As part of its programme to provide postdoctoral research opportunities for scholars of proven academic excellence, University College Dublin is pleased to announce the Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellowship. Matheson is the Law Firm of Choice for internationally focused companies and financial institutions doing business in and from Ireland.

Background to project

The Irish legal profession is often signalled for not being diverse enough. While research on gender diversity in the Irish legal profession has increased in the last fifteen years, there is virtually no research on why certain groups, like ethnic minorities and citizens from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, are still not sufficiently represented in the Irish legal profession. This ambitious project will contribute to the debate on why ethnic minorities and citizens from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are still not sufficiently represented in the Irish legal profession. In particular, this project will explore why ethnic minorities and under-represented groups such as socioeconomically disadvantaged school pupils, college students and law graduates are less likely to become practicing lawyers (i.e. solicitors or barristers). The successful candidate will gain experience of working with a large-scale interdisciplinary mixed-methods research project, engaging with diverse stakeholders and audiences in the fields of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and law and education, and developing high-quality publications and other research outputs.

Candidate details

Applications are invited from candidates who hold a doctoral degree in Law, Sociology or Education. The successful applicant will have a strong track record of high-quality research and publication. Candidates must have completed and passed their doctoral examination before commencement of the post. The Fellowship is designed for a creative thinker, writer and researcher with a strong interest in investigating avenues to improve access to the legal profession for under-represented groups.

Competition details

The Newman Fellowship comes with a tax-free stipend of €35,000 p.a. and is tenable for two years. The candidate will register as a full-time student for the duration of the Fellowship term.

The Matheson Diversity in Law Newman Fellow will work under the supervision and mentorship of Dr Sara Benedi Lahuerta, Assistant Professor in Law and will be hosted by UCD Sutherland School of Law.

The university adheres to a range of equality, diversity and inclusion policies, and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who identify with any of the protected characteristics that are set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

How to apply

The candidate must complete the Newman Fellowship Candidate Form and provide an updated and detailed CV. Candidates should also include a cover letter outlining how their qualifications and experience match the requirements of the position. All documents should be sent to: newmanfellowship@ucdfoundation.ie, with ‘Matheson Newman Fellowship’ in the subject line.

Two nominated referees must separately complete their confidential reports using the Newman Fellowship Referee Form, which must be sent to newmanfellowship@ucdfoundation.ie with ‘Matheson Newman Fellowship’ in the subject line.

*If your computer's security settings are preventing you from downloading the application forms, please request a Candidate Application Pack by emailing: newmanfellowship@ucdfoundation.ie

Further information

Informal enquiries regarding this Fellowship may be directed to newmanfellowship@ucdfoundation.ie

Deadline

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 17:00 on 16 June 2023.

The Fellowship start date will be arranged with the successful candidate and will ideally commence no later than September 2023.