Overview
The Bachelor of Laws (Hons) is recognised by the Honorable Society of King's Inns and the Law Society of Ireland. Studying law at undergraduate level has an appeal to any student considering a career in the legal profession. A Bachelor of Laws degree provides a firm foundation for students wishing to qualify as a solicitor or barrister.
The study of law improves and develops the student’s power of reasoning, clarity of thought and the ability to analyse and express complicated ideas. These skills also lend themselves to a wide variety of career options quite apart from private legal practice on completion of the programme.
Aims and Objectives
The objectives of the Bachelor of Laws (Hons) programme are:
• To provide learners with sound educational underpinning which will enable them to acquire a solid grounding in legal principles, the fundamental features of the Irish legal system and general transferable skills
• To equip learners with a fundamental understanding of the core Irish legal subjects to facilitate progression to the professional stage of training in Ireland with the Law Society of Ireland or the King's Inns
• To enable learners to develop a range of transferable skills including the powers of inquiry, critical analysis and logical thinking, initiative, independent learning and commitment to scholarship
• To enable learners to develop a range of graduate skills in preparation for employment in a wide variety of fields and a fundamental understanding of society and of the role of law within society
Professional Accreditation
The Bachelor of Laws (Hons) enables graduates who wish to qualify as solicitors, to sit the Law Society of Ireland FE1 examinations, which are a prerequisite to training as a solicitor. The programme also enables graduates to sit the Honorable Society of King's Inn's entrance examinations the passing of which are a pre requisite for taking the Barrister-at-Law degree.
Delivery
All classes will be delivered online.
Entry Requirements
The minimum entry requirements for this programme are:
• Leaving Certificate – Applicants must obtain a minimum of 2H5s and 4 O6s/H7s, to include English or another language, or
• FETAC – A full Level 5 FETAC Award (i.e. 8 modules) with at least 3 distinctions, or
• A-Levels / GCSE – Applicants must obtain a minimum of 4 GCSE passes at grade C to include Mathematics and English or another language, plus 2 A-Level passes at grade C or higher, or
• BTEC – Applicants must obtain a minimum of a BTEC National Diploma in a cognate area.
• For applicants whose first language is not English and who have not previously undertaken a degree taught through English, evidence must be provided of proficiency in English language equivalent to B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). This must be evidenced through a recognised English Language test such as IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, PTE or DBS English Assessment. Test certificates should be dated within the last two years to be considered valid.
Mature
All EU nationals aged 23 years before 1st of January in the year of application are classified as ‘mature applicants’. Mature learners can apply directly to the college and will be assessed on basis of age, work experience and educational attainment as outlined in the DBS Quality Assurance Handbook (QAH).
Student Testimonial
“I chose DBS because they were able to offer a part time law degree in the evening. The lecturers were very approachable - full of knowledge and the online research tools that were made available were excellent.
Since completing my course, I feel more positive about continuing forward in the legal world and having a good basis to complete FE1s.”
Vicky Mc Mahon
Bachelor of Law (Hons) LL.B
