Who Is This Course For? 

The LLB provides an excellent foundation for a career in legal practice as a solicitor, barrister, as well as in related fields such as business, media, social work and administration. It also prepares graduates for roles involving legal advisory work in both the private and public sectors. 

Students can choose between several pathways. The 2 year LLB offers a fast-track route into law, delivering the core skills and knowledge required for the entrance examinations to the legal professional bodies for solicitors and barristers in Ireland.  

Alternatively, the 3 year (full-time) or  4year (part-time) options provide a more immersive legal education, extending beyond the entrance exam requirements. These pathways offer flexibility through a wide range of optional modules, enabling students to shape their degree around their interests and career ambitions. 

Applicants who have previously completed a degree with a major or minor in law may be considered for exemptions under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). 

Programme Structure 

Students can choose between several pathways designed to support students with their career goals. Students can complete the LLB over 2 years (full-time), 3 years (full-time) or 4 years (part-time).  

The LLB includes all subjects currently required for the entrance examinations to the legal professions (solicitors and barristers) in Ireland. 

LLB Programme Pathway Options
Course Code: LLBH-LLB3		Course Code: LLBH-LLB4	Course Code: LLBH-LLB2
Mode: Full Time		Mode: Full Time	Mode: Part Time
Duration: 2 years		Duration: 3 years	Duration: 4 years
Prepares students for careers in the legal professions, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required for entrance exams to the legal professional bodies for solicitors and barristers in Ireland.		In addition to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed for entrance exams to the legal professional bodies for solicitors and barristers in Ireland, the 3 or 4 year LLB offers flexible module choices and a wide range of optional modules, allowing students to shape their own pathway.
Course Structure: All modules on this programme structure are fixed. Students must complete 120 credits.		Course Structure: There are a number of core modules flagged below. All other modules are optional.  Students must complete 180 credits.
Modules for The Legal Professions:​  Constitutional Law ​ Contract Law ​ Tort Law​ Criminal Law ​ European Union Law ​ Company Law ​ Equity Law​ Land Law​ Administrative Law ​ Evidence​ Jurisprudence  Legal Skills Modules: ​  ​Introduction to Law​ Advanced Legal Skills​ Moot Court​ Guided Research Essay​		Modules for The Legal Professions:​  Constitutional Law ​(Core module) Contract Law (Core module) Tort Law​ (Core module) Criminal Law ​(Core module) European Union Law ​ Company Law ​ Equity Law​ Land Law​ Administrative Law ​ Evidence​ Jurisprudence​  Legal Skills Modules:   Understanding the Law​ (Core module) Critical Thinking for Lawyers ​(Core module) Guided Research Essay (core module) Moot Court​ Clinical Legal Placement   Optional Law Modules:​  The School reserves the right to amend or withdraw modules subject to demand and other operational considerations.   Alternative Dispute Resolution​ Animal Law​ Applied Legal Theory​ Comparative Competition Law​ Comparative Disability Law​ Criminology​ Environmental Law​ Equality and Law​ European Human Rights Law​ Family and Child Law ​ Housing Law and Policy​ Industrial & Intellectual Property Law​ Information Technology Law​ International Protection of Human Rights ​ International Trade Law​ Labour Law ​ Law and Analytics​ Lawyering, Technology and Innovation​ Public International Law​ Revenue Law​

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

2-year LLB Programme Structure  

• Streamlined Curriculum: A focused two-year pathway built around the essential modules needed for progression to the legal professions. 
• Accredited for Professional Practice: Recognised by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, fully preparing you to sit the entrance exams for solicitors and barristers in Ireland.
• Practical Legal Training: Gain real-world experience through the moot court module and case studies that develop advocacy and problem-solving skills.
• Career Foused Learning: Build versatile skills valued in law, public service, business, and other professional sectors, enhancing your career prospects.
• Leading Legal Academics: Learn from research-active academics with specialist expertise across multiple areas of law, who bring real-world insights to teaching.
• Career-Ready Skills: Develop advocacy, analytical thinking, legal research, and professional skills that prepare you to succeed immediately in legal careers. 

3-year LLB Programme Structure 

• Flexible Module Choices: Choose from a broad range of optional courses, allowing you to personalise your LLB pathway to suit your career goals and interests.
• Clinical Legal Placement: Gain real-world experience through supervised legal work in partner organisations, putting your learning into practice. (Limited spaces).
• Accredited for Professional Practice: Recognised by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, fully preparing you to sit the entrance exams for solicitors and barristers in Ireland.
• Employability Focused: Gain adaptable skills that are in demand across law, public service, business, and wider professional sectors.
• Leading Legal Academics: Study with research-active lecturers who bring specialist knowledge and practical legal insights directly into the classroom.
• Career-Ready Skills: Build strong competencies in advocacy, analysis, legal research, and professional practice to excel from day one. 

The LLB degree opens the door to diverse and rewarding career pathways, both within the legal profession and beyond. Graduates can pursue qualification as a solicitor through the Law Society’s Blackhall Place, with many graduates choosing to specialise in areas such as corporate law, human rights, criminal justice, property, or emerging fields like technology and data protection law. 

LLB graduates may also pursue a career as a barrister through the Honourable Society of King’s Inns, gaining a blend of advanced legal education and real-world courtroom experience that equips them for roles as skilled advocates and legal experts. 

Beyond traditional legal roles, the LLB provides an excellent foundation for careers in policy, human resources, journalism, consultancy, and the NGO sector. Many graduates also choose to advance their studies through specialised LLM programmes or research degrees, further expanding their expertise and future opportunities. 

LLB students on the 3 year (full-time) and the 4 year (part-time) LLB programme can apply for a Clinical Legal Placement, gaining real-world experience through a supervised legal work placement. This clinical module partners with the School of Law’s employment network to offer focused legal placements over one semester. It provides valuable workplace exposure and enables students to develop practical skills in legal research, drafting, case preparation, and client interaction, while engaging directly with leading legal, regulatory, and advocacy organisations. This industry engagement not only strengthens professional competencies but also deepens students’ understanding of potential career pathways. Students must apply to be accepted onto this module, as spaces are limited. 

The LLB is approved by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Ireland, enabling graduates to sit the King’s Inn Entrance Examination and pursue a career as a barrister.

• Dr Illan Wall (Programme Director)
• Professor Donncha O'Connell 
• Ms Ursula Connolly 
• Mr. Lawrence Donnelly  
• Professor Csongor Istvan Nagy
• Dr Eoin Daly 
• Dr. Conor Hanly 
• Ms Anna-Louise Hinds 
• Dr. Connie Healy 
• Dr. Rónán Kennedy 
• Professor Padraic Kenna 
• Dr Maureen O'Sullivan 
• Dr. Charles O'Mahony 
• Professor Ciara Smyth 
• Dr. Shivaun Quinlivan 
• Dr Brian Tobin 
• Professor Geraint Howells
• Dr Diarmuid Griffin
• Dr Edel Hughes
• Dr Peter O'Loughlin
• Dr Rory Kelly 
• Dr Nicola Murphy 
• Dr Deirdre Callanan
• Dr Maria O'Brien 
• Dr John Danaher
• Dr Roisin Mulgrew
• Dr Naporn Popattanachai
• Dr Abigail Rekas 

How Will I Learn? 

Lectures and Tutorials: Foundational legal knowledge is delivered through lectures and explored in depth through small-group tutorials that focus on case law, statutory interpretation, and problem-solving. 

Legal Research and Writing: Students develop core legal skills in academic and professional writing, legal referencing, and critical analysis. 

Interactive Learning: Mooting, negotiation, simulated legal exercises, and optional clinical legal education give students opportunities to practise legal advocacy and real world legal reasoning. 

Technology-Enhanced Learning: Students benefit from access to leading online legal databases, virtual learning platforms, and digital law libraries to support independent study and research. 

How Will I Be Assessed? 

Examinations: Written exams test students’ legal knowledge, analytical thinking, and written argumentation. For modules required by the legal professions, a two-hour closed-book exam format is required to meet accreditation requirements. 

Continuous Assessment: Essays, legal problem questions, presentations, and research tasks provide ongoing feedback and help students develop academic and professional skills. 

Legal Writing and Drafting: Students complete assignments such as case commentaries, legal opinions, and statutory analysis to develop clarity and precision in legal writing. 

Moots and Oral Advocacy: In selected modules, students take part in moots or oral presentations to refine public speaking and advocacy skills. 

Group Work and Reflective Journals: Collaborative projects and reflective tasks help students apply legal concepts and develop teamwork, communication, and self-awareness. 

Explore our News and Events to discover our seminars, research talks, and activities at the Irish Centre for Human Rights that will expand your knowledge, build skills, and connect you with experts while you are studying at University of Galway. 

Course queries: 
illan.wall@universityofgalway.ie  
Or  
lawpostgrad@universityofgalway.ie 

Programme Director(s):  

Dr Illan Wall,  
School of Law, 
College of Business, Public Policy and Law 
E: illan.wall@universityofgalway.ie  

University of Galway recognises that knowledge and skills can be acquired from a range of learning experiences. This is in line with the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) goals which aim to recognise all learning achievements by supporting the development of alternative pathways to qualifications (or awards) and by facilitating the recognition of prior learning (RPL). 

In some circumstances, candidates who do not meet the minimum entry criteria, such as those with a lower degree grade or who have relevant work experience in the field of law, may be considered. Such candidates are encouraged to contact the programme director to discuss eligibility under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process where they may be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the programme. Learners may also apply for module exemptions based on prior learning.  

Further information is available on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website 

• Critical Thinking: Analyse complex information and develop well-reasoned arguments. 
  
• Advanced Research Skills: Locate, evaluate, and apply legal and policy sources effectively.
• Professional Communication: Strengthen written and oral communication through essays, presentations, and advocacy exercises.
• Problem-Solving: Apply legal reasoning to real and hypothetical scenarios to generate practical solutions.
• Attention to Detail: Develop precision in reading, drafting, and interpreting legal documents.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Work effectively with peers on group projects and practical tasks.
• Organisation & Time Management: Balance coursework, deadlines, and practical activities efficiently.
• Digital Literacy: Use legal research databases and digital tools essential for modern legal practice.
• Adaptability: Gain versatile skills applicable across law, public service, business, policy, and beyond. 

Information for Non-University of Galway Students Applying for the LLB 

Minimum Entry Requirements 

Candidates must hold at least a Second Class Honours or above, Level 8 primary degree. Those holding a relevant practical law degree or who have studied law modules at third level may be granted appropriate exemptions based on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Further information is available from the Programme Director and on the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning website. 

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant may be considered where they have relevant professional experience in law or in another relevant subject area such as human rights.  

Academic entry requirements standardised per country are available here.  

English Language Entry Requirements 

For applicants whose first language is not English, an English language proficiency of IELTS score of 6.5 is required (with no less than 6.5 in Writing and no less than 6.0 in any other band) or equivalent.  

More information on English language test equivalency are available here.  

Supporting Documents  

You will be required to provide supporting documentation as part of your application. You can check here what supporting documents are required for this course.   

Information for University of Galway Students Applying for the LLB 

BA (Joint Honours) in Law GY101 and BA Connect   

BA (Joint Honours in Law) GY101 and BA Connect graduates who have passed their final year exams and who have completed 70 credits of law modules can progress to final year of the 3 year LLB. Graduates who meet these requirements will be made an offer for the LLB by the School of Law in early summer, so do not need to apply through the online postgraduate application system. 

BA Connect graduates with 35 credits of law modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree may progress into 2nd year of the  3 year LLB but will need to apply online through the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

BA in Human Rights 

BA in Human Rights graduates who have completed 35 credits worth of either law and/or human rights modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree may progress into 2nd year of the 3 year LLB but will need to apply online through the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) 

BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) graduates with a major in law (70 credits of law modules) and who have passed their final year exams will be admitted directly to the final year of the 3 year LLB programme. Graduates who meet these requirements will be made an offer for the LLB by the School of Law in early summer so do not need to apply through the online postgraduate application system. 

BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) graduates with a minor in law (at least 35 credits of law modules) and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the 3 year LLB but will need to apply online through the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

BA (Public and Social Policy) 

BA (Public and Social Policy) graduates who have completed at least 35 credits of law modules and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the 3 year LLB but will need to apply online through the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

Bachelor of Commerce 

B Comm graduates with 35 credits of Law modules (though not necessarily in the Law stream) and who have achieved at least a 2.2 grade in their degree are eligible to enter 2nd year of the 3 year LLB but will need to apply online through the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.  

You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Please review the entry requirements set out in the section above.  

You will be required to upload supporting documentation to your application electronically. See the section above on entry requirements for further information on the supporting documentation required for this course.  

Closing Dates 

For this programme, there is no specific closing date for receipt of applications. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and course quotes will be reviewed continuously throughout the application cycle.  

Notes 

• You will need an active email account to use the website and you'll be guided through the system, step by step, until you complete the online form.
• Browse the FAQ's section for further guidance.  

Fees for Academic Year 2026/27

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
LLB	1	€8,150		€18,800	€140		€8,290	€18,940
LLB	2	€8,250		€19,000	€140		€8,390	€19,140

LLBH-LLB2 (4 Year) (EU): €6,000 p.a. (€6,105 including levy) 2026/27

LLBH-LLB4 (3 Year) (EU): €7,750 p.a. (€7,890 including levy) 2026/27

For 26/27 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 1.8% per annum for continuing years fees.

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €4,000 towards your tuition .  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  A P1 grant is where SUSI will pay tuition up to a maximum of €6,270. SUSI will not cover the student levy of €140.

Fieldtrips 

The LLM includes extracurricular field trips to courts, prisons, and human rights organisations, such as visits to the Irish High Court and local prisons, providing students with real-world insight into justice systems and enhancing their professional skills. 

There are some minor travel costs attached to participating in extracurricular fieldtrips (approximate cost of €100-200 per year). The School endeavours to cover costs as much as possible and keep the contributions from students as low as possible.

Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship

University of Galway is delighted to partner with global law firm DLA Piper for the Terence O’Malley DLA Piper Scholarship. The scholarship, which is named after Terry O’Malley, Chairman Emeritus (US), will provide funding to support students in financial need studying at University of Galway School of Law. 

The Scholarship will support the successful Scholar throughout their degree to a minimum value of €7,500. The Scholarship is open to applicants who have made a formal application through the Central Applications Office for a first year place on one of the full-time undergraduate designated programmes of study in University of Galway School of Law. Find out more here. 
 
RDJ Scholarship 

University of Galway School of Law has partnered with one of Ireland’s leading corporate law firms, RDJ to offer the RDJ Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship. There are two scholarships available that promote diversity within the School of Law by providing financial support to students who are under-represented in the field of law. The scholarship is valued at €5,000 and scholars also have a summer internship opportunity in RDJ’s Galway office. Find out more here.

Application Process 

Students applying for full time postgraduate programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), You can apply online to the University of Galway application portal here.  

Our application portal opens on the 1st October each year for entry the following September.   

Further Information 

Please visit the postgraduate admissions webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.  

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