Irish law degrees are recognized internationally. The legal systems in Ireland, Canada and the United States are based on English Common Law and therefore, the basic education is very similar. UCC’s Law Degree Programs prepare you to practice law in Canada and the United States and allow you to apply for registration to practice law. Upon completion of the degree program Canadian graduates undertake the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) process. NCA assess the legal education and credentials of law graduates trained outside Canada. Information on the evaluation pocess is available on the NCA website. Graduates from the United States are assessed by the American Bar Association.
For more details on the licensing process in Canada and the United States please visit the Help & Guidance section of our website.
University College Cork School of Law is a globally recognised law school, ranked Top School of Law in Ireland and 75th in the world in QS World University Rankings by Subject (2021) and ranked in the top 2% of universities globally. The School of Law at UCC places a huge emphasis upon the development of transferable skills through dedicated modules, including legal writing and analysis, research skills, and a compulsory moot court module, all of which enhance the presentation and advocacy skills of all law students.
Founded in 1849, UCC School of Law provides a wide range of high-quality programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, cutting-edge research, and benefit to local, national and international communities by Shaping a Just Society. The LLB Postgraduate Degree and the BCL Undergraduate Degree are world-class programs that foster the development of transferable skills valued by employers, such as research, advocacy, communication, critical analysis, accuracy and attention to detail.
You must have completed your undergraduate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8/4.0 (approximately 65%) or above. Candidates will also be required to submit a personal statement, resume, two confidential letters of reference and of course a complete set of official transcripts.
You may apply directly from High School. This law pathway can be 3 years BCL(Hons) or 4 years if following the BCL (International) or BCL (Clinical).
Canadian applicants would need to meet the Band 2 requirements which are different depending on the province.
Ontario requirements:
Minimum average of 80% in five acceptable Grade 12 U, U/C or M courses including Grade 12 U English.
British Columbia requirements:
Minimum average of 80% in five acceptable Grade 12 courses (including provincial examinations where applicable).
More information about Canadian provincial requirements can be found here:
https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/comparison/undergrad/usa-canada/canada/
US applicants would need the following:
Minimum GPA: 3.4/4.0 High School Diploma PLUS SAT (Minimum 1380) or ACT (minimum 29)
The Postgraduate LLB offers an opportunity to pivot towards a career in law. UCC’s 2-year LLB places an emphasis on developing not just legal knowledge but also your skills base. You will be required to take a full time course load which will include a combination of compulsory and elective modules and a skills module.
While we recognise our primary responsibility is to provide legal knowledge, we also aim to ensure that you develop advocacy skills, experience teamwork and gain expertise in legal research, as well as gain a range of transferable skills.
You will take core modules which are the foundation topics required for professional bar exams:
In addition, you will also have the option to study subjects such as:
Visit the School of Law page for more information on our school.
See the College Calendar and Book of Modules for a more detailed description of course content and modules.
BCL(Hons)
The BCL(Hons) Law-Pathways program is a three-year degree offered by the College of Business and Law. The program allows for law students to take a general law degree which can be shaped to suit their own interests. Students may specialize in areas such as international law, business law, human rights law, etc. You will also develop a strong foundation in legal research and writing, advocacy, and legal reasoning.
You will commence this program as a BCL Pathway student, and, upon completion of your first year, you can then apply to transfer to your preferred path for the remainder of the year.
BCL International Program
The BCL (International) program is an exciting and dynamic four-year degree, offering the opportunity to study abroad at a partner university in China, India, the US, Canada or Europe for one or two semesters; each study abroad option offers a unique experience to you and the program director aims to match your interests with those of our partners to ensure you have the best possible learning experience during your semester abroad. This opportunity will broaden your horizons, enhance your CV and provide you with a unique insight into the laws of another jurisdiction.
BCL (Clinical) Program
Our BCL (Clinical) program is a four-year degree that incorporates a unique opportunity to work within the Irish legal system and facilitates students’ development of professional, organizational, and interpersonal workplace skills. This program includes placement for at least one semester in a professional environment, including with law firms, NGOs and regulatory bodies. This program combines the study of law with an understanding of how the law works in practice, develops workplace and interpersonal skills, and adds immense value to your CV.
Work placements take place in a wide variety of areas including commercial law, human rights law, medical law, employment law, and with diverse placement organizations including law firms, NGOs, regulatory bodies, in-house, etc.
You will take core modules:
Visit the School of Law page for more information on our school.
See the College Calendar and Book of Modules for a more detailed description of course content and modules.
Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
Graduate qualifications from an Irish law school are recognized internationally. Canadian students who wish to practice as lawyers upon their return to Canada are required to apply to the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) for assessment as the first step in the accreditation process.
The National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) evaluates the credentials of foreign lawyers or Canadians with a foreign law degree, who wish to be admitted as a lawyer in Canada. Guidelines on the evaluation of legal credentials for accreditation for foreign-trained lawyers are available on the National Committee on Accreditation website.
For more details, please visit our Practicing Law in Canada page, and see our FAQs.
“I’ve always been fascinated by Ireland, so I decided to look at studying there. One thing that is very appealing about studying law in UCC for someone from North America is that the schools don’t require your Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. I ended up applying to UCC because it was a 2-year program instead of a 4 year program. I’m so happy that I chose UCC. As I proceeded through the admissions process, it became much more real and exciting. I still remember the rush of thinking about living across the world in Ireland and going to law school. I found a small group of friends in the same program as myself during orientation. We leaned on one another throughout the two years, always helping each other in stressful exam times and sharing ideas. This was much needed. Despite law school typically being super competitive, we found a way to all thrive together. For anyone thinking of going into a post-grad program, I suggest you do the same, as everyone needs help along the way. In addition to the group of friends in the School of Law, I joined the UCC Hockey and UCC Lacrosse teams. UCC and Cork overall has a great social and sports scene. Some of the best friends I made during my time in Cork were through these clubs and my fondest memories of Ireland are being a part of those teams.
Mike Lorange
UCC Law Graduate – LLB 2020
Laya Little
UCC Law Graduate – LLB 2022
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