Economics Politics and Law DCU

cm2000

I was just wondering what kind of legal opportunities I would have with this degree? it's quite new, and i'm assuming its not recognised yet by the legal world. Your first two years are equally weighted between the 3 subjects, then in third year you can specialise if you choose. Does anyone know if this would prepare you for doing FE1's for example?? or would I need a masters or some Post Graduate study? would I have a hope of getting an apprenticeship? any feedback would be helpful.

Tom Young

I find all three areas very useful and I suspect that a qualification/degree in that would make you rather employable.

Geneally, law or economics will have to be played off, so once you get to year two or three you'll be given options which weigh either in the law or economic fields disproportionately.

If I was doing this, I'd aim to do large components of micro economics and econometrics, then couple that with company and competition law.

There's a masters programme in Trinity college which sounds fairly similar to the programme you outline: http://www.tcd.ie/Economics/postgraduate/msceconomicpolicy/index.php

In relation to the FE1's take a look at what you need to have in the undergrad to satisfy the entry requirements. It will usually involve modular choices that you'll have to assess. The prerequisites are likely to be: Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Land, Family, Company, EU, Criminal, Contract, legal systems, Evidence and Tort law. If you go the Barrister route you need basic courses in all of them plus Jurisprudence and Administrative Law.

I'd guess you'll be highly employable as a regulatory manager, policy advisor, regulator, economics, lawyer, competition lawyer, in-house counsel etc.

Good luck with it.

johnnyskeleton

Sounds like fun - DCU is a great college, and you get the economics and politics to keep it interesting and varied while you study the (for many people) rather dull legal subjects.

It won't prejudice you in doing the FE1s, and by the time you graduate Kings Inns will probably recognise your degree.

Some employers might prefer you to have a Trinity/NUI law degree, but others would see a broader degree as an advantage.

So while you wouldn't necessarily need a masters, it would still be open to you if you want further study.

khn10ur3bogzpa

The EPL degree does not entitle you to legal exemptions. I was in the first class that graduated and alot have pursued a legal career. However, at present I think only one person is traing in the Kings Inn.

EPL is NOT a Law degree. If you want to be a barrister or a solicitor do a Law degree!!!

legal eagle 1

Sounds like a very interesting course, wish it was round when i was applying
Law firms do like diverse experience so it may infact stand to you more than a pure law degree:rolleyes:

Chris007

DCU now offer a 'pure' law degree: http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=BCL&degree_description=BCL+%28Law+and+Society%29 .To my knowledge this year is the first year it is being run, but looking at it would this be good preperation for the FE-1's? It is also a recognised degree for Kings's Inns.

Undecided between this degree and the Economics, Politics and Law degree

johnfás

Sounds interesting, I would have loved to have done that when I was an undergraduate. I did History and Politics for my undergraduate degree and it certainly didn't work against me in terms of searching for a job, alot of employers were interested in explanations I could give them as to the relevance of the degree to a career in law etc. I did the PGDip in DIT afterwards and now I'm about to start an LLM at UCD to fill a year's gap before I start my traineeship.

Redbhoy

Just wondering if you decided to take on this course. How is it going? Would you recommend it? How many hours of schooling do you do inside the college (without study.)

Lockstep

Friend of mine did it, got a job with a top 5 law firm and is happy out. Other of my friends did masters in economics and politics after EPL and went down those career paths. Great for budding politicians or policy wonks.

TCD offer law and political science. Great mix there, or you can do either law and politics/law and economics in NUIM's BCL degree. Alternatively, you can do a BA in Legal Science and either economics or politics in NUIG and then complete their LLB course in 1 year. Either an LLB or BCL will let you sit the King's Inn exams.


A similar course to EPL is offered in NUIG: Public and Social Policy. After the degree, you can sit NUIG's LLB in 2 years and get a recognised law degree so you have a complete rounding in law along with a strong background in politics and economics.


Keep in mind that you don't need a law degree to sit the FE1s and become a solicitor although EPL or a law degree will certainly help.

retroactive

I did the Law with Arts program in NUIM and choose Economics and Politics. I dropped Politics after first year which allowed me to do a double honours in Law and Economics

NUIM's program does entitle you to sit the various legal entrance exams and is a qualification that is rapidly gaining strength and recognition both nationally and internationally.

I hated Politics as a subject and, while I adore Politics and Socio-economic outside of a formal theory driven environment, three years of discussing "What is democracy?" just was not what I wanted.

I've just finished The Honorable Society of King's Inns and am weighing up my options on the job market. I find the diversity of a 'Law with X' makes for a very flexible and beneficial qualification.

A significant amount of my friends are doing masters in non-legal disciplins and, from what they tell me, it seems that their law degree has given them an advantage in getting their desired masters and helped them achieve within those areas.

A number of my colleagues began their college lives doing general, well-rounded degrees and have gradually specialised or diversified according to their interests. If I were to be very truthful, I would say that that people that took this approach are now far better equipped for life in the legal world.

In addition to choosing your course wisely, I would recommend that you pick your modules within that course wisely - Blackhall and Inns have modules that they require you to have passed previous exams in. Economics has alot of scope for choice aswell - I selected mainly Banking orientated modules and have found that to be an advantage but Econometrics and Quants are heavily sought after in the current job market.