Barbara Joyce Bolger is currently working as a solicitor in Tipperary.
Barbara Joyce Bolger, who is a graduate of Criminal Justice Studies at SETU, says the programme gave her an excellent foundation for her legal career.
"Modules covering criminal law, the Irish legal system, evidence, criminology and legal research helped me develop the analytical thinking, legal reasoning and communication skills that have been invaluable in practice. The programme also gave me a broader understanding of how the justice system operates, which has been a real asset throughout my career. The knowledge and confidence I gained at SETU also encouraged me to pursue postgraduate studies and ultimately qualify as a solicitor."
Variety of subjects
Barbara explains that she wanted to study this programme at SETU because the wide variety of subjects it offered gave her plenty of scope in terms of job opportunities.
"At the time of choosing a course, I didn't have a clear career path in mind, and I was looking for a degree that would allow me to explore different areas while developing transferable skills. The programme provided me with an excellent insight into a range of disciplines, including law, psychology, sociology and criminology. As I progressed through the course, I found myself increasingly drawn to the law modules," she said.
At the time of choosing a course, I didn't have a clear career path in mind, and I was looking for a degree that would allow me to explore different areas while developing transferable skills. The programme provided me with an excellent insight into a range of disciplines, including law, psychology, sociology and criminology. As I progressed through the course, I found myself increasingly drawn to the law modules.
Barbara Joyce Bolger, graduate of Criminal Justice Studies at SETU
Barbara's time at SETU inspired her to pursue a legal career, leading her to complete an LL.M in Criminal Justice Studies at University College Cork and, ultimately, qualify as a solicitor. She believes that Criminal Justice Studies opens doors in many areas.
"The highlights of my university experience were the high quality teaching I received while studying on the BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies, the career opportunities and the friendships I made. The Criminal Justice programme provides graduates with an excellent foundation for a wide range of careers, including in the legal profession, An Garda Síochána, the Prison Service, the Courts Service, the Probation services, regulatory bodies and postgraduate study."
Campus life
Barbara says she would highly recommend SETU for its programmes, lecturers, and campus life.
"The programme combines strong academic learning with practical skills, while the encouragement and support of the lecturers help students to develop confidence in their abilities. Looking back, my time at SETU played a significant role in shaping my career, and I would wholeheartedly recommend the programme."
The lecturers were always approachable, knowledgeable and genuinely invested in helping students succeed. SETU also has a very welcoming campus community, with excellent supports available. I found that the reduced class sizes gave lecturers more opportunities to work closely with students and allowed them to provide more personalised support," she added.
