Knowledge of the law and the legal system is important for people in many walks of life. Many professionals need to understand what the legal system is, how it works and how it assists people in asserting their rights. Legal Studies provides the professional and scholarly skills necessary for a general understanding of the law as well as for law-related careers, public service or further graduate level study.
Course Structure
There are two broad themes running through the course, law and business skills.
The legal studies course equips students with a broad knowledge of the Irish legal system and of the fundamental legal principles and subjects. The course also equips students with practical skills for working in a legal environment.
In addition to modules on the Irish Legal System, legal practice and procedure, legal office skills and legal research, students will take modules including the core law subjects of constitutional law; criminal law; the law of torts; contract law and property law. The course also provides some non-law subjects that are designed to improve students' IT, communications and office management skills. These business modules include: Information Technology, Management, Accounting, and Human Resources Management.
Is this course for you?
If you have an interest in the Irish legal system and fundamental legal principles, while also interested in developing your IT, business, communications and office management skills, then Legal Studies might be the course for you.
Special Features:
This course provides the core stream of law modules combined with transferable business skills, providing graduates with a wide choice of options for a diverse range of careers or further study.
Modules in legal research and writing provide students with the skills required by this discipline for independent learning and research.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
An Introduction to Management Theory (M)
Business Financial Accounting 2 (M)
Business Financial Accounting 1 (M)
Business Law 2 (M)
Business Law (M)
IT for Business (M)
Legal Research and Communications (M)
Legal Office Fundamentals (M)
The Irish Legal System 1 (M)
Management in Action (M)
The Irish Legal System 2 (M)
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Criminal Law 1 (M)
Criminal Law 2 (M)
Principles of Property Law (M)
Legal Practice and Procedure (M)
Tort Law 1 (M)
Tort Law 2 (M)
Constitutional Law 1 (E)
Constitutional Law 2 (E)
Human Resource Management 1 (E)
Human Resource Management 2 (E)
Intermediate Financial Accounting 1 (E)
Intermediate Financial Accounting 2 (E)
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
What are the minimum entry requirements?
5O6/H7
English or Irish O6/H7
Mathematics O6/H7
What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates who obtain an overall pass can apply to progress to Year 2 of the Honours LLB.
What will I be able to do when I finish the course?
Graduates of the Higher Certificate course have many diverse career options available to them, including legal roles such as legal executive, law clerk or legal secretary. There are also a range of diverse careers available in many sectors such as the Gardai; Defence Forces; government agencies; banking; property management; insurance; taxation; accounting; retail management and many others.
