Starting Law in September?

Mix_Tape

Hi all,

I've been offered a place on the BCL in UCD. Was just wondering if anyone else on here may be doing the same course. Would also be great to hear any advice from students who are already studying there about what to expect in first year. Thanks in advance.

Ilyana

Hi

I'm going into second year Law with History, but we do most of the law modules that pure Law do. You'll have your law lectures with all the pure law, other law withs and Business and Law. Then you have your smaller tutorials (around 10 people per class), where you can get chatting to people so it's not all huge lectures.

The first year modules we did were:
Contract Formation and Vitiation - Boring IMO but necessary.
Constitutional Frameworks and Rights - Quite interesting but rather case-heavy in that you have to read a good few of them
Tort - Interesting in parts but a lot of work in the second semester as you have no Christmas exam. The lecturer is a hero though!
Then pure law had other compulsory modules (Law & Legislation, Irish Legal System, Criminal/Civil Procedure) that we could take as electives. Criminal Procedure is brilliant

What to expect? Reading, and a ****ton of it. But you'll learn what you need to read, what you just need to skim and what you can get away without doing (although you should try do most of it). I got all freaked out coming up to the summer exams as I thought I hadn't done half enough to pass, but in reality everyone assumes there's a higher standard required than there actually is. In other words, don't listen to the smart people in the class because you might panic! But obviously you need to work hard too!

Law is great because it's so practical, just be prepared to do the work

cal4nia

I am going into law with history! are you going to go abroud for the 3rd year? When do we start does anyone know?

Mix_Tape

Thanks for the reply, i'm not sure if law and history is the same but I know straight Law is in for orientation on the 5th Sept. Think the actual lectures start on the 10th.

Ilyana

cal4nia wrote: »

I am going into law with history! are you going to go abroud for the 3rd year? When do we start does anyone know?

Yay, a new Listory

I don't know about an Erasmus yet but I'll think about it! Depends on the cost really. LwH is such a small class that you'll all be friends in a week or two, it's lovely

scrummonkey

hey, welcome to ucd and BCl !!
The first year is a gradual introduction to law mainly based on contract, tort, constitution, civil and criminal procedure. Lectures are held both at roebuck castle,( which is about 5 mins walk from main campus) where the law school is based and either the arts or science buildings in the main campus.
You'll have about 15 hours of lecs and tutorials a week, so not a lot really. However there is a lot of reading to do if you want to achieve high grades and i would recommend doing so from the very first week.
You can coast along with steady pass grades doing a lot less but really it all depends on how much effort you want to put into the first two years as final degree gpa is weighted between 3rd and 4th year. However it would be sensible to begin with the idea that the more you do at the outset will make the final years rather less uncomfortable come exam time and preparing essays etc.
There is a specific method of essay writing used by the law school, familarise yourself with same quickly as it will save you a lot of grief and time when coming up to essay deadlines.
The Library is your best friend, get to know it from an early stage. In my opinion it is not neccessary to buy books, or very few anyway, they are quite expensive, you will find all you need here.
Lectures can be large with 200 plus when you have" law withs" as well, or rather more intimate at Roebuck ,60 or so, with the pure law people.
Go to your Tutorials. You will make friends, get easy marks for attendance come exam time, possibilly get exam tips, while availing of what is basically "grinds" in the particular topic.
All in all, if you put the effort in and are commited, you will achieve high grades, between high 2.1 and 1st class gpa. It is not easy to get high marks, make no mistake, but it is possible. The work load can seem daunting but it is a case of learning how to sift and analyse the information to make it less onerous.
So,academically speaking, first year is a case of finding your feet and becoming comfortable with studying Law. I know this is a hackneyed expression but it applies to the BCL, it really is both enjoyable and challenging. It is all very different from studying for the LC but I believe you will most certainly have an enjoyable experience.
Best of luck.

cal4nia

Ilyana wrote: »

Yay, a new Listory

I don't know about an Erasmus yet but I'll think about it! Depends on the cost really. LwH is such a small class that you'll all be friends in a week or two, it's lovely

i laughed so much at the "listory", sounds awsome!! aw really? like how many? is there much on in the week?

Canteloupey

I'm in Lolitics myself but I can tell you there's around 10 people in your course

Here's a list of what you do in orientation:

http://www.ucd.ie/incomingstudents/timetable/dn621_law_with_history.pdf

donvito99

Going into BCL too! Researching laptops at the mo though.

cal4nia

Canteloupey wrote: »

I'm in Lolitics myself but I can tell you there's around 10 people in your course

Here's a list of what you do in orientation:

http://www.ucd.ie/incomingstudents/timetable/dn621_law_with_history.pdf

Literally 10 people? Ha will I be in with people in just the law degree or what? And will it just be my class in the history?

Ilyana

cal4nia wrote: »

i laughed so much at the "listory", sounds awsome!! aw really? like how many? is there much on in the week?

cal4nia wrote: »

Literally 10 people? Ha will I be in with people in just the law degree or what? And will it just be my class in the history?

There are fifteen in our class I think, but the new third years only have about seven. A few tend to drop out but we've clung to all but one of ours

You'll have your law lectures with all of the pure law and law withs, and most with Business and Law too. Your tutorials will be mixed between these groups. Then you'll have your history lectures with all of arts history (read: not art history!) (so like 400 people) but you'll probably just have seminars with your listory class.

Gomzu

I'm doing a BCL too! So nervous- but really really excited!:D

Mix_Tape

Gomzu wrote: »

I'm doing a BCL too! So nervous- but really really excited!:D

Snap. Am awash with nervous anticipation myself. Most of my friends going to UCD are in Arts so I won't know a sinner doing Law. Although, I'm sure there's plenty Hopefully the BBQ at orientation will be a good chance to mingle and meet a few people. Still a bit miffed about choosing modules mind

Ilyana

Mix_Tape wrote: »

Snap. Am awash with nervous anticipation myself. Most of my friends going to UCD are in Arts so I won't know a sinner doing Law. Although, I'm sure there's plenty Hopefully the BBQ at orientation will be a good chance to mingle and meet a few people. Still a bit miffed about choosing modules mind

It lashed rain for our barbecue last year so we all got cosy with the law school dean under the little gazebo thing :cool:

cal4nia

Ilyana wrote: »

There are fifteen in our class I think, but the new third years only have about seven. A few tend to drop out but we've clung to all but one of ours

You'll have your law lectures with all of the pure law and law withs, and most with Business and Law too. Your tutorials will be mixed between these groups. Then you'll have your history lectures with all of arts history (read: not art history!) (so like 400 people) but you'll probably just have seminars with your listory class.

Cool thanks for the info! what is the deal with Modules?

Aoife_

I'm doing the BBL Business and Law.. Anyone know anything about that ? I'm terrified I won't know anyone cause everyone I know is doing something sciencey.. BBQ anyone ?:)

edgal

Does anyone know if we have to choose modules for BCL ?

Mix_Tape

edgal wrote: »

Does anyone know if we have to choose modules for BCL ?

Bit unsure of this myself. It does look however that we don't. From what I can see each semester we do 5 core and 1 elective, although I could be wrong.

scrummonkey

edgal wrote: »

Does anyone know if we have to choose modules for BCL ?

5 core modules are preselected for each semester. You have one elective to pick, in or outside law programme. Thus 30 credits each semester = your required 60 for stage 1.

Ilyana

scrummonkey wrote: »

5 core modules are preselected for each semester. You have one elective to pick, in or outside law programme. Thus 30 credits each semester = your required 60 for stage 1.

From my experience, it's nice to do a module outside of law. You can pursue something else you're interested in, and it makes a nice break from the law, which can be intense.

I chose Criminal Procedure in the first semester, which I really enjoyed. Then I did Politics of Great Nations in semester two, which was interesting too as it was something a bit different.