Hi All,
Theres been a very similar question to yours answered on the site within the last 2 weeks so have a search for it, theres lots of good info there. Im in the middle of my finals of an LLB at the moment.
Novice:
If you have a degree already, you are qualified to sit the FE1 (Blackhall Place) exams. However, in order to actually pass them (they are a big undertaking, dont take them lightly) you'll have to do some kind of a law course. Possible options are:
1- A post-graduate LLB. UL definately offer a 2-yr full time LLB course. I'm not sure about part-time. I think NUIG also offer one over 2 yrs, Im sure other universities do aswell, but cant speak from personal experience.
2- A legal diploma. DIT and Griffith College offer these. Check the other thread for an in-depth discussion on the merits of each.
3- A revision course. Offered by Griffith College and lots of other private organisations. Some offer distance learning courses (Griffith definately) which, I've heard, are excellent.
To be honest, you have a degree already so youre obviously capable of sitting exams. I'd do the revision course and study at home to sit them. (Bearing in mind that this WILL require 1 year full-time self-motivated study). As part of my degree I did a 7 month placement with one of the Top 10 commercial firms in Dublin, about 3 of the new apprentices had just done Arts degrees, then sat their FE1s. Decent relevant work experience would benefit you greatly though.
Oh, if you do the University of London course, you'll have to be very careful with regard to Irish law. While quite a lot of major English decisions are followed here, there are also many areas where the Irish courts have totally diverged from the English opinion. Obviously the majority of the statutes will be different also. While Irish students must usually learn the English law first and then study the Irish courts interpretations, I would presume that the Uni of London course will not cover any Irish law, thus even after it you may still feel inadequately prepared for the FE1s. Just some food for thought!
Scamper:
A law degree is not necessarily an LLB, it may also be a BCL. Not sure exactly what the distinction is, rumour has it that a BCL means youve studied for 3 yrs, an LLB for 4. (However, as mentioned above, a post-grad LLB can be done in 2 yrs).
College-wise, IMHO theres really not a huge difference between the universities. Possibly Trinity may have the "snob" factor, but in my experience this is an out-dated opinion. Im in my 4th year of the LLB in Law & European Studies in UL which I chose for three reasons:
1-I wasnt 100% certain that I wanted to study law, this degree allows you study a foreign language and either history, politics or sociology. I didnt want to spend 3/4 years in a degree without having an escape route if I needed it (Luckily I love it so I shouldnt have worried!)
2-As part of UL undergraduate courses, you must undertake a 7-month work placement in a company relevant to your degree. (Mature students are not usually required to do this). I spent mine in an excellent law firm and have an impressive CV along with many contacts for getting an apprenticeship. Handy for a course such as law, especially if you have no ffriends/ relations/ neighbours etc. involved in the legal world. The 2 UL law degrees, as far as I know are the only ones that provide such a placement. (Youre not guaranteed a placement in a law firm, you compete with the other students in your class for them. Many students were placed with banks etc)
3-Its too expensive to be a student in Dublin.
Its probably fair to say that there is less thought of a law degree from a private college as the points requirements are not particularly onerous. Then again, one apprentice in the firm I was placed with had such a law degree.
Hope I've been of some help. As I said earlier, check out the other thread, its full of useful info.