What Leaving Cert Subjects Are Needed for Law? A Guide to Irish Entry Requirements

Leaving Certs in Ireland

The Leaving Certificate Examinations sit at levels 4 and 5 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are the final examination before students go on to Higher Education or employment in Ireland. 

As broken down by CareersPortal, there are three programme options to choose between; Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied. We have written about all three programmes in more detail in this article.

If you are looking to forge a career in the legal profession, you are most likely following the path of Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. 

Leaving Certificate

The traditional Leaving Certificate is the most common option followed by students and will typically involve studying the three core subjects of Gaeilge, English and Maths along with four other subjects. ✍️

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme

The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) is designed to add a strong vocational dimension to the traditional Leaving Certificate. Essentially the difference is the inclusion of two ‘Link Modules’ called Preparation for the World of Work and Enterprise Education.  👔

Central Applications Office points system

The Central Applications Office (CAO) processes applications for undergraduate courses in Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Decisions on admissions to undergraduate courses are made by the HEIs who instruct CAO to make offers to successful candidates. Your CAO points will be calculated in relation to your Leaving Certificate exam results. 💯

And remember, only the six best results, in recognised subjects, in one Leaving Certificate Examination will be counted for points computation. Your points will be calculated from one sitting of the Leaving Certificate Examination only.

Let's take a look at the Leaving Cert points needed for a future career in law in Ireland:

Leaving Certificate points system

Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme points system

Entry requirements for law in Ireland

The information below details the minimum academic entry requirements for five of the top universities offering degrees in law in Ireland. This information is intended as a guide only and you should check each university’s individual website carefully for the fullest and most up-to-date information about their entrance requirements and selection procedures. ☎️

If you do not meet or are not on track to meet any of the requirements below, we recommend contacting the relevant university’s admissions office for advice and clarification before you apply. 

Studying law in Northern Ireland 

If you are looking to study law in the UK or Northern Ireland you will need to understand how your leaving Certificates and CAO points translate into the UK’s UCAS points system. 🎓

The Leaving Certificate spans Levels 4 and 5 on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which corresponds with Levels 2 and 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 🇬🇧

For all international applications, the UCAS system is based on 'tariff points' which are standardised for all foreign qualifications. As the number of subjects studied is greater, Higher Level examinations in individual subjects in the Irish Leaving Certificate are considered to be of a somewhat lower standard than A-level. 🔢

Take a look at the chart below to see how your Leaving Certs results will translate into the UCAS tariff points system. You can also use the UCAS Tariff point calculator to calculate your UCAS Tariff Points.

Which Leaving Cert subjects should I take for law?

So, which Leaving Cert subjects are needed for law? The required Leaving Certs and the grades you need to achieve in each of them to secure a place at university can vary. It’s always best to check the specific entry requirements for each of the courses that you plan on applying for to make sure of what’s needed. 

Generally speaking, most undergraduate law degrees require that you take a combination of

• English
• Irish
• One additional language
• Mathematics

Leaving cert subjects needed for law

Let's take a look at those top five Universities and compare their subject and grade entry requirements.

Becoming a lawyer in Ireland

Now, you might be asking yourself; what qualifications do I need to be a lawyer in Ireland? Am I qualified once I have finished my law degree? Once you have completed your undergraduate law degree, there are several more steps between you and your dream career! Becoming a lawyer involves studying for exams and completing a training contract. 🤓

The following is a six-step summary based on the Law Society of Ireland’s guidance, we recommend contacting your preferred training institution for the exact requirements, details and dates.

#1 Law Society entrance examination

Sit and pass the Law Society entrance examination, the Final Examination – First Part (FE-1). Exams are held twice a year, in autumn and spring, and there are eight papers. 🖊️

#2 Secure a two-year training contract

Your two-year training contract – or Indentures of Apprenticeship – will need to be with an eligible solicitor who has been practising for at least four years. An eligible solicitor must be a partner within a firm or a sole practitioner. 🧑‍⚖️

#3 Professional Practice Course I

Apply to start Professional Practice Course I. Courses run in Dublin and Cork and start in September, running through to April–June when examinations are held.

The Law Society is also now offering a Professional Practice Course Hybrid – PPC Hybrid – which combines online lectures with face-to-face tuition. 🧑‍💻

#4 Begin training contract

Begin your two-year training contract or Indentures of Apprenticeship. 🏁

#5 Professional Practice Course II

Return to Law Society for Professional Practice Course II. Courses start in April and last for 12 weeks, with final examinations in June. 📚

#6 Complete training

Return to your training solicitor to complete the required in-office training. This usually takes around 11 months. ✅

Becoming a lawyer without a law degree

It is possible to become a lawyer in Ireland without holding an undergraduate degree in law. First, you’ll need to pass the Preliminary Examination, then you can move on to the same six-step process detailed above. 🧑‍🎓

This examination for non-graduates is held once each year, normally in April. The examination consists of three papers: English, Irish Government & Politics and General Knowledge. The pass mark in each paper is 50 percent and all three papers must be passed in one sitting in order to pass the examination. You are allowed a maximum of three attempts. 

If you are looking for some extra support to get you through The Senior Cycle and Leaving Certs, why not try a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at bringing subjects to life, boosting academic success and having fun along the way! Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. 🎒