The Law School has undertaken a review of governance structures at law affiliated student organisations. The general expectation of student organisations at Trinity is that they be recognised under the capitated bodies, such as CSC or Trinity Sport Union. There have traditionally been three capitated CSC-approved societies associated with law: Law Soc, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centre), and ELSA (European Law Students Association).

The Trinity College Law Review (TCLR) has a semi-autonomous status under the Law Soc, which ensures that its accounts are subject to CSC oversight. In addition to these recognised bodies, The Eagle has been fully autonomous but has agreed in principle with the Law Soc to have the same semi-autonomous status as the TCLR. These arrangements will hopefully be in place for the next academic year.

A similar proposal was made to the law student colloquium to regularise their standing but was rejected.

The Trinity students identified as committee members of the colloquium were directed to ensure that the colloquium ceased to claim any formal association with Trinity College Dublin. The association with Trinity continues to be claimed. 12 of the 13 committee members have resigned.

There is a concern that an organisation continues to present itself as a Trinity organisation when it has been directed not to and has rejected reasonable suggestions to come within standard Trinity governance structures. There is a further concern that the organisation is fundraising on foot of that status when (a) there is no Trinity oversight of its accounts and (b) it is not permitted to hold events in Trinity.

The Law School is working actively with other student organisations and interested students to ensure that the activities previously undertaken by the law student colloquium continue next year. The Law School will financially support those activities.

The Law School has no wish to be involved in the oversight of student organisations. The recent work with law student organisations was prompted by a desire to ensure best practice in governance and financial oversight. It is hoped that once the current issues are worked through, the wide range of law affiliated student organisations will continue their good work under the standard oversight of CSC, with support as appropriate from the Law School.