LLB Irish Law part time options

rachel

Hi all,

I'm considering enroling for a part time law degree next year & trying to decide on the best path for me. Ultimately I'm planning on getting into a fairly specialised area of financial law.

I'm looking at the courses in both DBS & Griffith, does anyone have an opinion on whether one is better than the other?
DBS is winning out right now but that's purely based on location.

The other option I'm looking at is to go the mature student entry approach into Blackhall. However I'm unsure if that would restrict me in anyway, for example if I wanted to sit the New York bar exams.

Would appreciate any guidance anyone has over advantages /disadvantages of the various routes.

saltyjack silverblade

I know for the New York bar exams not every course is recognised. Definitely check it out. Up to about 2 years ago Cork's llb wasn't recognised. I know that both GCD and DBS are recognised.
Have you spoken to the colleges and explained what your situation is?

234

Figure out exactly what it is that you want to do within the law.

A full LLB may not be necessary and in many cases it could just be superfluous. I loved studying law academically, but if, as you say, you are entering as a mature student then the time until qualification can be more of a pressing issue.

If you have a degree, even in a non-law area, you can sit the FE1s if you are thinking of the solicitor route. If you want to be a barrister it might be quicker to pursue the diploma course before moving on to the modular BL.

Be realistic about the value of being able to sit the New York bar. It is incredibly difficult for US law students, even from good universities, to get positions in law firms. Unless you have some very impressive experience or gold-plated academic credentials I wouldn't be optimistic about working over there.

Bepolite

GCD's part-time course is giving people problems, the full time course has enough contact hours so there isn't an issue. I'd take no ones word for whether a course was recognised than the New York Bar themselves in all honesty. GCD used to be recognised by the California bar but again check this directly, old info is no good.

GCDs plus side is the extra-curricular (to disclose any conflict I am attached to GCD, not in a paid capacity). I mention this because they have a fair few links with the states. If you're looking for the quick and dirty route of get in and get out I'd personally go the route of Blackhall or the Inns. You are very unlikely to find work in the States without in angle: This might be your own contacts, but if not you're going to have to build them during your degree. To add as my point is unclear here, you need to set aside sufficient time to do this, I've probably spent more time building contacts than doing the bloody degree! That said I've got a huge amount out of it.

Oh and the obligatory, there's no work, you'll die hungry in a cardboard box somewhere etc. etc. :pac:

Cody Pomeray

when i was doing my undergrad, we had 11 hours per week (and this was a law with a language program). I presume it's similar in GCD, as it seems to be elsewhere.

Even with the (usually, fanciful) 2 hours studying for every hour of lectures, I think full time law degrees should generally be considered part time. You're expected to be doing something constructive outside of your teaching contact/ study hours.

If you can get ANY relevant (paid) work experience along with a law degree, I'd strongly recommend going full time.

For mature students, or where money is a concern, I'd recommend going straight to the professional exams. I think...maybe... infosys disagress with me here!

NoQuarter

rachel wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm considering enroling for a part time law degree next year & trying to decide on the best path for me. Ultimately I'm planning on getting into a fairly specialised area of financial law.

I'm looking at the courses in both DBS & Griffith, does anyone have an opinion on whether one is better than the other?
DBS is winning out right now but that's purely based on location.

The other option I'm looking at is to go the mature student entry approach into Blackhall. However I'm unsure if that would restrict me in anyway, for example if I wanted to sit the New York bar exams.

Would appreciate any guidance anyone has over advantages /disadvantages of the various routes.

Whats the specialised area? Funds? Aircraft leasing? Have you a degree already? If so, what is it?

rachel

Thanks all for your responses.

To clarify a few things:
I don't have an existing degree, however I do have 10 years experience in the financial/funds industry & an assortment of qualifications at certificate/ professional body accreditation level.

I would like to specialise in derivatives law. The products have been my sole focus in my career to date and I have an interest and indepth knowledge of the documentation of them as well as a strong technical understanding of the products and the regulations governing them.

Does that change any opinions so far?
I'm wondering if the Blackhall mature student route via the preliminary entrance exam is viable. I'll call them tomorrow & double check if I'm eligible for it.

234

Trying to go into blackhall via the entrance exam is then by far the best route. In most cases you would never come across the legislation in financial services areas as part of an undergrad degree.

When you are job-hunting look at firms like Maples & Calder, and Walkers, who both work in funds.

Cody Pomeray

If you have 10 years experience in funds and corresponding professional qualifications, you would learn absolutely nothing of value from an undergraduate degree; I don't think any Dublin commercial/corporate lecturers have that level of exposure to industry, and they certainly wouldn't cover it in detail you would find useful.

I know a small handful of PhD candidates working and studying in this area, they've certainly captured a valuable niche; unless further academic qualifications geared toward financial services are something you're after, I'd go with 234's advice above.

rachel

Thanks all for your advice.
Looking like the preliminary entrance exam 2014, will call Law Society today.

234

Also, don't rule out London. The magic circle is where the real work is in funds.

NoQuarter

rachel wrote: »

Thanks all for your advice.
Looking like the preliminary entrance exam 2014, will call Law Society today.

Start looking at the top 10 law firms websites now and gauge when the earliest you can apply is. Check the Legal 500 under the funds section and you will see the firms to apply to.

234 wrote: »

Also, don't rule out London. The magic circle is where the real work is in funds.

Absolutely. And the Channel Islands.