UCC School of Law

Law Courses in Cork

University College Cork offers a range of law courses for undergraduate and postgraduate level with specialisations in our key research areas. Our taught programmes build on the expertise and reputation of the School of Law's highly successful academics and offer world-class education to help you achieve a successful career.

Graduates of University College Cork's School of Law have gone on to highly prestigious careers in the legal professions, the judiciary, the civil service, non-governmental organisations, and international institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union.

Professional Qualifications

Legal education has been at the heart of University College Cork (UCC) since its establishment in 1845. For the past 170 years, the School of Law has helped to shape a just society by training generations of Irish solicitors, barristers, judges and academics. UCC's School of Law has also become a centre of international excellence with students from all over the world graduating from our undergraduate and postgraduate taught and research law degrees.

Law Society of Ireland

Graduates from UCC School of Law’s BCL and LLB degrees are exempt from the preliminary examinations undertaken by the Law Society of Ireland and can apply directly to sit the Law Society’s FE1 exams. For more information about the procedure for qualification as a solicitor in Ireland, visit our Qualifying for Legal Practice page.

Bar Council of Ireland

Graduates from UCC School of Law’s BCL and LLB degrees are eligible to undertake the entrance examination for the Honourable Society of King’s Inns. For more information about the procedure for qualification as a barrister in Ireland, visit our Qualifying for Legal Practice page. 

Qualifying for Legal Practice in different countries

With a law degree from UCC, you can qualify for Legal Practice in countries all over the world. Learn more on our Qualifying for Legal Practice page.

Our various Law Clinics provide a bridge between our academic teaching and research work and litigation, civil society, advocacy and law reform. Students and academics collaborate on submissions to law reform processes and on producing research briefs that support the work of civil society groups or lawyers engaged in litigation.

Notable examples include the work of the Child Law Clinic on securing redress for survivors of sexual abuse in National Schools, which helped to secure rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in the Louise O’Keeffe case in 2014, and by the Government’s Independent Assessor in 2019.

The Family Law Clinic website provides accessible legal information on aspects of the family law system for interested members of the public.

At the IT Law Clinic, students provide legal information to startups on issues such as copyright, data protection and selling online. The clinic is the first such clinic in any Irish university and provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of these dynamic legal areas to real-life problems faced by businesses.

The UCC Sports Law Clinic, the only undergraduate clinic of its kind in the world, provides a unique opportunity for students to directly engage with real clients, ranging from professional to amateur clients both within and outside of UCC in areas such as child protection, disciplinary hearings, negligence, transfers and governance.

“Moving from Chile to Ireland to pursue the LL.M. in Environmental and Natural Resources Law at University College Cork was one of the most challenging decisions I have ever made. It meant leaving behind everything familiar to embrace a new culture, a different language, a different climate and, ultimately, a completely new way of seeing the world.

I arrived in Cork as a lawyer determined to deepen my knowledge, but I left with something far more valuable: a different way of thinking about the law.

One moment from the programme has stayed with me ever since. During one of our classes, a professor told us: “Never stop questioning the law. A good lawyer is not the one who simply follows the rules, but the one who constantly reflects on them with a critical mind.” Those words continue to guide my professional life. They remind me that our responsibility is not only to understand the law, but also to question whether it is truly serving the society and environment it seeks to protect.

Beyond the classroom, learning alongside classmates from different countries and legal traditions taught me that the best ideas emerge when we are willing to listen, challenge our own assumptions and learn from one another. My dissertation, comparing the environmental regulation of salmon farming in Chile and Norway, reflected that international perspective and reinforced my commitment to advancing more sustainable legal solutions.

Yet, what I cherish most about my time at UCC is the life I built beyond my studies. Cork welcomed me with extraordinary warmth. What began as an unfamiliar place gradually became a second home, filled with lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. Returning to Chile and later having the privilege of representing UCC at the Irish Education Fair in Santiago, only reaffirmed how grateful I am to have been part of this community.

UCC gave me an outstanding legal education, but it also gave me something less tangible and equally important: the confidence to think critically, the courage to embrace new perspectives and a place that, no matter how far away, will always feel like home”.

''The UCC School of Law is a brilliant opportunity to develop, both academically and personally. I came to UCC from Germany in September 2024 with a rather rigid idea of how law is taught. Large lecture theatres, lots of students, a great deal of dry material to study and hardly any personal contact with the lecturers. It was at the UCC School of Law that I discovered that studying law can be quite different. At the time, I was very interested in an LLM programme. I eventually chose Cork because of the beautiful campus, the charming city and, in particular, the opportunity to pursue the General LLM.

The General LLM programme I undertook offered a wide range of legal subjects that I had never been able to study in Germany. From Intellectual Property Law through to Introduction to the Law of the Sea and Foundations of International Children’s Rights, I was able to gain insights into a wide variety of legal fields, which has been of great benefit to me in my legal journey.

I particularly enjoyed the practical courses such as Alternative Dispute Resolution and Managing Complex Disputes. These courses give students the opportunity to simulate negotiations, mediations or even a full-scale arbitration in realistic scenarios. For me, as an international student, the chance to discuss legal matters in English was particularly valuable.

“I also really appreciated that the classes were mostly small. This makes it easier to actively participate in class. At the same time, you can build a more personal connection with the lecturers, who are always on hand to offer advice and support.

This personal contact was also evident whilst writing my dissertation. Here, too, your supervisor provides comprehensive support. I received a great deal of support from my supervisor, Seán Ó Conaill, on my dissertation ‘Artificial Intelligence in Sport: A Legal Analysis of Current Regulation, the Impact of the EU AI Act and Future Challenges’, in which I was able to bring together my interests in sport and technological developments.

The School of Law is also the perfect place for international students. People from all over the world come together here, united by a shared passion for law, which leads to an excellent cultural exchange. Thanks to the School of Law, I am delighted to now have friends all over the world who have enriched my life immensely, both in terms of my legal perspective and on a personal level.

Having completed my LLM, I am currently in the final phase of my legal training in Germany. I am gaining a great deal of practical experience at a civil court, at the public prosecutor’s office, in a law firm and at a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. Through these experiences, I have realised that my time at UCC has also given me a completely different perspective on German law, which I can put to use every day.

I am extremely grateful to UCC for my time there and am looking forward to everything that lies ahead”. 

''My experience in the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law in UCC was transformative, both personally and professionally. I completed my undergraduate degree in Civil Law and had a keen interest in family law, in particular due to youth work I had done as a teenager related to the voice of the child in divorce and separation proceedings. I also knew I did not want to pursue the solicitor or barrister route, and wanted to focus more on research. The LLM seemed like a perfect fit for my interests and so I chose to do it part-time over two years, in order to live and work in Cork.

The LLM covers a wide range of areas including children’s rights, juvenile justice, and family property. It also provides a unique opportunity to work on active cases through both the Child and Family Law Clinics. The Clinics allowed me to work on cases concerning access and maintenance, which allowed me to gain practical experience.

The most valuable aspect of the course for me was the mentorship provided by the lecturers throughout my time in UCC. I received fantastic support and guidance from the faculty, giving me the opportunity to gain work experience and improve both my research and writing skills. I was able to publish work with Professor Conor O’Mahony and Professor Louise Crowley, developing my professional abilities. I completed my dissertation on the sexual and reproductive health of children and young people in Ireland, a part of which I was subsequently able to publish in the Irish Journal of Family Law.

Following the completion of the LLM, I have been able to work in roles related to human rights, children’s rights, and law reform, and the qualification is looked upon highly by employers. Choosing this course was a fantastic decision for me, and I cannot recommend it enough.''

''One of my very earliest memories is fear of climate change. Worry for the future. Grief knowing all wouldn’t be here forever. Out of this anxiety, a life-long commitment to climate activism and action inevitably arose. First, this took me down the path of environmental science. The what and how of climate change, mechanics behind greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem state changes, and extinction vortices.

I cultivated an intimate comprehension of how our world was changing, but lacked the
understanding of why nothing was being done about it.

This is where my interest in law began,which led me to pursue an Environmental and Natural Resource LLM at UCC.

Here I learned from storied and insightful global experts who were eager to give me their time and entertain my curiosity. Their guidance helped me come to terms with the limited scope of international diplomacy, grapple with sticky legal questions teased out only in our highest courts, and gave me the skills necessary to not merely understand environmental policy, but shape it. I found my scientific research skills translated exceptionally well to law, allowing me to further develop my expertise in a law and policy context. UCC gave me the freedom to explore my research interest areas of disasters and ecosystem services, resulting in my first class
dissertation on the implementation of Irish flood disaster risk reduction policy.

The transition from science to law was initially intimidating, but I persevered and thrived thanks to the incredible support of the Law Faculty.

Since finishing my dissertation, I have been pursuing every opportunity available to me in my
adopted home of Cork City. I became secretary of the local cycling group “Queer Bike Rides”
and was a key author of the club’s constitution thanks to my legal knowledge. I joined a
Strategic Policy Committee for Cork City Council, where I am gaining first hand experience in
crafting local policy. I am also especially ecstatic to have joined the Board of Directors for
environmental policy NGO “The Environmental Forum”, helping to promote sustainable
development in Ireland.

My confidence in pursuing these opportunities would not be present if not for the knowledge and skills gained during my studies of environmental law at UCC. I am grateful for the experience and eager to put my newfound legal expertise to use fighting for a
more sustainable world.''

"My decision to pursue the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law at UCC stemmed from a strong interest in family dynamics, which grew during my Clinical LLB at Maynooth University. Wanting to specialise further, I found this programme to be an incredible fit. Receiving the 2022 CKT Scholarship was a huge honour that supported my journey, for which I remain deeply grateful.
The thought-provoking modules, spanning everything from child law clinic and family law to international justice, made the experience endlessly fascinating. Beyond the curriculum, the true standout of the LLM is the exceptional faculty.
Navigating postgraduate study isn't always a linear road, but the ongoing support from the Law School team, particularly Dympna O'Donovan, Professor Conor O’Mahony, and my brilliant supervisor, Professor Louise Crowley, was invaluable.

That dedication and guidance directly enabled me to achieve a major career milestone: having my LLM research dissertation published in the Irish Journal of Family Law. I could not have accomplished this without the mentorship of the UCC Law School team.

This degree has provided the perfect foundation for the beginning of my legal career. Beyond academics, moving here allowed me to discover Cork, which I am proud to now call my home. I cannot recommend University College Cork and the LLM in Children’s Rights and Family Law highly enough."

''The LLM (Alternative Dispute Resolution) was the ideal next step for me after completing the BCL (Law and Irish). The programme challenged me and allowed me to grow both professionally and as an individual. 

I always enjoyed legal research and writing during my BCL. In the last semester, I was unsure of my next career steps, but knew that I wanted to further my legal studies and pursue an LLM. I loved studying at UCC and had immersed myself in student life during my undergrad. Amongst other extracurriculars, I was an active member of the UCC Law Society (Internal Convenor and subsequently Conference Director), as well as writer and editor (News and subsequently Gaeilge) for the UCC Express. 

In January 2024, looking to continue my studies at UCC, I researched the various masters available and saw that the LLM (ADR) had been recently launched. It immediately caught my attention as I had participated in a couple of negotiation competitions during my undergraduate studies and knew that I wanted to further progress my negotiation skills. Although I had very little knowledge of mediation or arbitration, I understood that these were becoming more mainstream routes for resolving disputes and considered this masters to be both timely and practical. It also presented novel research opportunities in relation to Ireland’s system of dispute resolution, as until recently most ADR literature hailed from the United States. 

The majority of my BCL studies focused on legal principles stemming from the case law and their application to various scenarios, rather than the root causes of the scenarios underpinning the disputes. I believed it would be prudent to learn more about what causes conflict, what leads to disputes escalating and how conflicts can be best managed and resolved. 

The in class simulations were a highlight of my masters programme. Most modules presented opportunities to participate in mock mediations, arbitrations and negotiations. As well as learning core skills and paving the way for mediator accreditation with the Irish  Professional Mediators’ Organisation (the IPMO), I met many like minded students and made great friends. During my masters in UCC, I continued to participate in student life, for example, I took part in the FLAC Society’s client consultation competition.

I enjoyed drafting my dissertation in an area of law that I was passionate about. Like my peers in the LLM (ADR), I had the opportunity to combine my research in the field of ADR with another field of interest. I elected to take 15 credits of family law modules which ultimately laid the founding stone for the family law facet of my research. My dissertation considered the scope for mediation to assist surrogate mothers and intending parents to draft their surrogacy agreements. I later adapted some of my dissertation for publication in the Irish Journal of Family Law in April 2026.

The skills that I have learned during my masters have been integral to my career progression since. After completing my masters in autumn 2025, I passed the FE-1 and recently commenced my solicitor traineeship. At present, I am working in litigation and my LLM has ensured I have an in depth understanding of the alternative methods to resolving disputes so as to assist with appropriately advising clients, and to both prepare for and advocate on behalf of clients at negotiations or mediations. I developed critical research skills, skills of analysis, and legal writing during my LLM. The simulations and reflective writing allowed me to gain an understanding of complex legal concepts and improve my problem-solving skills. In addition, my masters enabled me to adapt a more client orientated way of thinking which I believe will stand to me as I continue my traineeship.''

“Choosing the LLM Environmental & Natural Resources Law at UCC was a turning point in my academic and professional journey.”

My journey into law began with a deep interest in governance, sustainability, and the evolving responsibilities of global businesses. I was drawn to the programme because of UCC’s strong reputation in environmental law and its focus on the intersection of policy, sustainability, and natural resource governance. As an international student, I wanted a course that would challenge me intellectually while giving me the space to explore emerging global issues.

The experience was exceptional. The Law School’s faculty were deeply supportive and encouraged me to pursue ambitious research, which led to my dissertation on ESG frameworks in Indian e‑commerce work that was later recognised with the Southern Law Association Prize. The course and research challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. But each obstacle pushed me to think more critically, and strengthened my analytical skills, broadened my understanding of environmental governance, and gave me the confidence to engage with complex legal and policy questions.

UCC gave me the freedom to explore the intersection of sustainability, governance, and corporate responsibility, and helped me develop the analytical skills I now use every day in my professional life. I now work in governance, quality, and compliance in Dublin in the social housing sector, where I apply the skills I developed at UCC every day. The grounding I received in environmental law and policy continues to shape my professional direction and long‑term commitment to sustainability and responsible organisational practice.

“UCC equipped me with the knowledge to understand environmental challenges and the confidence to help address them.”

''I completed the LL.M. in Intellectual Property and E-Law at the UCC School of Law, and it was a highly engaging and intellectually rewarding experience. The programme stands out for its forward-looking approach to the intersection of law, technology, and innovation, offering specialised legal training for the digital age while covering novel and dynamic issues related to the regulation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, as well as the legal and policy dimensions of the evolving digital economy.

What made this experience particularly valuable was the emphasis on critically engaging with real-world regulatory challenges. The programme encouraged a deeper understanding of how legal frameworks can respond to rapid technological change, while also fostering strong analytical and research skills.

The support and expertise of the academic staff, combined with a collaborative and international learning environment, made this a truly enriching experience. It has significantly shaped my academic and professional interests in the regulation and governance of emerging technologies.

I would highly recommend this LL.M. to anyone looking to develop a strong foundation in technology law and to engage with some of the most pressing legal questions of our time.''