Ciara Dowd BL

The Law Library

Ciara Dowd is a practising barrister in civil law, specialising in public law, with a particular interest in capacity, mental health, and human rights. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Ciara worked as a legal researcher in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Law Reform Commission, the NGO sector, and in Dublin City University. While working in the Law Reform Commission, she was a primary researcher on the “Knowledge or Belief Concerning Consent in Rape Law” Issues Paper and Report. The recommendations therein have been adopted by government in the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022. Her work on the DCU EmpRiSe Ireland Report on Right to Silence was cited by the Supreme Court in DPP v JD. Ciara studied economics, politics and law at Dublin City University and SciencesPo, Paris, before undertaking an LL.M in International Law at the University of Edinburgh. She later undertook at the Diploma in Legal Studies in the King’s Inns, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Policy in University College Dublin