THE defence lawyer at the centre of the documentary series Making A Murderer is to take up a position as guest lecturer at the University of Limerick.
US attorney Dean Strang will lead a six week module of lectures at the UL law school starting on February 10.
Mr Strang provided legal representation for Steven Avery, twice convicted of murder in Wisconsin, who came to public attention in the Netflix series documenting the overturning of his first conviction and the procedural details of his second. The series drew global audiences and shone a light on the US legal system.
Mr Strang said UL had given him "the chance of a lifetime".
"To immerse myself in an Irish law school for nearly two months, and to learn about how law is taught and lived in Ireland," he said.
"I will have chances to hear and meet Irish students, professors, lawyers and judges and to consider questions that daily law practice either crowds out or omits.”
Mr Strang will start his time in Limerick with a public conversation on the role of the defence lawyer, entitled How Can You Defend Those People?
He will be joined by Mark Nicholas, a senior counsel and an expert in criminal law and will provide insight from an Irish perspective.
This is Mr Strang’s second visit to Ireland. Last year he conducted an Irish university lecture tour and gave a public talk in Limerick at the invitation of the UL Law Society.
Professor Shane Kilcommins, head of UL's School of Law, welcomed the announcement.
"Dean Strang has a unique perspective on the US legal system and a very valuable contribution to make to our understanding of the relationship between the legal profession and the citizen," he said.
