Undergraduate Law FAQ'S

We offer 6 programmes.

• Law
• Law with Business
• Law with Political Science
• Law with History
• Law with French
• Law with German

Admission to our law programmes is competitive and determined by the CAO points system. As demand for places consistently and significantly exceeds the number available, offers are made to those applicants who have achieved the highest points.

The School of Law has no control or visibility over the application and offer process.

A few of our programmes have prerequisites: 

• Law and Business – O4/H6 Leaving Cert Maths / B/6 GCSE / SL5 IB 
• Law and French - H3 Leaving Cert French / C Advanced GCSE / 6 IB 
• Law and German - H3 Leaving Cert German / C Advanced GCSE / 6 IB 

Otherwise there are no prerequisites. It is probably good to pick subjects you're interested in and think you will do well in.  Subjects which involve reading and critical thinking would be useful but our students come to us with a variety of subject combinations and they all adapt to the study of law. 

In your first year, you can apply to transfer into another course within the first few weeks of your first semester (Michaelmas Term). However, a transfer is only possible if the following conditions are met: 

• There are places available in the course you wish to transfer into. 
• You meet the entry requirements for that course, such as having the necessary CAO points from your application year. 
• You submit your transfer application by the specified deadline, which will be communicated to you in advance. 

There are a small number of places available for students who complete a FETAC course, full distinctions are required.  The number exceeds demand and is very competitive. 

When completing your CAO application, it is important that you list courses in order of your preference, not based on the points you predict you will achieve.

We frequently hear from students who placed their preferred Trinity course lower on their list because they did not believe they would secure the required points, and subsequently missed out on a place. The CAO system is designed to offer you the highest-ranking course on your list for which you meet the entry requirements.

For further advice on this process, we recommend you speak with your school's Career Guidance counsellor.

Students accepted under HEAR/DARE will be eligible for reduced points.  A significant number of students on this scheme will also attain the general entry requirements, and not need the reduced points.  The points reduction really depend on the general entry points, and applicants must be within 20% of the cut-off points, eg if minimum CAO points are 500 you must have a minimum of 400 points.  It is competitive and you will be competing against other students with the same or higher points. 

Admission to all undergraduate programmes at Trinity College Dublin is processed through the Central Applications Office (CAO) or other designated access routes. We are unable to consider applications for transfer from students currently enrolled at other universities. 

The first thing to note is that you will get a good legal education whichever law school in Ireland you choose! 

The single honours degree offered by Trinity is a Bachelor of Laws, UCD offers a Bachelor of Civil Laws.  Both degrees are accepted by the Irish professional bodies.  Both universities teach the core modules set out by the Law Society of Ireland and the Honorable Society of the Kings Inns.  Both universities offer excellent programmes.

In Ireland the difference is in the name only. BCL stands for Bachelor of Civil Law, and originates from the postgraduate law qualification in Oxford (where the undergraduate qualification is a BA, the postgraduate is BCL). LL.B. is the traditional Latin moniker for Bachelor of Laws (Legum Baccalaureus). They therefore mean very similar things. Both can be offered as undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in Ireland.

A Close-Knit Community
We are a relatively small school, which fosters a strong sense of community. You will get to know your fellow students and your lecturers well. This is enhanced by our many staff-student events throughout the year, which include friendly rivalries in comedy debates, bake-offs, and more.

Personalised Academic & Pastoral Support

• Small-Group Teaching: We are committed to providing teaching in small groups. Your seminars will typically have only 15-18 students, allowing for meaningful interaction and discussion. These sessions are led by a mix of PhD researchers, practising barristers, and academic staff.
• Tutorial System: Our unique pastoral care system ensures you don't get lost or fall behind. Upon entry, you will be assigned a personal Tutor who acts as a point of contact for any issues you might encounter. This is a non-teaching role, and all our Tutors receive specific training to support you effectively.
• Student Mentoring: We run a student mentoring system where senior students are paired with incoming first years (Junior Freshmen) to help them settle into university life.

A Global Reputation for Excellence

• International Recognition: Trinity has a global reputation, and a law degree from our School is recognised internationally. It is very common for our graduates to pursue careers in London, New York, and further afield.
• World-Class Further Study: Our students regularly go on to pursue postgraduate studies at the world's leading universities, including Harvard, Oxford, and Cambridge.
• Strong Research Skills: We pride ourselves on producing students with exceptionally strong research skills, preparing them for a wide range of careers.

Unbeatable Location
Our beautiful, historic campus is located in the heart of Dublin city centre, placing you close to the Four Courts and providing easy access to all transport networks.

Our Students
We have fantastic students who are intelligent, enthusiastic, and welcoming, creating a vibrant and stimulating learning environment.

Single Honours students will get an LL.B. degree (Bachelor of Laws)

Joint Honours students will get:

• LL.B. (Law and Business, Political Science, History, French, German) if they major in Law
• B.A. if they minor in Law or continue with both

Generally Law modules have 3 hours of lectures per week in the semester/term.  The professional modules (those required if you want to go on and practice law) will also have compulsory seminars.  These seminars take place every other week and are smaller in class size.  You will be expected, on top of these lectures and seminars, to put in several hours per week, per module of independent study.

In the first 2 years all Law programmes will attend a number of lectures together.  You could have approximately 170 in these lectures.  Single Honor students will take more law modules.  Those lectures will only have 90 approximately attending.  All seminars for all programmes will only have 15-18 students enrolled.

Students on our joint degree programme study fewer law modules but have the opportunity to relate their legal knowledge and skills to the partner discipline.    In the first year you choose both subjects equally.  In the second year you can decide to specialise  in one or the other if you so wish, or can opt to take both subjects equally and add new subjects in the form of Trinity Electives or Open Modules.  These are modules offered by other Schools such as English, Religion, Philosophy, Psychology. 

Yes.  Every student can choose to take Trinity Electives or Open modules in their second and third year onwards.  Language modules are offered.

For more details on Open Modules or Trinity Electives, please see https://www.tcd.ie/tjh/

If you are on a Joint Honours programme eg Law and Business, Political Science, History, French or German, you can choose from your second year onwards to either

1. Major in other subject/Minor in Law - Drop/reduce the amount of the other subject you study and over the rest of the degree place more emphasis on this subject or
2. Single Honours in other subject - You can apply to take the Single Honours course in this subject eg Single Honours Business and drop Law completely. If you choose either of these pathways, you will be awarded a BA degree.
3. Continue studying both subjects. This will lead to a BA degree.

If you are on a Joint Honours programme eg Law and Business, Political Science, History, French or German, you can choose from your second year onwards to either

1. Major Law / Minor other subject - Drop/reduce the amount of the other subject you study and over the rest of the degree place more emphasis on Law or
2. You can apply to take the Single Honours Law programme.

Majoring in Law or taking the Single Honours programme will lead to a degree (LL.B.) which will enable you to apply for entry to the professional legal bodies in Ireland and possibly other jurisdictions. 

This will very much depend on your preferences and if you are interested in continuing your studies with 2 subjects. 

All our degree programmes  have been favourably received by Law firms and other non-legal organisations.  Corporate firms, NGOs etc are as likely to recruit students from Single Honours Law as they are from Joint Honours programmes.  However, if you would like to specialise in eg Corporate Law then a Joint Honours programme would expose you to more business modules than the single honours programme?

Law is also a good foundational degree for other career paths including those in business and the public sector. Law graduates have well-developed critical thinking skills which are readily transferable.

Provided you choose to major in Law (or move to Single Honours) you will be able to take all the modules that satisfy the Irish professional bodies.  You should be sure to check which modules the professional bodies require on a regular basis as the requirements can and do change.

1. Applicants over the age of 23 may be eligible to apply for mature student admission
2. You must apply to the CAO and
3. You must apply to the College directly.

The deadline for application is the same for both. Once you have applied and TCD has verified that you have applied correctly via the CAO we will receive your application in the School.  Your application will be assessed and you may be invited to attend an interview.  If successful, you will receive your offer via the CAO.

You should ensure you fill out the TCD form with as much detail as possible.  Educational background eg Leaving Cert, College courses etc should be listed. All work experience, hobbies etc are relevant.  Careful consideration should be given to your personal statement and the reason why you want this course.  The application form should be treated no differently to a job application form.  The more information you give us the better.

Our  LL.B. degrees prepare students not only for life as ‘lawyers’, but also enable them to enter many career fields such as business, journalism, accountancy, banking, insurance, politics, foreign affairs and diplomacy and public services. The skills learned through studying law are useful in all walks of life. A law degree teaches students to think logically and analytically. It also equips students with the ability to carry out research, to apply relevant information to problems, to use language precisely, carefully and objectively.

From graduation onwards our students have moved into the following careers

Legal Profession – Solicitors, Barristers, inhouse Counsel;

Public Affairs – Policy makers, public servants, NGOs;

Business/Finance – Banking, finance / investment and taxation consultants, accountants;

Journalism and Media

A barrister deals with all court-related work such as arguing cases in court, drafting court documents and writing legal arguments. A solicitor works with the barrister on court-related work but also deal with all the legal work that does not involve the courts. This includes things like drafting contracts, selling property (conveyancing) and buying and merging companies. 

The majority of our students will be in the same boat as you!  You should not see this as an obstacle.  There will be plenty of opportunities for you to engage with people from a variety of professions (not just legal), during your time with us.  You will receive information on internships, placements and mentoring from the School and Careers Advisory Service.  We are fortunate to have a very generous and enthusiastic database of graduates that are willing to help. 

In an EDI survey of our students in April 2024 indicated that 76% of our students have NO family or connections with Law.

We always encourage students to get involved with Societies and groups, particularly the our Law Society,  FLAC, Trinity College Law Review, TCD Law Student Colloquium, the Eagle and ELSA as are so proactive in liaising with organisations and creating many wonderful events that can help you along the way.

During your time, you will receive regular updates from the School advertising internships available to TCD Law students. Usually these are available from the second year onwards, with more offered in the final two years.  Some internships are located in the US or abroad.

In your final year you can apply to take a Clinical Legal Education module in place of a traditional module.  This module offers an introduction to legal practice, allowing students the opportunity to develop core professional skills essential for a lawyer as well as to gain valuable practical experience in a legal environment. You will undertake placements in a variety of organisations in the not-for-profit, private and public sectors. Under the supervision of experienced professionals, students will gain first-hand experience of legal practice, observing, assisting and participating in the organisations’ work. This gives students an opportunity to apply and develop their legal skills and knowledge in a practical way and to learn from this experience.

Yes:  Law and French/German students must spent their 3^rd year in a French/German university.  All other programmes can apply to spend a semester or year in a partner university abroad in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong.   Your study abroad will still count towards your degree.

Trinity Law School has links with many of the leading Law Schools in the world, such as the Sorbonne, Bologna, Fudan (Shanghai), Hong Kong University, Sydney University and Notre Dame.

Details of current partners are available here - Study Abroad

If you want to find out more about College-wide exchanges, please go to: https://www.tcd.ie/global/mobility/outbound/where-can-i-go/outside-europe/