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Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
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University Life
University Life
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About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
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Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
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Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
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Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
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Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
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Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Course Overview
Law impacts on all aspects of life today, and the LLB provides you with an excellent basis for a career as a practising lawyer, as well as in other fields such as administration, business, the media and social work. The LLB is also excellent preparation for work in a legal advisory capacity in the private or public sector.
New two-year LLB
Take the fast track to a career in law with the NEW two-year LLB. View the course outline section for full details.
Course highlights:
- Provides a route to qualifying as a lawyer for graduates from any discipline.
- Students in the final year of the three year and four year LLB have the opportunity to apply for a clinical placement. A limited number of clinical placements are available with law firms, barristers, and a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations working to promote the public interest.
- Skills development is an important element of this programme with a focus on critical thinking, analytical ability and professional writing skills.
- Students who take the three year or four year LLB can tailor the programme by choosing modules that interest them or will further their career goals.
- The accredited programme offers all the subjects currently required for the entrance examinations to the legal professions (solicitors and barristers) in Ireland.
- Moot court provides an opportunity for students to develop skills such as advocacy, research and legal analysis skills.
- Expert lecturers deliver this programme. Students also attend guest seminars from prominent practitioners, academics and judges.
- Diverse modules range from European Union Competition Law, Intellectual Property Law, Consumer Law to Global Issues in Contemporary Labour Law.
- Career support is provided through professional workshops concentrating on students’ CV and interview skills. Careers in Law Week also provides an opportunity to meet partners from leading law firms.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
End-of-term exams and continuous assessment.
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
The prerequisite for admission to the LLB Programme is an approved Level 8 degree in any discipline at Second Class Honours level or above (a 2.2 degree). In certain circumstances, an approved professional qualification or experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree. Those holding a relevant practical law degree or who have studied law modules at third level may be granted appropriate exemptions.
Information for University of Galway Students Applying for the LLB
BA (Joint Honours) in Law GY101 and BA CONNECT
BA (Joint Honours in Law) GY101 and BA CONNECT graduates who have passed their final year exams and who have completed 70 credits of law modules can progress to final year of the three-year LLB. Graduates who meet these requirements will be made an offer for the LLB by the School of Law in early summer, so do not need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
BA Connect graduates with 35 credits of law modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree may progress into 2nd year of the three-year LLB but will need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
BA in Human Rights
BA in Human Rights graduates who have completed 35 credits worth of either law and/or human rights modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree may progress into 2nd year of the three-year LLB but will need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law)
BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) graduates with a major in law (70 credits of law modules) and who have passed their final year exams will be admitted directly to the final year of the three-year LLB programme. Graduates who meet these requirements will be made an offer for the LLB by the School of Law in early summer so do not need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) graduates with a minor in law (at least 35 credits of law modules) and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the three year LLB but will need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
BA (Public and Social Policy)
BA (Public and Social Policy) graduates who have completed at least 35 credits of law modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the three-year LLB but will need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
B Comm
B Comm graduates with 35 credits of Law modules (though not necessarily in the Law stream) and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the three-year LLB but will need to apply through the online postgraduate application system.
Additional Requirements
Duration
2 years full-time, 3 years full-time, 4 years part-time (daytime classes only for all programme versions)
Next start date
September 2023
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
20
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
Closing Date
Please view the offer rounds website.
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
Award
CAO
Course code
LLBH-LLB3, 2 years; LLBH-LLB4, 3 years; LLBH-LLB2, 4 years
Course Outline
If you wish to become a solicitor, the LLB covers all the modules examined in the solicitor FE-1 entrance exams at the Law Society of Ireland. If you wish to become a barrister the three and four year LLB is approved by The Honorable Society of King's Inns. In addition, all students are required to take a core module designed to equip them with critical legal research, writing and presentation skills.
The programme is offered during daytime hours and may be taken over:
- Two years, full-time (120 credits)
- Three years, full-time (180 credits), wide range of optional modules
- Four years, part-time (180 credits), wide range of optional modules
The three year and four year versions of the programme give students the opportunity to tailor their studies to their own requirements, by choosing from a wide range of optional modules.
Module details for the two-year programme
Module details for the three-year programme
Module details for the four-year programme
Detailed descriptions of modules can be found below.
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Required LW3120: Understanding the Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1Required LW301: Criminal Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW262: Tort - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW118: Contract - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW117: Constitutional Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW3121: Critical Thinking for Lawyers - 10 Credits - Semester 2
Required LW304: Criminal Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Optional LW212: Labour Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3Optional LW339: Independent Research - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW225: Land Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW301: Criminal Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW229: Company Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW337: Administrative Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW263: Equity I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW383: Information Technology Law - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW333: Comparative Competition Law - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW357: Environmental Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW356: Industrial And Intellectual Property Law - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW117: Constitutional Law - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW118: Contract - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW262: Tort - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW323: Public International Law - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW3130: European Human Rights Law - Systems & Themes I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW3127: International Protection of Human Rights I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW513: Evidence I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW427: European Union Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW3150: Family and Child Law - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW3104: Applied Legal Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW3151: Equality and Law - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW238: Family Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW370: Comparative Disability Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW216: Labour Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW226: Land Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW428: European Union Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW304: Criminal Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW231: Company Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW265: Equity II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW3119: Jurisprudence - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW358: Environmental Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW365: Criminology - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW3131: European Human Rights Law - Systems & Themes II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW3128: International Protection of Human Rights II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW514: Evidence II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW232: Housing Law & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW371: Alternative Dispute Resolution - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW4104: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW364: International Trade Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW3152: Law and Analytics - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW3153: The Protection of Prisoner Rights under International Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW374: Banking Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW239: Family Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW422: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Optional LW339: Independent Research - 5 Credits - Semester 5Optional LW225: Land Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW212: Labour Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW301: Criminal Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW229: Company Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW337: Administrative Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW263: Equity I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW383: Information Technology Law - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW333: Comparative Competition Law - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW357: Environmental Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW356: Industrial And Intellectual Property Law - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW117: Constitutional Law - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW118: Contract - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW262: Tort - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW323: Public International Law - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3127: International Protection of Human Rights I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3130: European Human Rights Law - Systems & Themes I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW513: Evidence I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW427: European Union Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3104: Applied Legal Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3150: Family and Child Law - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3122: Law and Innovation - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW3151: Equality and Law - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required LW3129: Guided Research Essay - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW127: Family Law - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW238: Family Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW226: Land Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW216: Labour Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW428: European Union Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW304: Criminal Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW231: Company Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW265: Equity II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW370: Comparative Disability Law - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW3119: Jurisprudence - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW358: Environmental Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW365: Criminology - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW3128: International Protection of Human Rights II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW3131: European Human Rights Law - Systems & Themes II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW232: Housing Law & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW371: Alternative Dispute Resolution - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW514: Evidence II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW4104: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW3152: Law and Analytics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW3153: The Protection of Prisoner Rights under International Law - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW364: International Trade Law - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional AJ2101: Introduction to Wrongful Convictions - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW420: Clinical Placement - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW437: Moot Court - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW239: Family Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW374: Banking Law - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW422: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Many of our graduates today run successful practices as solicitors or barristers. Other graduates have found employment and advanced their careers in a variety of areas, such as administration, financial services, business, the media, policy development and social work. We have successful alumni in all walks of life all over the world.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Transferable Skills Employers Value
On the successful completion of this programme students will have:
- Developed skills needed for sustained critical reflection.
- Enhanced skills in the area of problem solving through engagement with difficult legal questions.
- Enhanced skills in research, communication, and innovative thinking.
- Critiqued key concepts and debates in law and policy, nationally and internationally.
- Critically reasoned through identifying the general principles that connect legal problems and thereby evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.
- Employed legal concepts and ideas in analysing fundamental issues in the world today.
- Communicated difficult ideas in a clear and persuasive manner, while listening to others and understanding different points of view.
- Built complex arguments, which are persuasive through rigorous research to constructing conclusions in a sound and cogent manner.
- Developed an understanding of the relevance of law and policy in diverse areas of public life.
- Looked at problems from diverse points of view, including the ability to argue for or against a particular interpretation of legal rules.
- Identified a problem and formulated questions relevant to clarifying an issue or a set of issues.
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
LLBH-LLB2 (4 Year): €5,405 p.a. (EU).
Find out More
Dr Rónán Kennedy (Programme Director)
T: +353 91 495 626
E: ronan.m.kennedy@universityofgalway.ie
Queries about this and other postgraduate programmes in the School of Law can also be directed to lawpostgrad@universityofgalway.ie
What Our Students Say

Conor Stitt | Public Policy Manager with Facebook
I studied Legal Studies and I. T. as part of my BA degree, graduating in 2012 and the LLB programme, graduating in 2014. My career since my studies started with students' unions where I was a Vice President/Education officer with NUI Galway Students' Union and Vice President with USI. I then went on to work in the Oireachtas as a policy advisor with TDs and Senators and recently, I've joined Facebook working with the EU Affairs team on online safety and content regulation. Studying law in NUI Galway taught me how law, when effective, can shape our society to deliver justice and fairness. The appreciation of meaningful law, instilled by my lecturers, provided me a depth of respect that I applied to laws I could influence within the Oireachtas. I distinctly remember studying IT Law as part of my LLB degree learning of the challenges of regulating the Internet across jurisdictions and many of those challenges remain today. The interest I gained in learning about this is what motivated me to move my career to tech years later.

Natalie Dillon | LLB graduate
Following my Arts degree I was unsure of what career path to choose. As I have always had an interest in Law and how it works I chose the LLB. The programme is well structured and the quality of teaching is outstanding. The genuine interest lecturers have in the subjects they teach translates into very engaging and informative lecturers which encourage students to think critically about issues, an invaluable tool in any area of life. Completing the NUI Galway LLB programme was fundamental to my choice of pursuing a career in law.