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GAZETTE
NOVEMBER 1991
An MBA - A Competitive Advantage
Muiris
O'Ceidigh
was the
winner of the J.P. O'Reilly
memorial Fund Scholarship in
1990. In this article he
highlights the benefits of an
MBA to lawyers.
An MBA or a Masters Degree in
Business Administration is gen-
erally regarded as a premium quali-
fication in business undertaken by
people with 5 or more years
business experience and who have
a primary degree. The competition
for places in MBA programmes is
intense with many people com-
peting for very few places.
What an MBA involves:
Following the award of the J.P.
O'Reilly Memorial prize in
commercial law, Muiris O'Ceidigh
was accepted for an MBA at Trinity
College Dublin. MBAs are also
offered at UCD, UCG, University of
Limerick and DCU. However, the
Trinity MBA is unique in that it
offers hands on experience at an
executive level in a major cor-
poration, in this case, Avonmore
Foods pic. Two such experience-
related activities are undertaken
during the course of the prog-
ramme. The other one which he
undertook was with a captive
insurance management company
operating in the International
Financial Services Centre. Both
these projects and in particular the
company project enable one to use
the analytical skills instilled during
the initial part of the programme.
There are many modules offered
during the course of the prog-
ramme; these include modules of
financial analysis, corporate fin-
ance, corporate strategy and
general management. The Trinity
MBA places a high emphasis on an
understanding of corporate stra-
tegy. During the course of the
programme one analyses several
major international corporations
from a financial and strategic point
of view and spends many hours
considering the financial and
strategic alternatives open to the
company for the future. During the
course of the programme one gains
360
several useful skills such as the
ability to give a presentation using
computer graphics, how to compile
a corporate analysis for a Chief
Executive, training in team work
and group dynamics.
An MBA programme has many
benefits for a commercial lawyer. It
enables him to have full financial
competency and additionally an ap-
preciation of where an enterprise is
endeavouring to get strategically.
However, an MBA programme
should not be undertaken lightly as
it requires up to 70 hours work per
week and at times can be exceed-
ingly stressful, but the disadvanta-
ges are far outweighed by the
benefits in terms of personal
development.
Muiris works Jor A & L Goodbody,
Solicitors. He has lectured in
commercial law at Galway Regional
Technical College, and at the
Sorbonne University in Paris. He
has several publications in the com-
mercial law area.
•
The J.P. O'Reilly Memorial Fund
Founded by Dr. A.J.F. O'Reilly to honour the memory of his late father,
the Fund provides a
Scholarship of £10,000
to contribute towards the cost of attendance at a full-time or part-time
MBA course.
The Fund seeks to promote knowledge of commercial law and corporate
finance among young Irish solicitors.
The award - which may be apportioned among candidates - is by
competition, open to all apprentices and solicitors qualified within the
last ten years who satisfy entry requirements (see below) for an approved
MBA course, whether at home or abroad.
The competition will have two tiers:
(1) An essay of between 3,000 and 5,000 words in a commercial law
subject chosen by the candidate;
(2) a panel interview which will assess the background interests,
motivation and potential of selected essayists.
Applications to participate to be made not later than 6 January, 1992;
and essays should be submitted by the 28 January, 1992. The successful
candidate is expected to commence the study programme in Autumn,
1992.
Telephone or write to Professor L. G. Sweeney, Director of Training, Law
Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7. Tel: 710711.
MBA Requirements
These are threefold:
- normally a primary degree, commonly with first or second class
honours or an approved professional qualification,
- work experience at an acceptable level of responsibility over a
period of three, four or five years depending on the institute and the
candidate's other qualifications,
- a passing grade in the Graduate Management Admission Test
(GMAT). The GMAT is internationally recognised and can be taken
in centres in all countries. Information is available from: Graduate
Management Admission Test, Educational Testing Service, CN6103
Princeton NJ 08541 - 6103, USA.