Law with Politics (LWW3)

This degree combines the discipline of Law with an understanding of political theory, political organisation, government and public affairs.

Curricular information is subject to change

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The programme is for students who wish to add to a profound understanding of Irish law along with a sustained course of study in Politics. The programme enables students to proceed to professional training as lawyers in Ireland and elsewhere. Through combining Law with Politics, it also provides an even broader range of career-relevant knoweldge, skills and experience. 



We aim for students to be active, motivated, autonomous learners who understand the social, cultural and political dimensions of law in with the additional perspectives gained through their study of Politics. Gradautes will obtain the academic basis for a successful career in law as well as more widely applicable knowledge and skills. 



We strive for a learning environment that encourages students to work individually or as part of a team, so they can develop their own and others' leadership, teamwork and communication skills. Small group teaching, online collaboration and practice-based learning are key elements of this. Students have the options of spending a semester at one of the School's partner universities. 



To these ends the programme uses teaching, learning and assessment approaches such as tutorials, seminars, supervised academic writing, work placement and simulations of professional practice.


1 - demonstrate specialised, detailed knowledge and understanding of the legal systems of Ireland and of the European Union.
2 - demonstrate specialised, detailed knowledge and understanding of political systems and international relations.
3 - apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to their specific work or vocation in the field of law and/or politics.
4 - gather and interpret the relevant data from a variety of sources, both legal and factual, to inform judgments on problems within the major branches of law and/or politics and international relations.
5 - make their own judgments, including the capacity to reflect on relevant political, social, economic, historical, or ethical issues associated with law and/or politics and international relations.
6 - communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions, considering the importance of legal and/or political arguments in public policy debates, in an accessible and intelligible manner to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
7 - realise those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.
8 - identify, in the field of legal scholarship, the relevant sources of law and commentary upon and analysis of it and to frame their own original legal arguments.
9 - identify, in the field of politics scholarship, the relevant sources of law and commentary upon and analysis of it and to frame their own original arguments. S
This degree combines the discipline of Law with an understanding of political theory, political organisation, government and public affairs.

The objectives of the programme are to provide you with:

- A knowledge of the principles and rules of law

- An understanding of law in its broader political context, and

- An understanding of the relationship between law and politics

The degree will introduce you to fundamental legal concepts and principles, cultivate an ability to analyse law and engage in legal reasoning, promote a critical understanding of how politics and political theory shape and develop law and impart research skills in the fields of law and politics.
STAGE 1
Stage 1 of this four-year degree includes many of the core modules of the BCL programme: Law of Contract, Law of Tort and Constitutional Law. It also includes an introduction to Political Theory and to Irish Politics, as well as a choice of modules on International Relations and Comparative Politics.

STAGE 2
Stage 2 introduces you to Land Law, EU Law, Criminal Law and a number of optional modules from Law and Politics.

STAGES 3 & 4
Stages 3 and 4 are spent studying a range of optional and elective modules from the UCD Schools of Law and Politics & International Relations. There is also an option to complete a significant research project in Law or Politics in lieu of one of the taught modules in the final stage.
You may apply to study abroad for either a semester or a year through the Erasmus programme or on a non-EU exchange. UCD has over 200 Erasmus partners in Europe and an increasing number of non-EU exchange agreements with universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and elsewhere.

Please visit the Erasmus section by clicking on the International Office link at the top of this page.
BCL (Law with Politics) graduates are well equipped to pursue careers in:
  • Legal Practice
  • Politics
  • Broadcasting
  • Journalism
  • Legislative Drafting (e.g. in Office of Parliamentary Counsel)
  • Academia

    Relevant graduate programmes include:
  • International Human Rights
  • European Law & Public Affairs
  • International Relations
  • UCD Law Programme Office,
    Roebuck Castle,
    Belfield,
    Dublin 4
    Tel: +353 1 716 8342/8754
    Email:law@ucd.ie
    Web:www.ucd.ie/blprogrammes

    Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
    Stage 1 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    LAW10050 Constitutional Law: Institutional Framework of the Constitution of Ireland Autumn 5
    LAW10190 Negligence and Related Matters Autumn 5
    LAW10270 Civil Procedure Autumn 5
    LAW10340 Contract: Formation Autumn 5
    LAW10420 Legal and Professional Skills Autumn 5
    LAW10060 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights under the Constitution of Ireland Spring 5
    LAW10200 Nominate Torts Spring 5
    LAW10350 Contract: Vitiating Factors and Remedies Spring 5
    LAW10360 General Introduction to the Irish Legal System Spring 5
    Stage 1 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    Stage 1 Core Modules Politics
         
    INRL10020 Foundations of Intl Relations Autumn 5
    POL10180 Foundations of Pol Theory Spring 5
    Stage 1 Core Modules Politics
         
    Stage 1 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN0OF:
    The below module can be chosen an elective.
         
    LAW10260 Criminal Procedure Spring 5
    Stage 1 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN0OF:
    The below module can be chosen an elective.
         
    Stage 2 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    LAW20330 EU Constitutional Law Autumn 5
    LAW20370 Property Law I Autumn 5
    LAW20390 Criminal Liability Autumn 5
    LAW20340 EU Economic Law Spring 5
    LAW20380 Property Law II Spring 5
    LAW20400 Criminal Offences and Defences Spring 5
    Stage 2 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    Stage 2 Core Modules Politics
         
    INRL20040 Theories and Concepts in International Relations Autumn 5
    POL20010 Individuals and the State: The Idea of Freedom in the History of Political Thought Autumn 5
    POL20020 Comparative Politics Spring 5
    Stage 2 Core Modules Politics
         
    Stage 2 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN0OF:
    You should choose both LAW20090 and LAW20170 instead of Electives to be Compliant for the Irish Legal Professional Bodies
         
    LAW20090 Company Law I Autumn 5
    LAW20170 Company Law II Spring 5
    Stage 2 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN0OF:
    You should choose both LAW20090 and LAW20170 instead of Electives to be Compliant for the Irish Legal Professional Bodies
         
    Stage 2 Options - Politics A)MIN1OF:
    Select one option module.
         
    INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn 5
    INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn 5
    POL10170 Foundations in Political Research Autumn 5
    POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn 5
    DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Spring 5
    DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring 5
    INRL20110 Intro to Middle East Politics Spring 5
    POL10120 Foundations in Global Development Spring 5
    POL20250 Irish Politics Spring 5
    Stage 2 Options - Politics A)MIN1OF:
    Select one option module.
         
    Stage 3 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN5OF:
    Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
         
    LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10
    LAW20090 Company Law I Autumn 5
    LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn 5
    LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn 5
    LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn 5
    LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn 5
    LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn 5
    LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn 5
    LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn 5
    LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn 5
    LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn 5
    LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn 5
    LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn 5
    LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn 5
    LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn 5
    LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn 5
    LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn 5
    LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn 5
    LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn 5
    LAW37590 International Economic Law Autumn 5
    LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn 5
    LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn 5
    LAW20170 Company Law II Spring 5
    LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring 5
    LAW30190 Media Law Spring 5
    LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring 5
    LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring 5
    LAW30310 European Human Rights Law Spring 5
    LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring 5
    LAW30530 Criminological Theory Spring 5
    LAW30610 Commercial Law Spring 5
    LAW30820 Private International Law Spring 5
    LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring 5
    LAW37460 Planning Law Spring 5
    LAW37600 Migration Law Spring 5
    LAW37610 Medical Law Spring 5
    LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring 5
    LAW37680 BCL Internship Spring 30
    LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring 5
    Stage 3 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN5OF:
    Choose six of the following, or five if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
         
    Stage 3 Options - Politics A)MIN1OF:
    Stage 3 students may select either A) TWO level-3 modules or B) ONE level-3 module and TWO level-2 modules. The total credit should be 20.
         
    INRL30320 Gender in War & Peace Autumn 10
    INRL30370 Terrorism & Political Violence Autumn 10
    POL30640 Deliberative Mini-Publics Autumn 10
    POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Autumn 10
    POL30880 Capitalism and Democracy Autumn 10
    POL30890 The Politics of Organised Crime Autumn 10
    POL36070 Political Psychology Autumn 10
    POL36120 Gender, Religion & Colonialism Autumn 10
    POL36140 Parties and Party Systems Autumn 10
    INRL30340 Internat. Political Economy Spring 10
    INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world Spring 10
    POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences Spring 10
    POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring 10
    POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics Spring 10
    POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring 10
    POL36100 Strategies of Politics Spring 10
    POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring 10
    POL36130 Liberalism & its Critics Spring 10
    POL36150 Feminist Pers. on Social Pol. Spring 10
    Stage 3 Options - Politics A)MIN1OF:
    Stage 3 students may select either A) TWO level-3 modules or B) ONE level-3 module and TWO level-2 modules. The total credit should be 20.
         
    Stage 3 Options - Politics C)MIN0CR:
    Stage 3 students may select either A) TWO 10-credit modules or B) ONE 10-credit module and TWO 5-credit modules. Students who wish to take POL20050 must complete POL10170 in Autumn.
         
    INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn 5
    INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn 5
    POL10170 Foundations in Political Research Autumn 5
    POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn 5
    DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Spring 5
    DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring 5
    INRL20110 Intro to Middle East Politics Spring 5
    POL10120 Foundations in Global Development Spring 5
    POL20050 Research Methods in Political Science Spring 5
    POL20250 Irish Politics Spring 5
    Stage 3 Options - Politics C)MIN0CR:
    Stage 3 students may select either A) TWO 10-credit modules or B) ONE 10-credit module and TWO 5-credit modules. Students who wish to take POL20050 must complete POL10170 in Autumn.
         
    Stage 4 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    LAW30570 Contemporary Issues in Law and Politics Spring 5
    Stage 4 Core Modules Law with Politics
         
    Stage 4 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN4OF:
    Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
         
    LAW37580 Research Module 10 cr 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10
    LAW30010 Banking Law Autumn 5
    LAW30060 Equity: History, Doctrines, Remedies Autumn 5
    LAW30070 Evidence - Foundations Autumn 5
    LAW30090 Revenue Law: Introduction to Revenue Law Autumn 5
    LAW30170 Employment Law: the Contract of Employment Autumn 5
    LAW30180 Jurisprudence Autumn 5
    LAW30240 Administrative Law: Grounds of Review Autumn 5
    LAW30400 Matrimonial Law and Reliefs Autumn 5
    LAW30440 Environmental Law and Policy Autumn 5
    LAW30470 International Human Rights Law Autumn 5
    LAW30640 Competition Law in Practice Autumn 5
    LAW30690 Advocacy and Mooting Autumn 5
    LAW30700 The Lawyer, Professional Ethics & Legal Practice Autumn 5
    LAW30730 Public International Law Autumn 5
    LAW30870 Patent Law and Trademarks Autumn 5
    LAW37470 Advanced International Law - The Law of Int Organisations Autumn 5
    LAW37530 Financial Law of the EU Autumn 5
    LAW37570 Insolvency Law Autumn 5
    LAW37590 International Economic Law Autumn 5
    LAW37670 Copyright Law Autumn 5
    LAW37700 Internet Law and Regulation Autumn 5
    LAW30160 Evidence - Practice and Principles Spring 5
    LAW30190 Media Law Spring 5
    LAW30230 Overview of Law Relating to Creation and Administration of Trusts Spring 5
    LAW30290 Administrative Law: Remedies for Unlawful Administrative Action Spring 5
    LAW30310 European Human Rights Law Spring 5
    LAW30450 Family and Child Law Spring 5
    LAW30530 Criminological Theory Spring 5
    LAW30550 Legal History: The History of Public Law Spring 5
    LAW30610 Commercial Law Spring 5
    LAW30820 Private International Law Spring 5
    LAW37430 Jury Trials Spring 5
    LAW37460 Planning Law Spring 5
    LAW37600 Migration Law Spring 5
    LAW37610 Medical Law Spring 5
    LAW37630 Law in the Classroom Spring 5
    LAW37710 Applied Legal Skills Spring 5
    Stage 4 Options - Law with Politics A)MIN4OF:
    Choose five of the following, or four if you select LAW37580, 10-credit Research module.
         
    Stage 4 Options - Politics B)2OF:
    20 credits (TWO Level 3 10 cr modules) must be selected here. Students wishing to select POL30860/30870 must contact the administration office in the Politics Department. They must be taken together.
         
    INRL30320 Gender in War & Peace Autumn 10
    INRL30370 Terrorism & Political Violence Autumn 10
    POL30640 Deliberative Mini-Publics Autumn 10
    POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Autumn 10
    POL30860 Advanced Seminar in Politics 1 Autumn 5
    POL30880 Capitalism and Democracy Autumn 10
    POL30890 The Politics of Organised Crime Autumn 10
    POL36070 Political Psychology Autumn 10
    POL36120 Gender, Religion & Colonialism Autumn 10
    POL36140 Parties and Party Systems Autumn 10
    INRL30340 Internat. Political Economy Spring 10
    INRL30390 Foreign Policy Mistakes Spring 10
    INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world Spring 10
    POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences Spring 10
    POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring 10
    POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring 10
    POL30870 Advanced Seminar in Politics 2 Spring 15
    POL36100 Strategies of Politics Spring 10
    POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring 10
    POL36130 Liberalism & its Critics Spring 10
    POL36150 Feminist Pers. on Social Pol. Spring 10
    Stage 4 Options - Politics B)2OF:
    20 credits (TWO Level 3 10 cr modules) must be selected here. Students wishing to select POL30860/30870 must contact the administration office in the Politics Department. They must be taken together.
         
    See the UCD Assessment website for further details

    Module Weighting Info  
      Award GPA
    Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
    BHLAW004 Stage 3 - 50.00%
    Stage 2 - 50.00%
    Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

    3.68

    4.20

    Second Class Honours, Grade 1

    3.08

    3.67

    Second Class Honours, Grade 2

    2.48

    3.07

    Pass

    2.00

    2.47

    BHLAW012 Stage 4 - 50.00%
    Stage 3 - 50.00%
    Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

    3.68

    4.20

    Second Class Honours, Grade 1

    3.08

    3.67

    Second Class Honours, Grade 2

    2.48

    3.07

    Pass

    2.00

    2.47


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