Course Duration
Full-Time 3 years
Part-Time 3 years

About the Course
A law degree is about analysis, attention to detail, argument and communication, all grounded on fundamental principles and established practices. Moreover, as law is the ultimate regulator of relationships in society, it also has a profound economic and social significance. The commercial context of law rests largely in the broader business arena, where specialist areas range from contract to property, commercial to EU law, amongst others.

The BA (Hons) in Business and Law degree provides you with a balanced educational programme in both business and law. Individual modules have been refined to provide an ideal programme to acquire and apply a specialist mix of knowledge to the evolving business and legal environment in Ireland.

Year 1 of the course emphasises those modules relating to business management and its key processes, with later years shifting the emphasis to legal subjects. All modules combine written coursework and an end of semester examination. The course is provided on a full-time and part-time basis and runs from September to May. The full-time course consists of approximately 18 hours of lectures per week with extra time allocated to tutorials and assignment work. The part-time course consists of approximately 10 hours of lectures per week, usually delivered over three evenings per week.

So what are the career options?
Well, on successful graduation, a career in business could be pursued in two ways. Firstly, perhaps a role as in-house legal consultant might well appeal to you. Organisations within increasingly regulated industries or complex environments such as financial or public services have come to rely on this expertise to help guide the legal implementation of their business strategy. Conversely, you might choose to apply your broad-based business and administrative skills to the management of your own legal practice.

Graduates who want to pursue legal careers as a solicitor are eligible to sit the entrance examinations to the Law Society of Ireland. Graduates of the BA (Hons) in Business and Law are eligible to sit the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ Entrance Examinations. Having successfully completed these examinations, you may then complete the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ Barrister at Law degree in just one year. Alternatively, further studies at postgraduate level remain another option across a wide range of disciplines.

Commercial employment uptake amongst previous graduates of this programme has included highprofile and diverse organizations. Examples are COMREG, Ernst & Young, KPMG, Permanent TSB and the Revenue Commissioners, amongst many others.

Progression
The degree enables graduates to sit the Law Society of Ireland’s entrance examinations. Graduates may also choose to advance their studies and research skills at postgraduate level. Graduates are also automatically eligible to sit the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ entrance examinations. Once you have successfully completed the five entrance examinations you may then complete the Honorable Society of King’s Inns’ Barrister at Law degree, in just one year. Graduates may also pursue further studies at postgraduate or masters level in a wide range of disciplines.

Careers
On completion of the course you can pursue a career in business by working closely with the departments of the organisation where you work, providing expert legal advice on marketing, personnel, production, etc. Marketing management opportunities may also arise in the financial services sector, particularly in the area of corporate legal advice. Alternatively, you can apply your general business and administrative skills to the management of a legal practice.

BA (Hons) Business and Law Course Content

Year 1

• Business Economics
   
• Law of Contract
   
• Introduction to the Legal System
   
• Financial Accounting
   
• Information Systems
   
• Quantitative Methods
   
• Constitutional Law (I and II)
   

Year 2

• Marketing Management
   
• Employee Relations
   
• Law of Torts (I and II)
   
• Land Law (I and II)
   
• European Union Law
   
• Management Accounting
   

Year 3

• Human Resource Management
   
• Strategic Management
   
• International Business
   
• Equity and Trusts Law (I and II)
   
• Company Law
   
• Commercial Law or Jurisprudence*
   
• Taxation or Dissertation*

*These modules will be offered as electives. Elective Modules are offered subject to demand