BCL (Law and French) Degree (CK302)
Why choose the BCL (Law and French) – CK 302?
The BCL (Law and French) is a Joint Honours degree in Law and in French. For four years, students engage in the study of law and of the French language, culture and literature. One of the highlights of the degree is a year spent at one of UCC's prestigious partner universities in France or Canada (Paris, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Lyon, Rennes, or Montréal). The degree can fully qualify students for entrance to the Irish legal professional bodies (Law Society and King’s Inns), as well as for further training for the teaching profession. Students can also pursue further postgraduate studies in Law or in French. There are also opportunities to gain official French legal qualifications (Diplôme or Certificat) during the course of the degree.
Graduates of the BCL (Law and French) degree have pursued varied careers in law, but also in other areas. Some are now working in EU and UN institutions, in law firms around the world, as in-house lawyers in large corporations, and in the diplomatic corps. Other graduates have used the degree as a foundation step in establishing their own businesses.
Dr Bénédicte Sage-Fuller manages the programme and provides individual mentoring and support to all students.
Students and Graduates recommend the BCL (Law and French) because...
The degree affords you the opportunity to study in a French University for a year, improve your fluency in French and offers you an insight into a civil law legal system. Having a law and language degree also increases your suitability for a wide range of career opportunities both in Ireland and abroad, all of this is in addition to the general law degree. It is also great being part of a smaller class within the larger BCL class and having the opportunity to study such a wide variety of modules. (Caroline Buckley)
I would recommend the BCLF degree as it gives you the best of both worlds. You get both an excellent legal and French education, and in current times, having a European language is so important. The degree will open up so many avenues for you, and is the perfect combination of two academic disciplines. (Kate O’Regan)
Students and Graduates recommend the BCL (Law and French) because of the calibre of the academic programme and its invaluable International and European dimension. This programme offers an extensive grounding in various legal subjects within the Common law while the study of the French language and the Civil legal system give students the opportunity to apply their studies in a wider legal sphere. Law and French students benefit from specially tailored classes throughout their degree. The third year is spent studying in a French University and is enriching on an academic, cultural and personal level. I will graduate from the BCL (Law and French) programme knowing I made the best decision possible on my CAO four years ago and am excited for the future and all the opportunities that await. (Edel O’Connell)
Core Modules
The core modules taken over the four years are:
Law Core Modules
- Legal Writing and Analysis
- Introduction to Legal Systems
- Constitutional Law (either through English or Irish "Dlí Bunreachtúil")
- Criminal Law
- Law of Contract
- Law of Torts
- Elements of French Civil Law
- Law of Property
- Law of the European Union
French Core Modules
- Foundation Course in Written and Oral French
- Law, Language and Literature
- Introduction to French Studies
- Advanced French Language V
- The History of Ideas inFrance: Justice and Freedom
- Advanced Use of French
- Language and Interpretation
For more details on module content, please click here.
Partner Institutions
Our partner institutions are:
France
- Université Paris Ouest Nanterre la Défense
- Université de Lyon
- Université Montpellier
- Univeristé de Rennes
- Université de Strasbourg
Canada
Please visit their websites or speak to the Director of the BCL (Law & French), Dr Bénédicte Sage-Fuller (b.sage@ucc.ie) to learn more about these exciting opportunities.
