RGU alumnus Kieran shares his experience studying Construction Law and Arbitration online at RGU after 43 years in the workforce.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m not your typical student. At the beginning of my studies at RGU, I had been in the workforce for 43 years, as my career started with me working as an apprentice at Guinness Brewery Dublin. Within these 43 years, my work life has taken me to different locations and fields.

Why did you decide to study at RGU?

In 2011, when my son started his third-level studies at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), I was amazed at how quickly his first year went by, so when he started his second year, I enrolled in their Construction Law and Administration of Contracts PG diploma. Having worked in or aligned with the construction industry in my career, this interested me. I further completed a PG Diploma in Professional Arbitration at University College Dublin (UCD).

These two courses compelled me to undertake a master’s in Construction Law and Arbitration. Neither UCD nor TCD offered this master’s degree. Consequently, I had to search for universities in the UK that would satisfy my needs. I had two on a short list, RGU being one.

I applied to both universities and was accepted by both. Why did I choose RGU? Here is a line from an email I sent to RGU, which is self-explanatory:

“Thanks for your invaluable assistance; your personal interest and commitment made it hard for me not to choose Robert Gordon University to complete this LLM.”

What was the highlight of your Law course at RGU?

For me, it was the dissertation phase. As an engineer and a businessman, putting a legal paper together was a new challenge. This paper was centred on the Construction Contract Act 2013, which introduced statutory adjudication in Ireland. I scored a first with the paper, and an updated shortened version will be published in a law Journal this March 2024.

However, what made this achievement possible for me was the commitment of the RGU staff, which is not just the academic staff. Everyone I came into contact with at RGU was there to help smooth out any issues I may have had. It is undoubtedly a customer-focused university. As a consequence, one can focus on the study, not on any ancillary issues that interrupt that process.

What is your takeaway from this experience?

Obtaining an LLM was a personal goal for me. However, using the letters after my name generates respect, particularly in contract discussions within my job. I would advise any professional working within the construction industry’s build side to consider doing this master’s degree.

It is modular in design so that it can be taken in stages. The help and commitment of the staff is exemplary. I had my reasons for commencing my legal studies in Dublin. However, I wholeheartedly recommend RGU to any Irish potential Construction Law students. Much of the Law is the same, and many cases are used as precedents in Irish cases.