The UCD Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree enjoys a proud history and an established reputation at home and abroad. The BCL degree allows you to immerse yourself in the study of law, to engage with a range of interesting legal perspectives and to acquire a profound understanding of how law works in theory and in practice.

Law regulates all aspects of society: from marriage and parenting to corporate governance or international relations between countries. To study law is to become aware of one’s legal rights and responsibilities in a variety of contexts, as well as to acquire knowledge and the research, writing and advocacy skills that enable one to argue both sides of a complex situation and devise a pragmatic, client-focused solution.

The four-year Bachelor of Civil Law and Business allows students to combine the study of a full law degree with principal commercial disciplines such as Business & Commercial Law, Accountancy, Economics, Management and Digital Business & Analytics. Graduates will understand not only the legal process but also the fundamentals of business. This will prepare graduates to work as lawyers in a corporate environment.

The four-year Bachelor of Civil Law (Human Rights) is an innovative and unique programme – the first of its kind in Ireland. It offers students the opportunity to combine a full undergraduate law programme with the study of human rights.

The four-year Bachelor of Civil Law (Criminology and Criminal Justice)is a unique degree offering in Ireland for students with an interest in both law and the fields of criminology and criminal justice. 

Students have the opportunity to combine the study of a full undergraduate law degree with an additional specialisation that focuses on the causes of crime and the operation of the criminal justice system. Students will have access to world-class academics that specialise in the fields of criminal law, criminal justice, criminology, psychology and human rights.

A law degree such as this 3 year honours LLB degree is a versatile qualification providing an excellent foundation for a wide variety of careers. This accredited degree covers all of the essential core law modules together with new and emerging areas of legal study. In addition to the essential core law modules, this degree has a particular focus on clinical or practical modules such as Mooting, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Practice Skills, Street Law and a Work Placement, together with topical areas including employment law, human rights and media and communications law. 

Many LLB graduates pursue a career as a solicitor or a barrister, but these professions are not the only option. The analytical and problem-solving skills developed in a law degree are valuable in a range of businesses. Law graduates also find employment in the civil and public service, as well as the NGO sector, where their legal knowledge and critical thinking skills are particularly useful.

Certain subjects are considered essential to the study of law, such as Contract Law, Property Law, Criminal Law and European Union law.

The LLB is a traditional law degree offering a curriculum of core and elective law subjects. Students are encouraged and supported in acquiring skills in legal analysis, legal research and written and oral communication. The course seeks to impart a sound understanding of law and the intellectual foundation necessary to prepare for a career as a legal professional.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with a language combines a full Irish law degree with the study of the law, language and culture of one of three European countries: France, Germany or Spain. Students learn about legal rules and systems, why they exist, how they have developed and how they relate to social and economic goals. Whilst the focus is on Irish law, students will obtain a grounding in the law and legal system of one other European country. 

​Few traditional law degrees offer students the opportunity to learn law as well as how to run a legal business. Interpersonal skills are almost as important as qualification in predicting success in the modern business world. This course will develop these skills to a high level, in addition to practical business management and legal skills like advocacy and legal research.

Traditional core subjects are complemented by the opportunity to take advanced classes in a range of electives that reflect the challenges faced in the modern world, like legal technology, climate change, white collar crime and human rights law. Students will also have the opportunity to learn core business skills like entrepreneurship and management.

As a graduate of this law degree programmes you will be in a position to immediately enter professional training, either by sitting the Law Society FE1 examinations for entry to the solicitors’ profession or the King’s Inns Barrister-at-Law Degree entrance examination for entry to the barristers’ profession.

Choose from the following four BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law) options (you can change your mind during the first few weeks once you meet the entry requirements for your chosen stream).

• MH502 LWA: BCL (Law and Accounting)
• MH502 LWB: BCL (Law and Business)
• MH502 LWC: BCL (Law and Criminology)
• MH502 LWD: BCL (Law and Arts)

Our BCL(Hons) Law-Pathways programme allows for law students to take a general law degree which can be shaped to suit their own interests. If you take this degree you can specialise in areas such as international law, business law, human rights law, etc. You will also develop a strong foundation in legal research and writing, advocacy, and legal reasoning; these transferable skills are attractive to employers in a wide variety of professions and industries.

The LL.B. is three years in length. Students will study core subjects and pick additional subjects ("electives"), allowing them to tailor their degree to their interests and needs. This allows the student to focus on key areas in which they are interested, such as criminal law, human rights law, or corporate law.

This Programme is for school leavers as well as mature learners who wish to attain a specialised Law degree in the area of Criminal Justice. The programme develops within learners critical, analytical, research and communications skills in both an academic and clinical context and fosters learners’ ability to work effectively whether as a team member or independently.

As learners progress over three years, they build on their knowledge of core legal subjects to attain increasing specialization in their chosen field, including a number of elective module options.

This option is designed for students who would like to combine their study of law with a strong background in accounting. The BCL is a three-year degree in law combined with one other subject. While the BCL covers all the core modules of law, you cover less law than on the LLB, giving you more time to develop expertise in another subject.

The main advantage is that it allows you to combine the study of law with study of another discipline.

The course reflects a demanding, broad and practical programme of study which will provide you with a firm foundation in both law and accounting. The combination allows you to make your choice of profession when you have a better knowledge of your strengths and of the law and accounting disciplines. The programme is four years in duration. During the first four semesters, in addition to studying the core subjects of Law and Accounting, you will also study Economics, Taxation and Mathematics.

The BCL is a three-year degree in law combined with one other subject. While the BCL covers all the core modules of law, you cover less law than on the LLB, giving you more time to develop expertise in another subject. The main advantage is that it allows you to combine the study of law with study of another discipline.

Law is taken jointly with one Arts subject for the final two years of the programme. Students can choose from a wide range of Arts subjects including languages and other areas within the humanities and social sciences.

As a graduate of this law degree programmes you will be in a position to immediately enter professional training, either by sitting the Law Society FE1 examinations for entry to the solicitors’ profession or the King’s Inns Barrister-at-Law Degree entrance examination for entry to the barristers’ profession.

The BCL (Law and Business) is a joint honours degree combining the related disciplines of law and business. This exciting four-year programme: explores the relationship between law and business, in areas such as business organisation, finance, and market regulation, and applies key legal and business tools of analysis to examine issues affecting the performance of firms and industries in a global business environment.

Students acquire a thorough grounding in the fundamental areas of legal study: including foundational legal principles; legal systems; and the role of Irish, European, and international law. By studying Criminology, students examine the causes of crime and society's reaction to criminality. Unique interdisciplinary programme with perspectives from sociology, psychology and economics, as well as law.

This course provides students with an introduction to the Irish legal system and general law subjects, with a clear focus on criminology. Although the same QQI Award as Legal Studies, this course focuses on crime and criminal law, and will include seminars and events in this arena, such as criminal court visits and input from stakeholders related to crime and law such as the Garda Siochana. Students may also choose work placements for work experience in this particular vocational area. It is suited to students who wish to progress to a degree in law at third level specifically Criminal Law. This course is designed to help students develop the essential skills and techniques which form the basis for a career in business, public service or the legal industry.

The LLB in Law and Cyber Security is a joint degree between the School of Law and the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering.

Graduates will be equipped with attributes from both legal and computing disciplines. As well as studying the core subjects required to advance in the legal profession, it will also provide a solid basis and understanding of the importance of cyber security which underpins the critical infrastructure of the economic and social life of the nation. Graduates will be able to apply both mathematical and theoretical principles relevant to cyber security and work with and implement systems in the field of cyber security

The Law and French degree programme offers a unique opportunity to study core and specialised legal modules but also the language, culture and political systems of France. Students must undertake an Erasmus year in France, exposing them to the law of that legal system. 

BCL (Law and French) allows you to study law and French at the same time in a joint honours degree. You can then become a lawyer with specific linguistic skills. Most of our graduates combine these two sets of skills and become lawyers with a unique linguistic ability. They often go on to work abroad in international or EU firms and institutions.