Bachelor of Arts in Law and Accounting Careers
Key information
Employability skills from this degree
- Researching, including verbal questioning
- Evaluating, interpreting and explaining complex information clearly
- Analysing, reasoning and critical judgement
- Formulating sound arguments
- Writing concisely
- Lateral thinking and problem-solving
- Communicating confidently and persuasively
- Knowledge and awareness of business organisations
- Attention to detail: ability to draft formal documents with precision
- Numerical and quantitative skills
- Ability to argue your case and to negotiate
- Entrepreneurship and knowledge of global business issues
Further study options
- LLM in International Commercial Law
- MBS in Accounting and Finance
- MSc in Financial Services
- Preparation course for FE1 exams for Blackhall Place
- Law Society of Ireland Professional Practice Course
- The Honourable Society of King's Inns Barrister-at-Law degree
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:
- Assurance Associate
- Audit Associate
- Auditor
- Banker
- Trainee Barrister
- Chartered Accountant
- Financial Adviser
- Financial Analyst
- Operations Executive
- Trainee Solicitor
- Tax Assistant/Associate
- Trial Co-Ordinator
Student profiles
Aisling Meehan
Solicitor and tax advisor, Aisling Meehan, is a graduate of the BA in Law and Accounting at UL. She now runs her own agricultural legal and tax practice in Co Clare, as well as a family farm.
Aisling plays an active role in shaping agricultural legal and tax policy in Ireland and is a well-known advocate for women in agriculture. She also writes a regular legal advice column in the Irish Farmers Journal.
Following her graduation from UL, Aisling completed a dual traineeship to qualify as a solicitor and a chartered tax adviser. She credits her co-op experience with helping her to get to where she is today in her career.
She says: “My co-op placement helped me decide which direction to take after graduation. I honestly do not think I would have gotten the opportunity to do my solicitor apprenticeship in William Fry without having done my co-op placement there through UL. It gave me the confidence to know that I could succeed in one of the top commercial law firms in the country.”
Jennifer Moran
The Law and Accounting course at UL interested me initially because it offered a 2 in 1 degree which I thought was unique and would give me the edge with employers, rather than a regular business degree. The course does not restrict you to a certain area of law or business - it opens the door to a variety of opportunities and that’s what makes it so different.
Going to EY (Ernst & Young) in Dublin for my Co-op was a brilliant experience as I got exposure to the professional working world and the corporate social life of Dublin. I got the opportunity to intern in two different departments: Wealth and Asset Management and Aircraft Leasing. EY prepared me hugely for my future career in accounting as it tested my ability to adapt to a new environment within a short period which proved to be successful, as I was offered a graduate contract after my 8 months there.
Choosing UL gave me the opportunity to meet new people from around the country by living away from home but still being close to Galway. I have spent four of the best years of my life in UL as an undergraduate and I cannot recommend it enough.
Anita Parker
When my Guidance Counsellor advised me of UL’s strong graduate employment record, I knew this was the course for me. With a good mix of modules between Business and Law subjects, I know I will graduate with the required subjects to take professional exams in either accounting or law.
The course also provides great exemptions - these are of great benefit to those going into the working world as it is one less set of exams to study for, whilst balancing work at the same time. Students wishing to pursue the ACA accounting exams are fully exempt from the CAP1 exams and only have to sit the CAP2 and FAE exams. Not all accounting courses provide full CAP1 exemptions like this UL course does.
The Co-op program here at UL gives students an opportunity to get hands-on experience in the working world. This is a real advantage when applying for graduate jobs, as many courses outside UL do not have this element. As a final year student, I have found that employers from all areas, accounting, law, management consultancy etc. are lining up to employ us. The majority of my colleagues on this course will graduate knowing that they have a job when our carefree UL days are no more.
I did my co-op placement with KavanaghFennell, an insolvency company in Dublin. I decided to do my coop with this firm as I was unfamiliar with the whole area of insolvency and it was such a topical issue at the time. During my placement I worked mainly on receiverships, both corporate and personal. Every day was different; I encountered new issues in every case and I enjoyed this challenge and the opportunity to learn. I received invaluable hands-on experience of dealing with clients, creditors, banks, the Revenue Commissioners and many other agencies.
Since Co-op, I have been accepted into the graduate training program with the accounting firm KPMG. My co-op was of real advantage - being able to discuss my work experience during the interview was of great benefit and no doubt it contributed to me being offered the place. Thanks UL!
