Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus)

About You

If you are the type of person that enjoys working out real solutions to problems that occur in everyday life then Law Plus is the programme for you. If you would like to study a traditional law degree but have the flexibility of studying elective subjects that allow you to tailor the programme to your own interests, then Law Plus is also the programme for you.

Why Study Law Plus at UL?

The study of law is an enriching educational experience that provides intellectual stimulation and exposure to decision-making and argumentative skills. The Law Plus programme allows you to choose elective subjects in other courses including Politics, History, Psychology, Economics, Maths, and languages. You can, therefore, expect to have a wide variety of options open to you upon graduation.

Law Plus places significant emphasis on the development of practical legal skills including oral and written communication skills, analytical and logical reasoning skills, negotiation, legal research, organisational and teamwork skills, particularly through the lawyering skills modules. Our moot court and appeal court facilities are utilised throughout the programme to develop these skills and ensure our students graduate equipped to deal with working in a legal environment. These skills are of course transferable and of great benefit to those who choose to pursue a career outside of law.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in Advanced Lawyering projects. These projects provide students with a unique opportunity to engage with community partners and to apply their legal knowledge and skills in a practical manner. Projects vary from year to year and have in the past included issues such as miscarriages of justice, sentencing, Street Law, and legal app development.

What You Will Study

The programme is of four years’ duration, of which seven semesters are spent on campus and one on Cooperative Education. In general, the programme consists of three law modules and two elective modules per semester. The law component of the course is designed to provide you with a mastery of the discipline of law through the study of the core legal subjects which are considered essential to an adequate legal education: Lawyering Skills, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Equity and Trusts, European Union Law and Land Law.

The elective component of the programme consists of a wide variety of modules, including additional Law modules. The electives serve to strengthen the base of your legal studies and expand your knowledge of the wider world. 

During the first half of Year 3, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge that you have already acquired. This will normally this will take the form of a work placement. There is also the opportunity to spend this period abroad. In addition, a limited number of academic placements are available, either through an exchange programme with a European law school or with one of our partner law schools in the United States or China.

Final year students will also participate in ‘Advanced Lawyering Projects’. These are group projects which focus on an area of law in which you have a particular interest (e.g. criminal justice, employment law or property law etc). You will work together with a lecturer to complete a project where you will develop practical research, writing and presentation skills.

Details of some Advanced Lawyering projects are available here.

Questions and Answers

Q.How does the Law Plus degree work?

A.The 4 year programme includes seven semesters on campus and one on Cooperative Education. In gener al, the programme consists of three law modules and two elective modules per semester. Extra law may be taken as one of the electives, in this way, you can study four law subjects and one non-law elective per semester. The law component of the cour se provides students with a sound knowledge of the discipline of law through the study of legal subjects like: Lawyering Skills, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, EU Law and Land Law.

Q. What subjects may I choose to study in addition to law?

A. Law Plus is a flexible degree allowing students to choose two electives from a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Students can choose any combination from groups 1-6, as long as no two are in the same group*:
Law can only be selected as an elective once.

Group 1: Law or Psychology or German

Group 2: Law or English or Maths or Politics

Group 3: Law or New Media and Cultural Studies or Spanish (beginners or advanced)

Group 4: Law or Gaeilge or Public Administration

Group 5: Law or Sociology or Linguistics with TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or Japanese

Group 6: Law or History or French or Economics

Students can attend as many lectures as they want in the first week of term and then choose the ones that suit them best. This flexibility is excellent for students who are uncertain as to their future career but know the value of a legal training coupled with exposure to other disciplines. The student can effectively design an individual programme of their choosing.

Q. Do I need to study a language?

A. Students may choose not to study a language.

Q. Do I gain any experience in the workplace?

A. During the first half of Year 3, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides the students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge that has already been acquired. Normally this will take the form of a work placement in a range of sectors including legal, financial and government sectors. Students can spend this period in Europe or North America if they wish. In addition, a limited number of academic placements are available, either through an exchange programme with a European law school or with one of our partner law schools worldwide.

Q. Will I develop skills which are useful in the workplace?

A. The School of Law is dedicated to ensuring that Law graduates are self-motivated and highly professional people who are equipped with invaluable transferable skills, skills which are integral to a legal training, but are also highly prized skills in general. Law Plus places significant emphasis on the development of skills including excellent oral and written communication skills, analytical and logical reasoning skills, negotiation, legal research, organisational and team work skills, particularly through the Lawyering Skills modules in their first and fourth year of the programme.

In addition, students are offered an Advanced Lawyering module which builds upon skills previously identified and imparts students with an understanding of the alternative mechanisms for solving disputes outside the legal system (ADR) and the skills inherent in these processes, an area of increasing importance to legal professionals in modern times.

Final year students will also participate in ‘Advanced Lawyering Projects’. These are group projects which focus on an area of law in which you have a particular interest (e.g. criminal justice, employment law or property law). You will work together with a lecturer to complete a project where you will develop practical research, writing and presentation skills.

Q. What kind of degree will I get at the end of my course?

A. The School of Law offers two Law degrees at undergraduate level, namely, the B.A. in Law and Accounting and the LL.B. in Law Plus. Law Plus is a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree rather than a Bachelor of Laws (BCL) as it is a four year degree encompassing an eight month co-operative education placement rather than a traditional three year law degree.

Q. Can I become a barrister or solicitor when I am finished my Law Plus degree?

A. Yes! The Law Society of Ireland (Solicitors) does not require applicants to have a law degree to pursue a career as a solicitor, however, every student in the country must sit entrance exams to gain entry to the Law Society of Ireland. All of the subjects are offered by the School of Law in the University of Limerick. The Honorable Society of Kings Inns (Barristers, The Bar) does require students wishing to become a barrister to hold a law degree and Law Plus is an approved degree for these purposes. Students on the Law Plus programme will also have the opportunity to study the subjects on which there are entrance exams in order to gain entry to Kings Inns.*

Further information on becoming a barrister is available from www.kingsinns.ie and further information on becoming a solicitor is available on www.lawsociety.ie **

Q. Is Law Plus recognised for teaching?

A. No, however, you can make an individual case to the Teaching Council. There are no guarantees that your LLB will be accepted.

Q. Do I get a degree in my elective subjects?

A. No, the elective subject gives the student the opportunity to study an area outside of law that complements the study of law and enriches the student’s knowledge. On graduation, the student is awarded a LLB in Law with the list of electives taken detailed on the student’s official transcript.

* Please note that the choice of electives is subject to continual change and not all electives may be available due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, scheduling and resourcing.

** Due to the regular alterations to the entry requirements for the professional bodies, students are advised to keep abreast of any developments in this regard.

The programme is of four years’ duration, of which seven semesters are spent on campus and one on Cooperative Education. In general, the programme consists of three law modules and two elective modules per semester. The law component of the course is designed to provide you with a mastery of the discipline of law through the study of the core legal subjects which are considered essential to an adequate legal education: Lawyering Skills, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Public Law, Equity and Trusts, EU Law and Land Law.

The elective component of the degree consists of a wide variety of modules, including additional Law modules, History, Psychology and Spanish. The electives serve to broaden the base of your legal studies and refine your knowledge of the wider world.

During the first half of Year 3, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge that you have already acquired. Normally this will take the form of a work placement. You should be prepared for the possibility of spending this period abroad. In addition, a limited number of academic placements are available, either through an exchange programme with a European law school or with one of our partner law schools worldwide.

During Year 4 you will take Advanced Lawyering modules that involve a variety of practically focussed activities such as writing a research article, undertaking a moot trial, working in a Business Law Clinic and participating in a conveyancing scenario.

By the end of the degree in Law Plus, you will be endowed with personal skills such as self-motivation, professionalism (by adhering to deadlines, diligence in the presentation of written work) and the ability to work well in a team, along with the development of your personal communicative skills.

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

In addition, students wishing to take a language option must have a H4 grade in that language with the exception of Japanese, beginners Spanish or beginners German, where a H4 grade in a language other than English is required.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

For certain electives, additional special qualifications specific to individual subjects or disciplines may be determined by the respective departments in accordance with Academic Council regulations.

We welcome applications from Mature Students. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

Exemptions The Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus) covers the core subjects required for the Law Society of Ireland Final Examination, Part 1, and is an approved degree for the purpose of Rule 4 of the Education Rules of the Honorable Society of Kings Inns. As exemptions are under continual review, please contact the School of Law, University of Limerick, for current information.

Careers open to you with a Law degree include:

• Solicitor
• Barrister
• Legal Advisor
• Management
• Compliance Officer
• Mediator
• Civil Service Administrator
• Higher Education Lecturer

A legal education gives you a number of career options. You may decide to enter the legal profession or you may engage in further study and become an academic. These are not the only options, as a law degree will give you a rich and invaluable education which may also interest those who intend to pursue a career outside the profession and academia, including administration, government and business. A law degree will provide you with lifelong skills that can be adapted to suit a wide variety of careers.

Follow-On Study

After finishing your Law degree, you may decide to stay on at University and pursue a Masters Degree where we offer a number of innovative and interesting postgraduate programmes:

LLM in Human Rights in Criminal Justice,
LLM General,
LLM in International Commercial Law,
LLM in European and Comparative Law.

Want to find out more about possible careers with this degree? Click Here

Eimear Gallagher

I was always interested in a career in law, so I was initially attracted to U.L. because of the Co-Op opportunities. Every course at UL guarantees a 6-8-month work placement in a field relevant to your study; this is an incredible opportunity to help you decide what path you’d like your career to take, and to secure a graduate job in an increasingly competitive job market.

I was attracted to the Law Plus course in particular because it allowed me to study an elective module independent of the mandatory law modules. This was important to me as I knew from the outset that I had varied interests, and I wanted to keep my options open. Law Plus allows you to tailor-make a degree that reflects your interests and advances your career prospects in an area of your choosing.

By 2nd year I knew I had an interest in corporate law, and wanted to pursue this further. The strong ties UL has with many of Ireland’s top commercial law firms allowed me to undertake my Co-Op in A&L Goodbody, and pair this with 4-week internships in two other leading Irish law firms. My duties across the firms involved drafting corporate approvals and researching aspects of banking and aviation law, and I was actively involved in many high-profile transactions with distinguished clients. This gave me a comprehensive insight into the workings of top-tier corporate law firms, and helped to prepare me for life as a trainee solicitor.

The course is structured so as to prepare students for a wide variety of career paths; the core legal modules which are necessary for both the solicitor and barrister routes are mandatory in Law Plus, and the additional modules which are required by Kings Inns are offered as optional modules. The course further provides the opportunity to study a broad range of elective law modules, such as Sports Law and Medical Law, which enables students to explore more specialised areas of law. UL’s modern, state-of-the-art facilities such as the moot court room and recently opened Appellate Court room combine a traditional legal education with invaluable practical experience.

UL also offers various internship and study-abroad opportunities to its students. This year I was fortunate enough to be awarded a scholarship to undertake a 2-month summer internship with CRCC Asia in a law firm in Shanghai. This is a once in a life time opportunity that would never have been possible for me without the support of UL. I feel the skills I’ve developed throughout my 4 years have significantly prepared me for this invaluable experience.

Deirdre Swift

I visited UL on the open day and loved the scenic, American-style campus and world-class sporting facilities. Having met some of the law faculty and learned more about the new, dynamic Law Plus course, my decision was finalised. I was attracted to the fact that the course offers the full range of law modules required for both the solicitor’s and barrister’s professional exams, and also that the course includes many arts modules, as I wanted a multi-disciplinary education.

Whilst attending the University of Limerick, I was nominated for an internship with the Honourable Chief Justice Mrs Susan Denham. During this time I accompanied the Chief Justice to court and took part in discussions with her about topical cases. This involved studying written legal submissions and court documents in advance of hearings. The purpose of the internship was to gain an insight into the work of the courts, with particular reference to the High and Supreme Courts. This gave me a tremendous understanding of how decisions are made and of the people who make them.

Working so closely with the Chief Justice and her highly professional, skilled, organised and fast-thinking team tested my research and communication abilities and ensured I worked to the very best of my own ability. I believe that my UL experience was essential in helping me to secure a training contract after graduation.

Kieran Foley

Law Plus offers a great deal of flexibility through the wide range of elective modules on offer. I could not decide whether I wanted to study law, history or psychology but Law Plus at UL has allowed me to study all three. The clinical and practical nature of the Law Plus programme sets it apart from other law degrees. The integration of practical activities such as mooting provides an all-round experience.

A moot is a mock legal hearing in our purpose-built courtroom where the students play the role of counsel and deliver oral arguments on various points of law. We present our case before a “judge”, generally a member of the teaching staff, who will give a short judgement at the end of the moot. To be successful, you must be able to think on your feet and respond confidently. Through mooting, I have gained valuable practical experience and improved my communication skills, both oral and written.

The course is challenging but extremely rewarding. Studying law requires significant dedication, independent learning, and research. The first year Lawyering modules offer education in practical legal matters. As Law Plus students, we can work as a team on a research project on topics such as miscarriages of justice, sentencing and comparative legal systems.

Law is a demanding discipline and has imparted to me a strong work ethic and an ability to cope well under pressure to meet deadlines, no matter what.

Katie Grace Matthews

A Day in the Life of …..a Legal Technology Analyst

When I was choosing a University, the biggest factor for me was career options after graduating. Law Plus in UL is one of few legal degrees where you can benefit from the study of an elective subject of your choice, while also achieving the requisite credits to sit the New York bar exam. There are very few Universities which offer this level of opportunity - so UL was the obvious choice for me!

UL’s Law School houses very sharp and innovative lecturers, many of whom are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing in the legal industry. It was this dynamic environment that inspired me to think outside of the box and try something new. One example of UL’s innovative offering is the adoption of Ireland’s first legal tech project. This pioneering module teaches students how to build legal tech products using world-leading Artificial Intelligence systems.

I work as a legal technology analyst in Allen & Overy London, one of the most successful corporate law firms in the world. As legal tech is so new, the work I do is extremely varied: one day I could be working closely with A&O’s clients on legal tech solutions; the next I could be training lawyers in one of A&O’s 44 offices worldwide. I have already travelled to A&O’s Brussels and Frankfurt offices, and am due to work in their offices in Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong this summer. This job keeps you on your toes and is anything but boring!

Any advice for school leavers?

To succeed in legal studies a large amount of work is required. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, the pay-off is worth it!

Katie is currently employed as a Legal Technology Analyst with Allen & Overy LLP in London

Q.How does the Law Plus degree work?

A.The 4 year programme includes seven semesters on campus and one on Cooperative Education. In general, the programme consists of three law modules and two elective modules per semester. Extra law may be taken as one of the electives, in this way, you can study four law subjects and one non-law elective per semester. The law component of the course provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of the discipline of law through the study of legal subjects like: Lawyering Skills, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, EU Law and Land Law.

Q. What subjects may I choose to study in addition to law?

A. Law Plus is a flexible degree allowing students to choose two electives from a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Students can choose any combination from groups 1-6, as long as no two are in the same group*:
Law can only be selected as an elective once.

Group 1: Law or Psychology or German

Group 2: Law or English or Maths or Politics

Group 3: Law or Digital Culture and Communications New Media and Cultural Studies or Gaeilge or Economics Spanish (beginners or advanced)

Group 4: Law or Gaeilge or Public Administration or Spanish (beginners or advanced)

Group 5: Law or Sociology or Linguistics with TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or Maths or Japanese

Group 6: Law or History or French or Economics

Students can attend as many lectures as they want in the first week of term and then choose the ones that suit them best. This flexibility is excellent for students who are uncertain as to their future career but know the value of a legal training coupled with exposure to other disciplines. The student can effectively design an individual programme of their choosing. Students are always welcome to speak with the Course Director about registration options.

Q. Do I need to study a language?

A. Students may choose not to study a language.

Q. Do I gain any experience in the workplace?

A. During the first half of Year 3, an eight-month period of Cooperative Education provides the students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge that has already been acquired. Normally this will take the form of a work placement in a range of sectors including legal, financial and government sectors. Students can spend this period in Europe or North America if they wish. In addition, a limited number of academic placements are available, either through an exchange programme with a European law school or with one of our partner law schools worldwide.

Q. Will I develop skills which are useful in the workplace?

A. The School of Law is dedicated to ensuring that Law graduates are self-motivated and highly professional people who are equipped with invaluable transferable skills, skills which are integral to a legal training, but are also highly prized skills in general. Law Plus places significant emphasis on the development of skills including excellent oral and written communication skills, analytical and logical reasoning skills, negotiation, legal research, organisational and team work skills, particularly through the Lawyering Skills modules in the first and fourth year of the programme.

In addition, students are offered an Advanced Lawyering module which builds upon skills previously identified and imparts students with an understanding of the alternative mechanisms for solving disputes outside the legal system (ADR) and the skills inherent in these processes, an area of increasing importance to legal professionals in modern times.

Final year students will also participate in ‘Advanced Lawyering Projects’. These are group projects which focus on an area of law in which you have a particular interest (e.g. criminal justice, employment law or property law). You will work together with a lecturer to complete a project where you will develop practical research, writing and presentation skills.

Q. What kind of degree will I get at the end of my course?

A. The School of Law offers two Law degrees at undergraduate level, namely, the B.A. in Law and Accounting and the LL.B. in Law Plus. Law Plus is a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree rather than a Bachelor of Laws (BCL) as it is a four year degree encompassing an eight month co-operative education placement rather than a traditional three year law degree.

Q. Can I become a barrister or solicitor when I am finished my Law Plus degree?

A. Yes! The Law Society of Ireland (Solicitors) does not require applicants to have a law degree to pursue a career as a solicitor, however, every student in the country must sit entrance exams to gain entry to the Law Society of Ireland. All of the subjects are offered by the School of Law in the University of Limerick. The Honorable Society of Kings Inns (Barristers, The Bar) does require students wishing to become a barrister to hold a law degree and Law Plus is an approved degree for these purposes. Students on the Law Plus programme will also have the opportunity to study the subjects on which there are entrance exams in order to gain entry to Kings Inns.*

Further information on becoming a barrister is available from www.kingsinns.ie and further information on becoming a solicitor is available on www.lawsociety.ie **

Q. Is Law Plus recognised for teaching?

A. No, however, you can make an individual case to the Teaching Council. There are no guarantees that your LLB will be accepted.

Q. Do I get a degree in my elective subjects?

A. No, the elective subject gives you the student the opportunity to study an area outside of law that complements the study of law and enriches your knowledge. On graduation, you will be awarded a LLB in Law with the list of electives taken detailed your official student transcript.

* Please note that the choice of electives is subject to continual change and not all electives may be available due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, scheduling and resourcing.

** Due to the regular alterations to the entry requirements for the professional bodies, students are advised to keep abreast of any developments in this regard.