LLB Degree

Course details

The LLB degree is a postgraduate law degree offering distinct pathway to two different types of candidates. 

For students who have already been awarded a law degree the LLB degree offers an opportunity to expand their portfolio of legal knowledge across a wider area of law in preparation for specific practice or for further study. The one year full-time course includes a wide choice of modules which would allow you to choose a combination that best suits your interests. In particular, it offers you an opportunity to study additional fields of law, such as medical law, environmental law or human rights law, which may not have been available to you at undergraduate level. 

For students who are graduates from a non-law discipline the LLB is a two-year postgraduate law degree which offers you sufficient core and optional law modules to undertake, should you wish, professional legal training at the end of the degree. It is designed to ensure that graduates will have a strong legal training at the end of their two years study (full time) along with suitable critical understanding of core legal issues. Beyond preparing you for legal professional qualifications, the LLB is also suitable for students who wish to pursue a career in a variety of areas such as business, journalism, the civil service/government and human rights.

Course Details

The LLB offers alternative pathways to two different types of candidates.

It offers an opportunity to Law Graduates to further develop and deepen both their knowledge and skills base. As a student with substantial legal knowledge already, you will be required to take 60 credits during your degree. Only LW2252 Law of Property is compulsory leaving you with 50 elective credits. However, if you have already studied Property Law, or an equivalent module, you will be free to take the full 60 credits as electives.  In addition, you may also seek to study up to 10 credits of LLM modules; permission of the Programme Director and relevant LLM Module coordinator will be required.

As a law graduate, if you choose to study for the LLB you will have the opportunity to widen and/deepen your legal knowledge into areas such as:

• Commercial Law
• Corporate and Financial Services Law
• Consumer Law
• Immigration and Refugee Law
• Human Rights Law
• Welfare Law
• Medical Law
• Employment Law 
• Environmental Law 

For non-law graduates, the LLB offers an opportunity to convert to a career in law. As a result the two year LLB places an emphasis on developing not just legal knowledge but also your skills base. You will be required to take 60 credits in each academic year, which will include a combination of compulsory and elective modules and a skills module.   

While we recognise our primary responsibility is to provide legal knowledge, we also aim to ensure that you develop advocacy skills, experience team work and gain expertise in legal research, as well as gaining a range of transferable skills.  

As a non-law graduate, if you choose to study for the LLB you will take core modules which are the foundation topics required for the professional exams – FE1s and Kings Inn exams. These include 

• Criminal Law
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• EU Law

In addition you will also have options which would allow you to study subjects such as 

• Human Rights Law
• Employment Law
• Environmental Law 
• Corporate and Financial Services Law
• Commercial Law

Detailed Entry Requirements

Candidates must be approved by the School of Law and must normally hold a Degree (Level 8) with at least Second Class Honours.  

Applicants meeting the initial entry requirements and who have a Law Degree (Level 8) with at least Second Class Honours (or have equivalent professional qualification/s and experience in law, as determined by the School of Law) should apply for the 60 credit route.

Applications from overseas candidates are welcome and their qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis under (b) above. Non-EU applicants should contact the International Education Office by email at international postgrad@ucc.ie for application details.

The number of places available in any given year is dependent on resources and all qualified candidates may not be admitted.

The Law School uses a system of offer rounds to facilitate decision-making and early notification to applicants. Candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Candidates who do not have their final degree marks available may be made a conditional (provisional) offer.

Assessment

Written exams will take place before Christmas and in May.  Not all modules will have formal examinations.  Many modules use other types of assessment.