DBS LLB (Graduate Entry)

jimmylawman

I see Dublin Business School are offering a two year graduate entry LLB.

http://www.dbs.ie/Law/Postgraduate-LLB.htm

A year shorter than many of the other evening degrees and accredited apparently for Law Society and Kings Inns. Competition for KI Diploma perhaps as well?

Anyone done or have any views on this course?

johnfás

"Accredited for the Law Society" is a bit of a nonsense because you don't need a law degree to sit the FE-1s. A degree in Microbiology is sufficiently accredited for the Law Society. Of more interest is whether it is accredited to bypass the KI Diploma.

rlow68

The course is for those who have got a degree 2.1 in other discipline and now decide to do Law. It is 2 year duration both full time and part time, but you must be willing to work very hard to pass, it is not as easy as it looks.
If you are willing to work hard, as you will need to do a lot of reading and research by yourself to succeed with the Course.
Good luck.

jimmylawman

It says that it is accredited for Kings Inns Bar Exams.

It looks like a competitor for the KI diploma given that both are graduate entry and both are two years duration. I wonder how do they stack up against each other. One seeming plus of the DBS course is that you have an actual LLB after the two years.

I wonder how the DBS reputation / status compares with that of KI - (at the Dip/Deg level rather than the professional course). Much of a muchness?

Tom Young

The two qualification are different. This has been debated before and at length. The KI Diploma is to get you onto the BL, not much more of a use for it. Although it is very good in terms of content and being up to date.

LLB is a differing qualification. The accreditation is just that, but I think the LLB is broader in application in the wider sense of the qualification.

Tom

Jo King

One issue about 2 year LLBs is that the New York bar does not accept them. Even thought the content is the same as a three year course, it is not regarded as of durational equivalence.

jimmylawman

Tom Young wrote: »

The two qualification are different. This has been debated before and at length.

Perhaps similar discussions have been debated here before but I don't believe this one has. I've followed these boards for nearly a year in the course of researching various legal study options and I never once heard it said you could acquire an LLB <I>in the same timeframe <I> as the KI Dip.

In fact the first I knew of it was stumbling across this course via a Google ad.
I imagine this may not be widely known and I suspect this course is unique in that respect at least in Dublin.

Again with reference to this specific course (2 year graduate entry LLB at DBS) am not sure how it stacks up against the Dip. In terms of workload, timetables, institutional reputation, academic standards, costs etc.

My own view would be it is quite attractive in that it gives a broader qualification <I> in the same timeframe </I> yet still enables entry to the BL.
I would have a slight concern re academic standards given all similar courses seem to take 3 years min, also I would feel the Dip may be more useful in terms of getting used to the Inns, collegiality etc for those who are going onto the bar immediately. But in fairness I don't really know anything about DBS.

jimmylawman

Update on this discussion - received a prospectus from DBS today and had a look.

Against this course offering, there is a small print that says graduates can proceed to Kings Inns but only after sitting an additional two year diploma at the Inns.

So kind of negates the value if one is aiming at the Inns. The website appears to declare differently but it is all a bit confusing. I've seen this happen a few times lately and it strikes me the Inns may be widening the net with regards to what is and isn't accepted to sit the bar admission exams. It may be a movable feast which raises a concern over a course being dropped half way as well.

I'm coming round to the view (which was also what I thought at the outset but wanted confirm by research) if you want be a barrister just go to the Inns and be done with it - certainly if you are coming to it later in life.

rlow68

jimmylawman wrote: »

Update on this discussion - received a prospectus from DBS today and had a look.

Against this course offering, there is a small print that says graduates can proceed to Kings Inns but only after sitting an additional two year diploma at the Inns.

So kind of negates the value if one is aiming at the Inns. The website appears to declare differently but it is all a bit confusing. I've seen this happen a few times lately and it strikes me the Inns may be widening the net with regards to what is and isn't accepted to sit the bar admission exams. It may be a movable feast which raises a concern over a course being dropped half way as well.

I'm coming round to the view (which was also what I thought at the outset but wanted confirm by research) if you want be a barrister just go to the Inns and be done with it - certainly if you are coming to it later in life.

I believe you got the information wrong, but there is not harm in calling or visiting the college to ascertain the true facts.
If you have your LLB after 2 years, I believe you only need to go for graduate admission for the Kings inn and the other one, but to be sure pls visit the college or email the admissions, you will get the response back the same day.
Na harm done man

jimmylawman

rlow68 wrote: »

I believe you got the information wrong, but there is not harm in calling or visiting the college to ascertain the true facts.
If you have your LLB after 2 years, I believe you only need to go for graduate admission for the Kings inn and the other one, but to be sure pls visit the college or email the admissions, you will get the response back the same day.
Na harm done man

It's possible their prospectus is out of date but that's the second contradiction I've had from two dealings with the place. I was told on the phone lectures are held four nights a week whilst an email sent by someone else (both college staff) stated they are held three nights a week. It clearly states in the prospectus received this morning by post that one must sit the dip even after doing their LLB. Anyhow it's a moot point for me at this stage but just to share the info with the forum.

niamhi

I have been considering doing the graduate entry LLB in DBS and stumbled upon this thread. I'm interested to hear that it may not let you go forward for the Bar exam as I thought otherwise (even though I have no intention of doing so at present after completing the degree I may have changed my mind!). When you're on the Kings Inn website it does mention that the LLB in DBS is recognised but doesn't say specifically that the graduate entry one is. DBS are having an open day on 7th Dec so think I'll go along and clarify.

The_Morrigan

niamhi wrote: »

I have been considering doing the graduate entry LLB in DBS and stumbled upon this thread. I'm interested to hear that it may not let you go forward for the Bar exam as I thought otherwise (even though I have no intention of doing so at present after completing the degree I may have changed my mind!). When you're on the Kings Inn website it does mention that the LLB in DBS is recognised but doesn't say specifically that the graduate entry one is. DBS are having an open day on 7th Dec so think I'll go along and clarify.

A Quote from my student handbook - I'm a first year undergrad in the LLB with DBS.

Last academic year was one of considerable achievement for the School. Three successes are worth highlighting. First, the LLB in Irish Law was reapproved by the University of Wales and HETAC for another five years without conditions and with the School receiving five commendations. Second the LLB in Irish Law was reaccredited by the King’s Inns for the purposes of the King’s Inns Entrance Examination. Third, for the very first time, the revised Graduate Entry LLB in Irish Law was accredited by the University of Wales, HETAC and King’s Inns are tangible evidence of the quality and standards prevalent in the School and provide a strong basis for taking the School forward over the next few years.

niamhi

The_Morrigan wrote: »

A Quote from my student handbook - I'm a first year undergrad in the LLB with DBS.

Last academic year was one of considerable achievement for the School. Three successes are worth highlighting. First, the LLB in Irish Law was reapproved by the University of Wales and HETAC for another five years without conditions and with the School receiving five commendations. Second the LLB in Irish Law was reaccredited by the King’s Inns for the purposes of the King’s Inns Entrance Examination. Third, for the very first time, the revised Graduate Entry LLB in Irish Law was accredited by the University of Wales, HETAC and King’s Inns are tangible evidence of the quality and standards prevalent in the School and provide a strong basis for taking the School forward over the next few years.

Thanks for the info. how are you finding the course?

The_Morrigan

niamhi wrote: »

Thanks for the info. how are you finding the course?

I'm doing the evening course, as I have to work to pay the ole mortgage, so its intense and the workload is heavy.
However, in saying that, the lecturers are fantastic and quite understanding of the fact that the evening students have other commitments.

I would say go to the open evening and get chatting to some of the lecturers.

niamhi

The_Morrigan wrote: »

I'm doing the evening course, as I have to work to pay the ole mortgage, so its intense and the workload is heavy.
However, in saying that, the lecturers are fantastic and quite understanding of the fact that the evening students have other commitments.

I would say go to the open evening and get chatting to some of the lecturers.

I'd be in the same situation so still thinking about it

eoin4789

hi there, I am hoping to do the LLB in Galway or DBS, just wondering if anyone knew the fees for the 2 year graduate entry to DBS??? thanks.

The_Morrigan

eoin4789 wrote: »

hi there, I am hoping to do the LLB in Galway or DBS, just wondering if anyone knew the fees for the 2 year graduate entry to DBS??? thanks.

Postgrad is 5,700 per year full time and 4,900 part time


http://www.dbs.ie/Files/PDFs/Fee%20Sheets/postgrad_fees2010.pdf

littlemac1980

Jo King wrote: »

One issue about 2 year LLBs is that the New York bar does not accept them. Even thought the content is the same as a three year course, it is not regarded as of durational equivalence.

Is this really true? Is that also the case with the LLB in UL (2 years).

rlow68

littlemac1980 wrote: »

Is this really true? Is that also the case with the LLB in UL (2 years).

To get a precise answer, you will need to visit the respective colleges, they are doing open days now, they are the one in the best position to give the precise answers to all these questions

johnfás

To get a precise answer you will have to ask the NY Bar Board of Examiners and they are a nightmare in terms of getting in touch with.

I think the Kings Inns recognise the 2 year graduate entry LLB from the University of Limerick. They did a couple of years ago anyway.

There is no simple answer to these questions, if your aim is to be a solicitor the Postgraduate Diploma at DIT is equally well regarded and saves a candidate a year on the 2 year LLBs which they could put to use passing their FE-1s.

Maddox55

Hi,i'm also about to start a Graduate entry Law degree course in sept. and a bit concerned about the demographics of the students,past performances of law students,etc.will appreciate feedback from former and current students.thanks.

jacko1

lets call a spade a spade - this programme gives you no greater access to the law Society than a degree in tiddlywinks !

and as for a job in a good firm - the law firms look to the traditional law schools without exception

Maddox55

Thanks Jacko1,if i may ask,are you in anyway in the legal profession?

DJMousehand

It is incorrect to state employers look at traditional law routes such as BCL, LLB from the likes of UCD, Trinity etc.

I know several people at Dillon Eustace which is a wealth practice that went the DIT route etc which certainly is not traditional, having graducated with a BCL from UCD I can say that non- traditional graduates as you call them Jacko1 are excellent and are fondly looked at by employers.