BCL Hons Law with French Law

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University College Dublin

Program Overview

The BCL (Hons) Law with French Law at UCD is designed for students who want a strong Irish law degree combined with deep knowledge of French law and professional-level French language skills. It’s ideal if you see yourself working across borders, within Europe, or in international legal and business environments.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building the Basics
You begin with the foundations of Irish law through core subjects such as Constitutional Law and Contract Law, while also strengthening your French language skills and being introduced to French legal concepts. This year focuses on developing legal thinking alongside confident communication in French.

Year 2 – Comparative Law in Action
In second year, you study key areas like Criminal Law and EU Law, while your French studies move into legal language and civil law traditions. You start comparing common law and civil law systems, an essential skill for international legal work.

Year 3 – Year Abroad in France
A defining feature of this degree is the full academic year spent studying law at a partner university in France. You immerse yourself in French law, legal culture, and academic life, gaining fluency and real cross-jurisdictional experience.

Year 4 – Advanced and International Focus
In your final year, you return to UCD to study advanced Irish law options and comparative law subjects. You graduate with a unique perspective on law across two legal systems and strong international credibility.

Focus areas

Irish common law, French civil law, comparative legal systems, EU law, French legal language

Learning outcomes

Strong legal analysis across jurisdictions, professional-level French communication, comparative reasoning, cultural and legal awareness

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The degree covers the core law subjects required for progression into professional legal training in Ireland, while the French law component adds clear value for European and international legal careers.

Reputation (employability)

UCD’s law graduates are highly regarded by employers, particularly for roles involving EU law, cross-border work, and international organisations, thanks to the combination of legal rigour and language expertise.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At University College Dublin, the BCL (Hons) Law with French Law is designed to help you experience law as it is practised — across borders, systems, and cultures. You’ll build real-world legal skills through advocacy training, research, group work, and immersive international study, while developing the confidence to operate in both English and French legal environments.

This practical learning comes together through dedicated facilities, structured activities, and international exposure:

Moot Court & Advocacy Training: You’ll practise legal argument, courtroom procedure, and public speaking in UCD’s purpose-built Moot Court, using professional-style audiovisual setups that replicate real legal hearings.
Law Society & Group Projects: Through UCD’s highly active Law Society, you can take part in mock trials, mooting competitions, debates, and team-based legal challenges — ideal for building teamwork, leadership, and persuasive skills.
Legal Research & Writing: Students can develop advanced research and academic writing skills by contributing to the UCD Law Review, gaining experience in legal analysis, editing, and publication.
Year Abroad in France: A defining feature of this degree is the full academic year spent studying law at a partner university in France. This immersion strengthens your fluency in legal French and gives you first-hand experience of a civil law system in practice.
Library & Digital Legal Resources: You’ll have access to extensive law and language collections through UCD’s library system, alongside digital legal databases that support case analysis, comparative research, and coursework across both jurisdictions.
Community-Focused Learning: Some law-related modules and activities allow students to engage in outreach or educational projects, helping you develop communication skills while applying legal knowledge in real social contexts.

Together, these experiences ensure you graduate not just with strong academic credentials, but with the practical confidence, international outlook, and professional skills that employers value in cross-border legal careers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BCL (Hons) Law with French Law at University College Dublin typically progress into careers that combine legal expertise with international and European focus. Many move into roles such as solicitor, international commercial lawyer, EU legal adviser, or policy analyst, using their bilingual legal training to stand out in competitive job markets across Ireland and Europe:

Dedicated career support: From early in the degree, UCD’s Careers Network supports you with personalised career guidance, CV and interview preparation, employer presentations, and large-scale careers fairs. Law students also benefit from school-specific career events that connect them directly with legal professionals and recruiters.
Strong graduate outcomes: UCD consistently reports that over 90% of graduates are in employment, further study, or training within nine months of graduation — reflecting the strong reputation of UCD law degrees among employers.
Employer and institutional links: UCD maintains strong relationships with law firms, multinational companies, public bodies, and European institutions. These connections support internships, graduate recruitment, and cross-border career opportunities, particularly for students with language and comparative law expertise.
Long-term professional value: The programme includes the core Irish law subjects required for progression into professional legal training in Ireland, while the French law component adds lasting value for EU-focused and international legal careers.
Where graduates go: Alumni pursue careers not only in traditional legal practice, but also in EU institutions, diplomacy, compliance, policy, international organisations, and corporate legal departments, benefiting from their dual-system legal education.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the degree, students can progress to postgraduate law programmes such as an LLM in areas including EU Law, International Law, or Commercial Law, either at UCD or internationally. Many also continue into professional legal training to qualify as solicitors or barristers, while others pursue advanced study in related fields such as public policy, international relations, or legal research.