competition)
  • Best Event (Moot Celebration Dinner)
     

Individuals Awards for the Committee of 2009-2010 went to:

  • Georgie Howarth (Liaison Officer)
  • Rachel Ward (Secretary)
  • Sarah Dicker (President)
     
The Law Society were successful in winning:
  • Wildcard Prize for their first Moot Court Competition
  • Individual Silver Award went to Stephen Clear as Master of the Moot

The Student Law Society is actively involved in organising a wide variety of activities and events for Law students, creating a more social atmosphere in which to study law.  The activities and events are aimed at widening the scope of learning and socialising whilst at Bangor.  Activities include: Law related residential trips, Guest Speakers, Mooting, Student Skills Study Groups, Book Sales, Workshops, Christmas Ball, End of Year Party and many other social nights.

Further details at: www.undeb.bangor.ac.uk/law  

Law School Grant Capture Takes Off

The Law School, one of Bangor University's newest schools, had a great run recently in securing research grant capture.

Professor Dermot Cahill, Head of School, has just been awarded a £70,000 grant to carry out an appraisal of the legal and economic impact of the Welsh Assembly Government's location appraisal strategy. This research will be conducted by the Law School in conjunction with the Centre for Business Research and Market Intelligence in the Management Centre, and was won against very stiff competition.  This success builds on Professor Cahill's £27,000 grant, won in 2009, from which arose Professor Cahill's Barriers to Procurement Opportunity Report, where Professor Cahill's team focused on the legal and process barriers that are inhibiting Welsh SMEs from getting through the pre-qualification questionnaire stage of Welsh public contracts.  Professor Cahill's Report is having major impact as the Welsh Assembly Government has taken up the Report's recommendations, and is now significantly altering the way in which future public sector tendering will utilise pre-qualification questionnaires.  The research is also attracting interest from further afield, and the Government in Ireland is also interested in looking at Professor Cahill's proposals.

Other Law School staff are also winning grants from prestigious sources. Sarah Nason has won two grants from the prestigious British Academy, and from the Nuffield Foundation, to carry out research in the administrative law field. Using a combination of statistical analysis, and examination of court records going back several years in the Administrative Court Office of the High Court, Sarah is conducting research on data that has never been examined before, and the conclusions of her research are likely to attract wide interest - in particular, in the access to justice arena, and the interface between human rights and court procedures.  Her work is building on earlier funded research work carried out in 2008 by Dr Osian Rees and Aled Griffiths of the Law School, who co-authored a major Report for the Equality Commission on the Geography and Geometry of Advice Provision in England, Scotland and Wales.

Dr Sara Elin Roberts has recently been awarded a grant of £35k by the University of Wales Research and Publications Committee, to fund a postgraduate researcher for one year. This is seen as a pump-priming project which will lead to a collaborative grant application with the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, Aberystwyth. The aim of the project is to work on the medieval Welsh law manuscripts, to create a database of the contents of each of those forty manuscripts. This will then pave the way for more detailed research on the relationship of the text and the nature of the law found within these manuscripts.

Commenting on the Law School's growing grant capturing activity, Professor Cahill said: "I am privileged to work with such talented researchers.  In a very short space of time, our grant winning capability has been totally transformed.  Our next objective is to win a £3m Euro grant which we are shortly submitting to the Ireland/Wales European Union INTERREG Fund to carry out research on public procurement, Law, and process issues as they affect SMEs. Our partner in this research is Dublin City University, where we have teamed up with Ireland's leading strategic procurement researchers under the leadership of Paul Davis.  Our research in this area is attracting major support from all major stakeholders on both sides of the Irish Sea, and hopefully, will have major positive impacts as we go forward, as the impact of the new European Remedies Directive is felt, given it now applies across all European Union Member States."