Single Honours Law

A law degree will appeal to you if you are curious about how society functions and how legal frameworks shape and regulate relationships between individuals, institutions, and the state. Given the breadth of legal study, the programme attracts students with a wide variety of academic interests and career aspirations. 

Those with a passion for politics may be drawn to modules such as constitutional law or legal theory. Students interested in commerce and finance often engage deeply with company and commercial law. Others, motivated by issues of justice and equality, may focus on areas such as international human rights, environmental law, or public interest law. In reality, many students find that their interests span several of these areas. 

There is no single profile of the “ideal” law student. However, success in the programme requires intellectual curiosity, strong analytical skills, and a high level of personal motivation. The study of law involves substantial independent work—particularly critical reading, reflection, and analysis—making self-discipline and initiative essential qualities for academic success.  

Law at Trinity College Dublin is a four-year honours degree programme that combines rigorous academic training with the development of practical legal skills. In the first and second years, students are introduced to foundational areas of law, with particular emphasis on building core competencies through modules such as Foundations of Law, which supports analytical thinking, legal writing, and advocacy skills. 

In the third and fourth years, students undertake more advanced modules. These include modules required for progression to professional legal training—administrative law, company law, evidence —as well as a wide range of optional modules that allow students to shape their degree according to their interests. Areas such as employment law, environmental law, and medical law and ethics provide opportunities to explore specialised fields. 

Students may also apply to spend their third year studying abroad at one of Trinity’s many partner universities across Europe and beyond, gaining international perspectives on legal systems and practice. In addition, internship and placement opportunities are available to eligible students, offering valuable insights into the legal profession and enhancing career readiness. 

In the final year, students complete a substantial independent research dissertation, known as the “capstone” enabling them to explore a legal topic of their choice in depth, under the supervision of a faculty member. This capstone project develops high-level research, writing, and critical thinking skills—essential attributes for both professional practice and further academic study. 

Students will also have an opportunity to study some modules from disciplines outside of law. 

Year 1: Junior Fresh Year 

• Constitutional law 

• Contract 

• Criminal law 

• Law of Torts 

• Foundations of law 1 and 2 

• Legislation and regulation 

• Jurisprudence 

Year 2: Senior Fresh Year 

• Private law remedies 

• Equity 

• Land law 

• Mooting 

• EU Law 

• 20 ECTS of modules from outside* the School of Law 

*in 2026/27 students may choose to take 15 ects of optional bespoke  law modules in place of non-law modules 

Year 3: Junior Sophister Year 

• Administrative Law (compulsory) 

• 40 ECTS of optional modules within the School of Law (which includes Evidence and Company Law) 

• 10 ECTS of optional modules either from bespoke school of Law modules or from outside the School of Law. 

Students may also apply to spend a semester of full Junior Sophister year abroad, on an Erasmus or international exchange programme at any university with which the Law School or University (where applicable) has links. 

Year 4: Senior Sophister Year 

• 20 ECTS: ‘Capstone’ research project  known as the capstone project 

• 40 ECTS of optional modules from within the School of Law. 

Where a student has spent one or two terms abroad in their third year, then they will have the opportunity to choose to follow the relevant part of the third year syllabus upon their return to Trinity College. This ensures that such students are able to complete all the modules required in order to fulfill the pre-requisites for entry to the professional stage of training to become either a solicitor or barrister in Ireland. 

Optional Junior and Senior Sophister modules: 

For further information about the modules offered by the School of Law, please refer to our modules handbook or the Modules page here.

You may choose to apply to study abroad in your third year of studies.  Students may apply to spend a semester or full academic year on an exchange programme with one of the School or University’s partners.  Details can be found on our Study Abroad page.

Having successfully completed this programme, students should be able to: 

• Identify, evaluate and synthesise jurisprudential theories and concepts; 
• Use appropriate legal theories, doctrines and concepts to identify, formulate, analyse and solve legal problems within national and international contexts; 
• Understand the relationship between law and society, including the role of law in promoting and responding to social change; 
• Conduct effective and targeted research in case law, legislation and academic legal commentary at both the national and international levels; 
• Discuss and debate different perspectives on legal problems, theories and doctrines; 
• Communicate effectively in oral and written modes in professional and academic settings and work effectively in multi-disciplinary settings; 
• Demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and independence in order to engage productively with a changing social, cultural and technological environment; 
• Have the capacity to engage in life-long learning, including vocational training for the legal profession.