🎓 ACJRD Online Student Seminar: Meet the Pros

📅 The ACJRD hosted an online event on 13 November 2025 titled “ACJRD Online Student Seminar: Meet the Pros: Criminal Justice Career Paths”. The webinar welcomed third-level students with an interest in exploring the diverse and often unexpected career opportunities within the criminal justice system. Three senior leaders from justice agencies shared candid reflections on their personal journeys, the challenges and opportunities they encountered, and the skills that helped them progress. The webinar offered students a rare, honest look at what working in criminal justice is really like, alongside practical advice for those considering similar careers. We were joined by Ciairín de Buis, CEO of the Parole Board, Gerry O’Brien, Head of Criminal Justice Strategic Policy and Planning in the Dept of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Úna Doyle, Acting Director of the Probation Service.

🔀 Non-linear Career Paths

The webinar highlighted the value of non-linear career paths within the justice sector, illustrating how varied roles across human rights, policy development, frontline service delivery, and the private sector can build a strong foundation for senior leadership. Speakers emphasised that careers rarely follow a straight line, and that varied experiences—sometimes seemingly unrelated—can ultimately contribute to a deeper and more versatile professional skillset.

🌟 Embracing Opportunities

A recurring message was the importance of embracing opportunities that may initially feel daunting or outside one’s comfort zone. Taking on new challenges, seeking roles that build fresh competencies, and maintaining openness to diverse career directions were all framed as key drivers of growth. Volunteering, networking, and sustaining professional connections were repeatedly highlighted as powerful tools for gaining experience and uncovering new paths. The need to build resilience as you progressed was emphasised by one speaker.

🧰 Transferable Skills

The discussion also underscored the strength of transferable skills such as communication, policy analysis, problem-solving, and cross-sector collaboration. Moving between sectors - public, private, or non-profit - was positioned as enriching rather than disruptive, with each sector offering different insights and professional cultures that broaden one’s perspective.

🧱 Frontline Experience

Frontline and front-facing experience across all sectors was noted as especially formative, particularly in building resilience, adaptability, and a work ethic. Selecting roles or organisations that align with one’s values was encouraged, as was identifying positions that match natural strengths rather than feeling confined to traditional or narrowly defined career pathways.

🛠️ Practical Experience and Opportunities

Practical experience was a major theme throughout. Speakers encouraged students and early-career professionals to pursue volunteering, internships, or short-term opportunities to build relevant exposure and confidence. The Department of Justice’s Internship Scheme was highlighted as a well-paid route offering valuable insight into government operations and policy, while the Probation Service announced an upcoming recruitment process that will open further avenues for those interested in frontline justice work.

📊 Key Poll Results

In polls taken during the meeting 44 participants were currently studying criminal justice and 18 were considering a career in it, showing strong or emerging career commitment.

💡 Most common areas of interest:

1. ⚖️ Courts & legal services (29)
2. 👮 Law enforcement & investigation (25)
3. 🔄 Probation, parole & rehabilitation (23)
4. 📝 Policy, reform & research (22)
5. 🤝 Community outreach & prevention (17)

👍 Feedback

Feedback from the webinar was positive with 70% of respondents finding the speakers’ career journeys and insights useful or very useful. 80% said the webinar had increased their interest in pursuing a career in the criminal justice sector and found the personal stories the most engaging. Ideas for future webinars included a perspective from someone working inside the prison and prosecutors. There was also an interest in alternative career paths for people with law qualifications and volunteering and intern opportunities.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Several questions were asked by students before and during the webinar but unfortunately time did not allow them to be comprehensively answered. ACJRD hopes to address these in a future newsletter.