Law with Philosophy
BCL (Hons) (NFQ Level 8)
Course Video
Curricular information is subject to change.
Open AllLegal systems express and reflect the prevailing moral, political, social and economic philosophy of the State. Law and philosophy are, therefore, complementary fields of study. An understanding of law is fundamentally enhanced by a deeper knowledge of philosophical theory. This course offers you a highly respected degree in law, combined with an enriched appreciation of its philosophical underpinnings.
KEY FACT
All final year UCD Law students can apply for US externships in the federal courts and the federal defender’s office.
First & Second Year
First year focuses on core law modules, including:
- Constitutional Law
- Contract Law
- Tort Law
In addition, you’re introduced to modern, moral and continental philosophy.
In second year, you will take modules in:
- EU Law
- Property Law
- Criminal Law
At the same time, you’ll also take modules that engage with the ideas of Hume, Kant, Aristotle and Hegel.
Third & Fourth Year
With a wide choice of law and philosophy modules available, you can pursue particular areas of interest. The choice of modules includes:
- Jurisprudence
- Media Law
- Human Rights Law
- Philosophy of Law
- Critical Theory
- Medieval Philosophy
You may also be interested in taking modules offered by our Clinical Legal Education Centre (CLEC), such as Advocacy & Mooting, and Law, Ethics & Legal Practice.
You’ll attend lectures and tutorials, in addition to engaging in study and preparatory work.
Assessment includes end-of-trimester examinations, essays and group projects.
Internship Module
Students on this degree have the opportunity to apply for an internship in the spring trimester of third year. This is credit-bearing module within a range of organisations that the school has partnered with. (Note: this is an alternative to international study).
For detailed information on subject content click here.
You may be interested in the following Blog posts: Why I chose Law at UCD
As part of your Law with Philosophy degree you may apply to spend time abroad during your third year at one of our partner universities. Students from this programme have chosen to undertake study in universities in Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Asia.
BCL (Law with Philosophy) students can choose to study the modules necessary for legal professional recognition, which enables them to pursue legal careers as solicitors or barristers.
Graduates are also well suited to careers in:
- Legal research (e.g. at the Law Reform Commission)
- Politics
- Media
- Diplomatic service
- Academia
Relevant graduate study programmes include LLM degrees in:
- International Human Rights
- European Law & Public Affairs.
“The degree courseof Law with Philosophy has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of the law on many levels. The breadth of subjects available in UCD means that knowledge of any area of law is always at my fingertips. In addition, through my philosophy studies, I have gained the skills necessary to consider and challenge the ethical, political and human aspects of the law and of life. This degree course has allowed me to study law modules with philosophical elements and vice-versa. Both subjects have allowed me to hone my skills of critical thinking, ethical reasoning and problem solving. This course has enabled me to become proficient in research and writing. (Louis is now a Trainee Solicitor in a major Dublin Law Firm.)”
Louis Gribbin Bourke, Graduate
UCD Sutherland School of Law
Belfield, Dublin 4
Tel: +353 1 716 4110
Email: law.students@ucd.ieuglaw@ucd.ie
