Law BCL

at National University of Ireland Galway

Year 1 (60 credits)

This year focuses on building knowledge/skills with strong foundational teaching. The module ‘Understanding the Law’ builds a platform of essential skills and helps students to transition to the expectations of a university degree.

 

Compulsory Core Modules (50 credits)

• Understanding the Law (10 credits)
• Critical Thinking for Lawyers (10 credits)
• Constitutional Law (10 credits)
• Contract Law (10 credits)
• Tort Law (10 credits)

 

Optional Modules (10 credits)

• Family Law (10 credits)
• Language: Legal French/ Legal German/ Teanga an Dlí (Legal Irish) (10 credits)

 

 

Year 2 (60 credits)

In second year, students develop their skills further with modules such as ‘Mooting’ which helps develop teamwork and written/oral communication and advocacy skills. There is also a wide range of optional modules to choose from.

 

Compulsory Core Modules (50 credits)

• Criminal Law I & II (10 credits)
• European Union Law I & II (10 credits)
• Company Law I & II (10 credits)
• Evidence Law I & II (10 credits)
• Administrative Law I (5 credits)
• Mooting (5 credits)

 

Optional Modules (10 credits)

• Labour Law I (5 credits)
• Labour Law II (5 credits)
• Industrial and Intellectual Property Law (5 credits)
• Comparative Disability Law (5 credits)
• Information Technology Law (5 credits)
• Language: Legal French/ Legal German/ Teanga an Dlí (Legal Irish) (10 credits each)

 

 

Year 3 (60 credits)

In third year, students can customise their off-campus experience by choosing either professional work placement or study abroad.

Caithfidh na mic léinn a dhéanann Teanga an Dlí seimeastar amháin ag staidéar ar champas Gaeltachta Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh ar an gCeathrú Rua agus seimeastar amháin eile ar shocrúchán oibre i dtimpeallacht lán-Ghaeilge. (Students who study Legal Irish will spend one semester studying at NUI Galway’s Gaeltacht campus in An Cheathrú Rua and one semester of professional work placement in an Irish-speaking environment.)

 

 

Year 4 (60 credits)

In final year, students will have the opportunity to shape their degree by choosing a specialist stream. Students will also complete a ‘Guided Research Essay’ on a topic of their choice and will be supported by an academic mentor.

 

Compulsory Core Modules (35 credits)

• Equity I & II (10 credits)
• Land Law I & II (10 credits)
• Jurisprudence (5 credits)
• Legal & Business Ethics (5 credits)
• Guided Research Essay (5 credits)

 

Optional Specialist Streams (25 credits)

Students will have the opportunity to shape their degree by choosing a specialist stream. Students may choose one of the following specialist streams including the ‘General’ stream which allows students to choose modules from multiple streams. Certain specialist streams have prerequisite modules which must be passed before choosing the stream in the final year.

 

Business and Commercial Law

• Banking Law (5 credits)
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (5 credits)
• Labour Law I (5 credits)
• Labour Law II (5 credits)
• Commercial Law (5 credits)
• International Trade Law (5 credits)
• Law and Economics (5 credits)
• Industrial and Intellectual Property Law (5 credits)
• Comparative Competition Law (5 credits)
• Entrepreneurial Venture Development (5 credits)
• Law and Innovation (5 credits)

 

Public Law, Risk and Regulation

• Environmental Law I (5 credits)
• Environmental Law II (5 credits)
• Criminology (5 credits)
• Housing Law & Policy (5 credits)
• Information Technology Law (5 credits)
• Industrial and Intellectual Property Law (5 credits)
• Admin Law II (5 credits)
• Entrepreneurial Venture Development (5 credits)
• Law and Innovation (5 credits)

 

Human Rights, Crime and Equality

• Criminology (5 credits)
• Family Law (10 credits)
• Labour Law I (5 credits)
• Labour Law II (5 credits)
• Housing Law & Policy (5 credits)
• Applied Legal Theory (5 credits)
• European Human Rights Law – Systems & Themes I (5 credits)
• European Human Rights Law – Systems & Themes II (5 credits)
• Comparative Disability Law (5 credits)
• Public International Law (10 credits)
• International Human Rights I (5 credits)
• International Human Rights II (5 credits)

 

International, Comparative and Transnational Law

• Comparative Disability Law (5 credits)
• Applied Legal Theory (5 credits)
• Public International Law (10 credits)
• Comparative Competition Law (5 credits)
• International Trade Law (5 credits)
• European Human Rights Law – Systems & Themes I (5 credits)
• European Human Rights Law – Systems & Themes II (5 credits)
• International Human Rights I (5 credits)
• International Human Rights II (5 credits)

Undergraduate and mature students can satisfy matriculation registration requirements for NUI Galway by achieving certain grades in the following examinations. 
 

Leaving certificate (for EU and non-EU)

You need a pass in at least six subjects in the Leaving Certificate in accordance with College requirements with:

• Minimum Grade H5 (Higher Level) in two subjects 

• Passes in the remaining four subjects at O6/ H7 
   

You should pick your subjects based on the requirements for entry to your desired course.
 

All subjects of the Leaving Certificate are accepted for matriculation registration purposes, with the exception of Gaeilge Bonnleibhéal (Irish Foundation Level), Mathematics (Ordinary Alternative/Foundation Level and; Home Economics (General), which is recognised only for St. Angela's College, Sligo.
 

GCE and GSCE
 

You need a pass in at least six subjects in accordance with College requirements with at least:

• GCE Advanced Level: Grade C in two recognised subjects and

• GCSE Level: Grade C in four recognised subjects.
   

You should pick your subjects based on the requirements for entry to your desired course.

English Language Requirement:

IELTS :- 6.5

TOEFL :- 88

Fees: EU
€6,733 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Tuition
€3,593 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student Contribution
€3,000 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Student levy
€140 p.a. 2022/23

Fees: Non EU
€17,040 p.a. 2022/23

 

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140.  **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.  

Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Law (BCL) programme will be well equipped to pursue professional studies at either the Law Society (solicitor) or the Honourable Society of King’s Inns (barrister). This degree will also provide an excellent platform for graduates interested in further study or working outside of the professions – as more and more areas of life are legally regulated, the comprehensive grounding in the law and legal process that graduates receive during this degree, as well as the skills acquired, should make them attractive to a wide range of potential employers in financial services, consultancy, commerce and industry, social work and the public sector.

 

 

Work Placement
Our students will have the opportunity to gain a professional focus and real world experience through professional work placement. Students gain invaluable experience by putting theory into practice and developing new skills which can support and influence career direction. Students will have a range of CV and interview preparation supports available in advance of their work placement. Some of our current work placement partners include: Berwick Solicitors, Cian O’Carroll Solicitors, MacDermott & Allen Solicitors, Fidelma Bane Solicitors, Damien Tansey Solicitors and Dillon Leetch & Co Solicitors, Mac Sweeney & Co Solicitors, Blake & Kenny, Healy Law, Tom O’Regan Solicitors and Michael Houlihan & Partners.