Trinity College Dublin (TCD) School of Law

The University

Founded in 1592, Trinity College, the single constituent college of the University of Dublin, is the oldest university in Ireland and one of the oldest universities of Europe. Located in the heart of Dublin City and one of Ireland major tourist attractions, it contains many historical buildings alongside many state-of-the-art libraries, lecture theatres, laboratories, IT facilities and recreational facilities.

Trinity prides itself on its tradition of personal contact between staff and students, encouraged by its collegiate atmosphere. Its seventeen thousand staff and students form a compact academic community, with several hundred students and a number of staff living on campus.

The University Library is one of the largest in Europe, with extensive collections, electronic books and core academic journals available online. Postgraduate students can also enjoy exclusive 24 hour access to the 1937 Postgraduate Reading Room.

Trinity College Dublin is the top Irish university for postgraduates, with some 5,300 students (32% of the total student body) on the postgraduate register. It is recognised internationally as Ireland's premier university and is ranked in 60th position in the top 100 world universities and 14th position in the top 200 European universities by the QS World University Rankings.

The historic and picturesque squares in Trinity College were recently chosen by renowned Indian director Kabir Khan to film his latest Bollywood movie "Ek Tha Tiger" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfsFx_6Eluc

The Law School

Trinity College Dublin's School of Law founded in 1740, is Ireland's oldest and most internationally renowned Law School. We are a relatively small and very friendly school, with student welfare at the heart of our activities. We attract students of the highest calibre both nationally and internationally and currently have a student population of approximately 510 undergraduates and 170 postgraduate taught and research students and rank in the Top 100 QS World university Rankings by Subject (Law).

The School of Law is strongly committed to maintaining and further developing its reputation for rigorous legal scholarship and research, both in a national and international context and seeks to promote standards of academic excellence, and in particular, the ability to think analytically, among the student body. It is widely recognised as providing a liberal environment where independent thinking is encouraged and as promoting the ideals of social inclusion and equality. Together the Law School staff and students form a vibrant community inspired by the values of mutual respect and co-operation.

Our staff members are experts in their chosen field, involved in writing and editing leading textbooks, casebooks and commentaries on a vast number of different areas of law including disciplines with a strong International and Comparative law focus (such as International Human Rights Law, International Criminal law and Islamic law to name but a few), to disciplines with a broad International and European Commercial law basis (including subjects such as Banking and Financial Services law, corporate governance and International Commercial dispute resolution, again to name just a very few). In addition, the Law School is delighted to welcome various national and international legal experts as lecturers on the LLM programmes.

Former members of staff include former President, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and current Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin Mary Robinson, former President Mary McAleese, the late South African Minister for Education Professor Kader Asmal and the late Irish Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Lenihan.

The Law School is home to one of Ireland's leading legal periodicals, the Dublin University Law Journal and to the Trinity College Law Review published by the student members of the College's Law Society. The annual Law Student Colloquium, an international conference in which undergraduate and postgraduate law students present short papers on a wide variety of topics, is also run by students at the School of Law. In addition the law school runs a large number of top level legal conferences annually which postgraduate students are warmly invited to attend.

Further information is available at www.tcd.ie/Law/

Follow the School of Law on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TrinityCollegeDublinLaw

The Program

-Master of Laws (LL.M.)
-Master of Laws (LL.M.) International and Comparative Law
-Master of Laws (LL.M.) International and European Business Law

The School of Law currently offers three taught Master in Laws (LL.M.) Degrees that boast an enormous variety of modules - enough to ensure that all students have their needs and interests catered for by our gifted academics and expert practitioners. Our flagship LLM course is the general LLM, but some of you may wish to focus and streamline your studies through our LLM in International and Comparative Law or our LLM in International and European Business Law. These are briefly discussed below, but the general message is that whether you wish to learn about the world of banking and financial services law or the legal system of Timor Leste or the pressing practical concerns connected with employment litigation (and anything in between!) you will find it on our LLM programmes

To see the vast list of modules available to LLM students, please visit www.tcd.ie/Law/postgraduate/

LLM
The LLM programme offers top quality graduates the opportunity for postgraduate study where they can select modules from a very substantial list of options covering many disparate branches of law. Students must select six such modules and must also complete a 25,000 word dissertation on a subject of their choice. The LLM programme welcomes graduates from many different countries, thereby offering students the chance to study in an intellectually rigorous and culturally diverse environment. It is the perfect programme for students who do not wish to be overly specialised in their postgraduate studies and who wish to broaden their knowledge base and to enhance their legal qualifications.

LL.M (International and Comparative Law)
With the increased globalization of the last twenty years and, even earlier, with the rise to prominence of the international human rights movement, there has been a huge impetus for students of all nationalities towards studying areas of law with a broad international and comparative law focus. In the LLM (International and Comparative Law) we offer students the chance to study from a large list of modules with a broad international and comparative law feel - many of which relate, unsurprisingly to international and regional human rights law. Students are also required to complete a 25,000 word dissertation on a topic covered by the broad heading of international and comparative law, and approved by the course director.

LL.M (International and European Business Law)
Many of our students have an ambition ultimately to work as commercial lawyers in busy international legal practices. For such students our LLM (International and European Business Law) is an ideal choice. Students will study from a large list of modules which relate broadly to international and European business law and will also complete a 25,000 word dissertation on a topic covered by this broad heading. The law school aims to provide students on this LLM with invaluable specialist knowledge which will mark them out as attractive applicants for any firm looking to recruit lawyers in this area.

Master in Letters (M.Litt) and Doctor in Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The School of Law also provides for students attracted to in depth research and writing with our two research degree programmes

Our expert staff provide academic support to those interested in undertaking independent research while our postgraduate workshop series provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of work in progress from different areas of law.

Entry Requirements

Applications for admission to our LL.M degree programmes are invited from graduates holding a good honors law or law based interdisciplinary degree. Admission to each programme is at the exclusive discretion of the LL.M sub-committee, which considers the totality of any applications received and the objectives of ensuring a diverse LLM class of the highest possible academic calibre before deciding whether or not to make an offer (including a conditional offer) to an applicant. Thus admission to the programme is in no case an automatic consequence of achieving a particular grade in one's undergraduate degree. Admission requirements may vary from year to year.

Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must present one of the following qualifications in the English Language:

-TOEFL - An internet-based score of at least 88, a computerised score of at least 230 or a manual score of at least 570
-IELTS - A minimum grade of 6.5 is required.
-Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English / Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C
-Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE Academic - A minimum score of 63 is required (with no section score below 59)?

Application Procedure

All applications should be completed no later than 1st May of the year admission is sought. However, we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.

Applicants must complete an online application form and submit the following supporting documentation (preferably within 5 days of completing the online application form):

- A fully completed online application form and application fee
-Proof of Undergraduate Degree (Degree certificates/transcripts) and all other qualifications received to date
- Two Academic References (Official reference form can be downloaded FAQ section of the online application website).
- An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae.
- Proof of English Language Certification (If necessary)
- If you are applying as an EU Student, we require proof that you have been ordinarily resident in the EU for at least three of the last five years in order to consider you as an EU student for fee-paying purposes.

Application instructions and links to the online application centre are available at www.tcd.ie/GraduateStudies and www.tcd.ie/Law/postgraduate

Tuition and Fees

Details on tuition and fees are available at www.tcd.ie/Treasurers_Office/fees/

Location

"Dublin has become a more multicultural and cosmopolitan place in the past two decades but at its heart remains a tradition and culture that is all its own."
Dublin recently ranked 8th in the Best Student Cities in the World 2012 Ranking - QS Top Universities

Trinity College is located in the very heart of Dublin, the principal city of Ireland - a country located on the western edge of Europe with air links to all major cities worldwide. Small by present-day international standards and easily navigated, Dublin has nevertheless the resources of a capital city with a full and varied historical, cultural and intellectual life. Our National Museums and Galleries showcase our unique Celtic history while our smaller galleries showcase modern and contemporary art.

Trinity College is located in the very heart of Dublin, the principal city of Ireland. Small by present-day international standards and easily navigated, Dublin has nevertheless the resources of a capital city with a full and varied historical, cultural and intellectual life. Our National Museums and Galleries showcase our unique Celtic history while our smaller galleries showcase modern and contemporary art. In the work of its writers, playwrights, actors and musicians, Dublin stands up well to comparison in quality and variety with any capital city in Europe. A hub for sporting activities, Dublin hosts sporting events in all major sports and caters for those with more obscure sporting interests.

A variety of industries thrive in Dublin and students can benefit from studying at the centre of Irish political, administrative and commercial life. With many Irish and EU headquarters located in Dublin, students have access to many avenues upon completion of their studies at Trinity College.

Dublin in the twenty first century is an exciting and progressive capital city with much for people to do and see. With one of the youngest populations in Europe, it is home to many Irish and global eateries, boutiques, shops and markets to suit every budget and taste and provides students with a pleasant environment to carry out their studies at Trinity College.

Accommodation

The Accommodation Office at Trinity College offers support to those wishing to apply for College accommodation on campus or at the modern and comfortable Trinity Hall of Residence. Find out more about College accommodation and the on-line application facility at www.tcd.ie/accommodation/StudentsandStaff.

Many postgraduate students find accommodation in shared houses or self-catering flats and apartments in the city centre. Each September, the Accommodation Advisory Service also provides support to those seeking private accommodation. Advertisements also appear on the many noticeboards around College, especially in Front Arch and the Accommodation Office. These are generally looking for people to share accommodation with and if you do not know anyone in Dublin, may be a good option.

Temporary housing of up to a maximum of two weeks can be arranged on the main campus in September, to allow international students time to search for long-term accommodation

Student Life

In addition to the vast array of activities available in Dublin's city centre, Trinity College provides a complete day-time environment, with a range of facilities - dining hall, cafeterias and bars, and a varied social life sustained by over 90 College societies and 50 TCD Sports Clubs. The newly built Science Gallery and Sports Centre, together with the Douglas Hyde Gallery, numerous school museums and the Samuel Beckett and Players Theatre provide students with many ways to spend time between lectures.

The School of Law also encourages student interaction outside the classroom and organises numerous social events throughout the academic year, including LLM receptions, the Staff Student Walk, the Staff-Student cabaret. The Student Law Society also provides social and academic events such as high profile guest lectures, law debates and moot courts, the Law Ball and much more.

Postgraduate students can also benefit from numerous support services provided by College, including but not limited to the Graduate Students Union, Careers Advisory Service, IS Services, the Centre for Academic Practice and eLearning (CAPSL), Student Health and Counseling Service, Disability Service, the College Day Nursery.

Rémi Ribas, France
2011-12 LLM Student
The masters is completely suitable for international students due to the content of the European and international options and also the practical lectures offer skills advantageous to a legal practitioner. Everything is tailored for you to succeed, not by fitting your ability but by encouraging you to achieve excellence.

Irfan Ahmed, Pakistan
2010-2011 LLM Student
I felt privileged to be a student at Trinity College. The atmosphere for study at Trinity, especially at the School of Law is wonderful. From administration to lecturers, all are very co-operative and ready to help at any time. During my studies at Trinity, I met students from all over the world, providing me with wonderful social and academic exposure. The School of Law have an excellent teaching staff who are very professional and friendly to students and possess excellent teaching skills and knowledge of their areas of law.

Emma Carroll, Australia
2010-11 LLM Student
Reading a taught LL.M. at Trinity College Dublin was a life-enhancing experience. The subjects were topical and varied, taught by enthusiastic and attentive academics. The atmosphere of TCD?s incredibly beautiful and historic campus was always vibrant and social. The LL.M. course gave me the opportunity to enhance my expertise from a wider, global perspective, particularly in respect of the EU legal system. I also participated in some of the many student societies on offer at TCD, which was a great way to make new friends and build up a like-minded social circle. Balancing intensive study with friendship and conversation is vital to academic success and TCD was readily able to offer this to international students. Studying at TCD was a richly rewarding experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to gain an internationally respected qualification while enjoying everything that Ireland has to offer.

Paweena Kosoljitkul, Thailand
2010-11 LLM Student
This LLM course provides various interesting modules that I could choose, some of them are available only at the Law School of Trinity College Dublin. This course didn't give me only great academic experiences, but also great friendships. I very much enjoyed my year as well as the atmosphere of the college. I would have regretted it if I was not a part of this LLM and Trinity College Dublin.

Summer Program

English Language Support is available for registered international postgraduate students (non-native speakers of English).

Pre-sessional intensive English module - This intensive pre-sessional English course runs for four weeks before the start of the first term (August ? September) with a focus on academic English. Classes are free of charge for postgraduate students who are eligible to register, upon nomination from the LLM Course Director.

In-sessional English module ? This module runs throughout the academic year. Classes are free of charge for registered postgraduate students , upon nomination from the LLM Course Director.

Legal English Module ? The Law School offers a module on Legal English to registered international postgraduate students throughout the academic year