James O'Dowd

Exchange Student

Home Country: Ireland
Cohort: Fall 2026

James O’Dowd (Ireland) is an American citizen born abroad in Ireland, studying for his law degree at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland's premier university and one of the top-ranked universities in the world. Before law school, James volunteered with disadvantaged Romani children in Romania's poorest region for six months, providing non-formal education and daily meals. James gained litigation experience at Harrison O'Dowd Solicitors LLP, a Limerick firm specializing in defence litigation and insurance disputes, and interned at the Emerald Isle Immigration Center, an immigration legal aid nonprofit in Queens, New York City, where his legal writing was published under his own byline. He previously served as Welfare and Equality Officer at Trinity Hall and as National Outreach Coordinator for the Trinity Law Society. His interests lie in intellectual property, civil rights, and litigation. This fall, James looks forward to connecting with students and professionals from the U.S. and abroad at Notre Dame.