NUIG law question from American student....

Shawn the Mick

I'm a bit confused on how long one would need to study law before being eligible to sit for exams and become a solicitor. I have a BA (business) and have completed about half of a MA in Political Science. I'd like to become a solicitor but am unsure what courses/degree I would need to do so.

From what I can tell I'd have to earn an LLB to do so, which is a 3 year program. This seems to contradict some of the info I've found on the boards. If anyone could clarify for me I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance!

LoonyLovegood

The way law is studied in Ireland is very different to the US. An Irish student can take a prescribed law degree (usually a BA or BCL), and becomes eligible to become a solicitor or barrister after passing the exams and courses.

However, as you don't have a prescribed degree, you'd have to do an LLB course, which are between three and four years depending on if you do it full time or not. Your MA in political science MAY, and I stress may, give you some exemptions, but you'd have to contact the relevant department.

Shawn the Mick

Thanks! Looks like I'll have to buckle up for another 3

sureitsgrand

CTYIgirl wrote: »

The way law is studied in Ireland is very different to the US. An Irish student can take a prescribed law degree (usually a BA or BCL), and becomes eligible to become a solicitor or barrister after passing the exams and courses.

However, as you don't have a prescribed degree, you'd have to do an LLB course, which are between three and four years depending on if you do it full time or not. Your MA in political science MAY, and I stress may, give you some exemptions, but you'd have to contact the relevant department.

I'm pretty sure this is wrong - regarding the route to become a solicitor anyway.

In order to be come a solicitor in Ireland you need three things:

1. ANY third level degree. (Does not have to be in law). You'd have to check but I'm pretty sure your US degree will satisfy this requirement.
2. Pass 8 FE1s (exams in various basic subjects in law). - This gets you into Blackhall Place...solicitor school!
3. An apprenticeship.

Check out the Law Society website, it's all there.

Now, it's a different story to become a barrister. You have to have a prescribed law degree OR the Kings Inns Diploma in Law. You then take an entrance exam to get into the Kings Inns Barrister degree course. all the info for this will be on the Kings Inns website.

So, essentially it'll come down to whether you want to be a solicitor or barrister.

Good luck with it!

NoPasaran

Some students are 'fast tracked' into the final year of the LLB. I suspect you would not be although you may be exempt from some modules if they will transfer credit from any law related subjects you did in your BA/MA.

I know you're not asking for careers advice but I would suggest you have a think about whether it's really worth paying for another 3 years to do the LLB in addition to the fees for the Blackhall exams and what you will have already paid for your BA and MA in the States. IMO it wouldn't be worth it just to become a solicitor but maybe you have time & money to burn - not my business but the best of luck to ya.

LoonyLovegood

sureitsgrand wrote: »

I'm pretty sure this is wrong - regarding the route to become a solicitor anyway.

In order to be come a solicitor in Ireland you need three things:

1. ANY third level degree. (Does not have to be in law). You'd have to check but I'm pretty sure your US degree will satisfy this requirement.
2. Pass 8 FE1s (exams in various basic subjects in law). - This gets you into Blackhall Place...solicitor school!
3. An apprenticeship.

Check out the Law Society website, it's all there.

Now, it's a different story to become a barrister. You have to have a prescribed law degree OR the Kings Inns Diploma in Law. You then take an entrance exam to get into the Kings Inns Barrister degree course. all the info for this will be on the Kings Inns website.

So, essentially it'll come down to whether you want to be a solicitor or barrister.

Good luck with it!

No, those all have to happen, I was just giving the very, very basics for the LLB. I don't like thinking about everything I'll have to do in the future, it gives me a headache.

sureitsgrand

CTYIgirl wrote: »

No, those all have to happen, I was just giving the very, very basics for the LLB. I don't like thinking about everything I'll have to do in the future, it gives me a headache.

Listen, I dont want to to get into a pissing contest. All I was saying was that the info you gave him was misleading. He doesn't need a prescribed degree to become a solicitor as you indicated. His US undergraduate degree (once cleared with the Law Society) will allow him to sit the FE1s and get an apprenticeship.

apriori

sureitsgrand wrote: »

I'm pretty sure this is wrong - regarding the route to become a solicitor anyway.

In order to be come a solicitor in Ireland you need three things:

1. ANY third level degree. (Does not have to be in law). You'd have to check but I'm pretty sure your US degree will satisfy this requirement.
2. Pass 8 FE1s (exams in various basic subjects in law). - This gets you into Blackhall Place...solicitor school!
3. An apprenticeship.

Check out the Law Society website, it's all there.

Now, it's a different story to become a barrister. You have to have a prescribed law degree OR the Kings Inns Diploma in Law. You then take an entrance exam to get into the Kings Inns Barrister degree course. all the info for this will be on the Kings Inns website.

So, essentially it'll come down to whether you want to be a solicitor or barrister.

Good luck with it!

Basically, it all comes down to whether your BA degree is equivalent to point 1 "any third level degree". In Europe, the ECTS (i.e. a European Credit Transfer System) means that all bachelors (undergraduate courses) require a minimum amount of ECTS. Each module meeting certain criteria e.g. workload is alloted a certain ECTS. A rough example: 6 ECTS would be one year-long law subject with one examination assessment.

Seeing as this system doesn't exist in America, you will have to contact a university to test how equivalent to the ECTS system.

Shawn the Mick

Thanks everyone for taking the time to contribute and share your info!