Key Info

Bachelor of Laws (Law Plus)

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree
CAO points history
506
Course code
LM029
Duration
4 Years
Subject area
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Course Director
Dr Luke Danagher
Email
luke.danagher@ul.ie
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755

About you

If you are the type of person who 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 an  exposure to decision-making and argumentative skills. The Law Plus programme allows you to choose elective subjects in other disciplines including Politics, History, Psychology, Economics, Maths, Sociology 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 appellate 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 topics such as miscarriages of justice, sentencing, Street Law, and legal app development. 

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What you will study

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 a rounded legal education: Lawyering Skills, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, Constitutional 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. 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. This will take the form of a work placement. There is also the opportunity to spend this period abroad. In the second half of Year 3, 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, Canada 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.

Pathways within Law Plus

There is a wide variety of options available to Law Plus students. Each semester you will be studying 3 core law modules, with the option of 2 additional elective modules. 

You will be able to tailor your degree to have:

  • 60% law (2 non-law pathways)
  • 80% law (1 non-law pathway)

The groups of elective pathways are listed below. Each student can choose up to 2 pathways to pair with their primary law degree. Choosing no more than one per group. 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Extra Law

Psychology

or

German

English

or

Politics

History

or

French

Spanish

or 

Public Administration

Sociology

or

Linguistics with TESOL

or

Maths

or

Japanese

Digital Culture and Communications

or

Gaeilge

or

Economics

  Semester 1
LA4011 Introduction to Lawyering 1
LA4111 Contract Law 1
LA4211 Criminal Law 1
  Elective
  Elective

 

  Semester 2 Summer
LA4052 Introduction to Lawyering 2  
LA4122 Contract Law 2  
LA4222 Criminal Law 2  
  Elective  
  Elective  

 

  Semester 3
LA4430 Constitutional Law 1
LA4310 Torts 1
LA4610 Land Law 1
  Elective
  Elective

 

  Semester 4 Summer
LA4440 Constitutional Law 2  
LA4320 Torts 2  
LA4620 Land Law 2  
  Elective  
  Elective  

 

Semester 5
Cooperative Education

 

Semester 6 Summer
5 modules from contributing disciplines  
  Semester 7
LA4019 Advanced Lawyering 1
LA4033 Law of European Union 1
LA4810 Equity and Trusts 1
  Elective
  Elective

 

  Semester 8 Summer
LA4048 Advanced Lawyering 2  
LA4044 Law of the European Union  
LA4828 Equity and Trusts 2  
  Elective  
  Elective  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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 Politics

Group 3: Law or Digital Culture or Gaeilge or Economics 

Group 4: Law 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

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.  

Students may choose not to study a language.

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 also have the opportunity to undertake a semester abroad as part of an Erasmus programme in the second semester of third year.

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.

Law Plus is a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree rather than a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) as it is a four year degree encompassing an eight month cooperative education placement rather than a traditional three year law degree.  

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 **

* 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.

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

Entry requirements

CAO points history
506
Minimum grades

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.

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

Subject requirements

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

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

Additional considerations

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules.

Mature Students

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

Application information for mature student applicants (PDF)

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.

Non-EU Entry Requirements

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. 

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €16,300
Student pays Student Levy €100
€16,400

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy the citizenship and/or residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
A & L Goodbody Solicitors Prizes iPad (or similar tablet PC), €500 2
Arthur Cox Valued Participation Prize
Bloomsbury Labour Law Prize A credit with Bloomsbury publishing 1
Holmes Solicitors Prize €2,500 1
Judge Catherine McGuinness Prize €300 1

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

Employability skills from this degree

  • Researching—including verbal questioning
  • Evaluating, interpreting and explaining complex information clearly
  • Analysing
  • Reasoning and formulating sound arguments
  • Writing concisely
  • Confident and persuasive verbal communication
  • Attention to detail— ability to draft formal documents with precision
  • Critical judgement
  • Lateral thinking and problem-solving

Further study options

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

  • Commercial Broker
  • Corporate Governance Research Associate
  • Junior Consultant
  • Legal Assistant
  • Legal Executive
  • Management Associate
  • Private Equity Analyst
  • Research Specialist
  • Teacher (International School)
  • Trainee Accountant
  • Trainee Garda
  • Trainee Solicitor

Student Profiles

Alex Casey  

The Law Plus Programme at UL provides a highly engaging learning environment which has greatly boosted my career opportunities.

The opportunity to study not only law modules but also electives from the Department of Arts and Humanities in areas such as economics, politics or a foreign language means this course is tailored to meet the interests of each student.

Furthermore, the School of Law takes pride in personal achievement, offering a range of prizes and scholarships for ambitious students. Furthermore, the Co-Operative Work Placement Programme provided me with the opportunity to work at A&L Goodbody LLP, where I have since been offered a training contract.

Overall, I believe the Law Plus Programme provides a fantastic undergraduate degree which I would encourage to any student who may wish to pursue a career in law or simply anyone who wants to keep their career options open.


 

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