2024 - 2025

Table of Contents

1. Contact Us............................................................................................................................................ 1
2. Law in the BA ....................................................................................................................................... 1
3. What can I expect? ............................................................................................................................... 2
4. What do I Study in First Year Law? ....................................................................................................... 2
5. How are the lectures delivered? ........................................................................................................... 4
6. Law Modules in 1BA Law ...................................................................................................................... 5
7. Are Places on the BA Law Limited? .................................................................................................... 11
8. Passing 1ST BA Law ............................................................................................................................ 12
9. About CÉIM at the University of Galway ............................................................................................. 12
10. Overview of Year 2024-2025 - Important Semester Dates .................................................................. 13
11. School of Law Office ........................................................................................................................... 14
12. Law Society ........................................................................................................................................ 14
13. University Supports............................................................................................................................. 15
1. Contact Us
Law specific queries: Please contact your Class Advisor and 1st BA Law co-ordinator,
Ursula Connolly at the School of Law at [email protected] or the School
of Law office at [email protected]

BA Queries: Please contact your first year BA Co-ordinator Catherine McCurry at the
College of Arts at [email protected]

Follow us on social media to keep up to date with what is happening in the School of Law.

@universityofgalwaylaw

@schooloflaw

@uniofgalwaylaw

@UniversityofGalwaySchoolofLaw

2. Law in the BA

Welcome to Law in the BA. We are delighted that you have decided to join us. This guide will
talk you through what your subject will look like in first year, what modules you will study and
with who, how you will be assessed, and some other useful information such as how you pass
1st BA, how you qualify for 2nd BA Law, and who you contact if you need advice or more
information.

This guide is intended for 1BA Joint-Honours students, 1st BA Denominated (three subjects),
1st BA Connect and BA Government students.

1BA Law Student Guide 1

3. What can I expect?

You’ve made it – well done! You will no doubt find it all quite daunting and confusing in the
beginning. Don’t panic, that is completely normal. In fact, most students spend at least 6
weeks in a state of confusion as to what they should be doing, and trying to figure out what
third level education is all about. We are here to help you, so get in touch anytime if it all feels
a bit overwhelming. You will hear a lot of this: “here is the reading”, “see what you find
interesting”, “make your own notes” and much less of “here is what you have to learn”. It is
a world away from secondary school education and takes some time to get used to. We have
put in place a number of resources to help, in particular CÉIM (see section 9). These sessions
will start in Week 3 and will help you to navigate third level. Information on CÉIM is available
here. You should also check Canvas regularly, most of the information you need to study
your modules will be here. You should also check your University email regularly. They all
work with your same login details but you will have to register first.

4. What do I Study in First Year Law?

Please see below under your specific programme for details as to the modules you will
study.

Law for BA (JOINT HONOURS) or Denominated (with 3 subjects) and BA

Government

If you choose the subject Law you are automatically registered for three modules:
Introduction to Law(5 ECTS), Tort Law (10 ECTS), and Legal Skills (5 ECTS). Once you
register for Law you will see these modules appear when you log into your Canvas account.
Your year is broken up into two semesters and will look like this:

Semester 1 Semester 2

Introduction to Law Legal Skills

Tort Law Tort Law
+ +

Two other subjects from the Two other subjects from the
Arts subject groupings Arts subject groupings

1BA Law Student Guide 2

 • Law for BA CONNECT students

If you chose to register for the subject Law, you are automatically registered for two modules:
Introduction to Law (5 ECTS) and Tort Law (10 ECTS). You will see these appear when you
log into your Canvas account. Your year will look like this:

Semester 1 Semester 2

Introduction to Law Tort Law

Tort Law
+ +

Two other subjects from the Arts Two other subjects from the
subject groupings Arts subject groupings

What’s an ECTS? ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) refers

to the weighting of an individual module and represents the amount
of effort it takes. 1 ECTS equates to about 20 hours of work or effort.
So, a 5 ECTS module takes about 100 hours effort. You’ll see more
about this on your module course outlines. The total number of ECTS
in any year is 60 divided equally between your subjects.

1BA Law Student Guide 3

5. How are the lectures delivered?

You attend two hours of lectures per week for each of your modules. They will take place in
lecture theatres on campus. You can see the timetable below for semester 1 (S1) and
semester 2 (S2). Please note that the times and days of lectures change slightly in semester
2. You can access your timetable here. If you cannot attend lectures for any reason, please
get in touch with the relevant lecturer (see details below). See section 10 below for dates for
the academic year, including semester dates and assessment dates.

Time Monday Wednesday Thursday

9.00 – 10.00 S1: LW3160 Introduction to Law
(AMB 1021 O’hEocha Theatre)

S2: LW3109 Tort Law

(AMB 1021 O’hEocha Theatre)

3.00 – 4.00 S1: LW3160 Introduction to Law

(AMB 1021 O’hEocha Theatre)

S2: LW3109 Tort (AMB 1022

Fottrell Theatre)

4.00 – 5.00 S1: LW3109 Tort S1: CÉIM sessions (from Week S1: LW3109 Tort (AMB -
Law 3) 1022 Fottrell Theatre)
(CSB-1006 (IT250) See YourSpace for your group
and room.
S2: LW126 Legal Skills
S2: LW126 Legal
(AMB - 1022 Fottrell
Skills (AC002 S2: CÉIM sessions (from Week Theatre)
Anderson Theatre) 3)
See YourSpace for your group
and room.

1BA Law Student Guide 4

6. Law Modules in 1BA Law

This section provides an overview of the modules taken in first BA Law. Full details,
including module outlines, will be available on Canvas.

Module name: Introduction to Law Semester 1 | Credits: 5

Programmes: 1st Bachelor of Arts Government (Politics, Economics and Law),
1st Bachelor of Arts with Children's Studies, 1st Bachelor of Arts (Drama, Theatre
& Performing Studies), 1st Bachelor of Arts (Global Experience), 1st Bachelor of
Arts (Global Media), 3rd Bachelor of Arts with Human Rights, 1st Bachelor of Arts
(Historical Studies), 1st Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), 1st Bachelor of Arts (Music),
Erasmus (Study Abroad), International Exchange, and 1st LLB Degree.

Module overview

In order to grasp fully the effect of substantive legal rules, it is essential to understand
the context in which those rules occur – namely, the legal system. The objective of
this module is to provide students with an effective understanding of the sources of
Irish law, and how the legal system works in Ireland. This module will provide you the
knowledge and skills you need to successfully undertake substantive law modules as
part of your degree. This course offers a general introduction to the Irish legal system,
rather than a detailed examination of areas of substantive law.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Understand and appreciate the importance of the rule of law;

2. Differentiate between and understand the different sources of Irish law;

3. Understand and use legal terminology appropriately;

4. Effectively apply the primary sources of law;

1BA Law Student Guide 5

5. Develop the skills to read case law and appreciate the importance of case law
within the Irish legal system;

6. Comprehend and critically evaluate the processes of law making in Ireland,

including the processes of law reform;

7. Appreciate and describe the Irish court structure and how it operates;

8. Understand the impact that international law and EU law on the Irish legal
system;

9. Appreciate and critically evaluate the relationship between law and society in
different contexts;

10. Demonstrate your knowledge of the legal professions and understand recent
reforms to the regulation of legal services in Ireland.

Module delivery

Delivery will take the form of 2 hours of lectures per week every week for 11 weeks.
There won’t be any tutorials in this module.

Introduction to Law Assessment:

What? What is it worth? When it is take place?

Two-hour MCQ exam 100% Examination period:

(Multiple Choice Questions)
Mon 9th Dec – Fri 20th
Dec.
The exams timetable
is generally available
from early November.

1BA Law Student Guide 6

Communication with the Introduction to Law lecturer

The lecturer for this module is Dr Charles O’Mahony.

You can arrange to meet Charles by booking an
appointment. He can be contacted by email at:
[email protected]

Further details will be available on the Canvas

Introduction to Law module.

Tort Law Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

BA (Joint Honours) in Law, BA Denominated (3 subjects) and BA Connect

Module Overview:

This module provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the statutory and judge-
made principles which permit recovery for recognised Torts (civil wrongs). The module
focuses on the most common torts and requires students to become proficient in the key
principles and their application, develop an understanding of the legal and societal context in
which the torts are litigated, and adopt a critical approach to the application of the principles.
The primary focus is on the law of torts in Ireland, however frequent reference will be made to
other common law jurisdictions where many of the legal principles governing this area have
been developed.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a firm understanding of the fundamental principles governing Irish Tort

Law.

2. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a number of selected torts.

3. Apply the principles of Tort Law to factual situations.

4. Understand the legal and societal context in which tort litigation arises.

1BA Law Student Guide 7

 5. Think critically in relation to the material covered.

Module delivery

Delivery includes lectures and tutorials.

Lectures: two one-hour lecturers weekly.
Tutorials: from Week 5 (the week of October 14th) students are expected to attend one, hour-long
tutorial, once every two weeks. Tutorials are small group sessions where students are divided
into groups of 20 or so and work with a tutor on some aspect of the module. In Tort Law,
tutorials are used to teach students the skills required to apply the law to factual situations.
Students will have to register for these themselves. Further details and details on how to
register will be provided in class and on Canvas from Week 2.

Assessments: further details will be available on the Tort Law Canvas module

What? What is it When it is due?

worth?

Two-hour 80% End of semester 2 (examination period runs

from 22nd April to the 9th May. Specific
written exam examination dates will be released in
advance)
Multiple-Choice 20% Monday November 18th at 4pm (i.e. during
Test lecture time).

Communication with the lecturers

There are two lecturers for this module:

1. Semester 1: Ursula Connolly, who is also the Class Adviser
and Subject Coordinator for 1st BA Law, will deliver the module
in semester 1. She can be contacted by email at:
[email protected]

2. Semester 2: Colleen Brownlee will deliver the module. She

can be contacted at
[email protected]

The lecturers will hold online office hours and will have a
Discussion Board here students can post questions or comments.

1BA Law Student Guide 8

Legal Skills Semester 2 | Credits: 5
BA (Joint Honours) in Law Module
(Please note that BA Connect students do not take this module)

Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to introduce you to some of the practical research and writing
skills that you will need to successfully complete your degree in law. These skills will also be
essential in pursuing a career in legal practice, legal research or other employment requiring
a graduate with a law degree.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be able to read and analyse primary and secondary legal sources of law.

2. Learn how to provide a legal citation for cases.

3. Be able to cite and correct reference legal sources.

4. Develop writing skills.

5. Develop oratory skills and improve your ability to express yourself orally.

6. Have an enhanced capacity for reflective thought.

1BA Law Student Guide 9

 Assessments: further details will be available on the Legal Skills module Canvas page

What? What is it worth? When it is due?

Elements provisional and Dates provisional and

subject to change
subject to change

Research and Citation 30% TBA (to be announced)

Assignment

Legal Submissions on a 70% TBA

case

Communication with the lecturer

The lecturer for this module is Larry Donnelly. He can be

contacted in semester 2 by email at:
[email protected]

Larry will also hold online office hours and will have a Discussion
Board for Legal Skills where students can post questions or
comments. Further details will be available on the Canvas Legal
Skills module in semester 2.

1BA Law Student Guide 10

7. Are Places on the BA Law Limited?
7.1 BA Law students other than BA Government students:
There is no limit on places in 1st BA Law but progression to subsequent years is restricted
to the top performing 100 students.

Places in 2 BA Law are offered to students based on their results in the subject Law. Students
must also pass their year overall. Places are offered on this basis in order of merit as
follows:

A. Students who pass Law on the first attempt and pass 1st BA overall in the
current academic year.
B. Students who have deferred examinations to the second sitting will be regarded
as eligible for a place on the same basis as students under A.
C. Any remaining places will be offered to students who pass Law at the first sitting
and pass the year overall on the second sitting in the current academic year.
D. Any remaining places will be offered to students who fail the subject Law in the
first sitting but who pass Law at the second sitting and pass the year overall in the
current academic year.
E. Any remaining places will be offered to students who passed 1st BA including
Law, in a preceding academic year.
F. Any remaining places will be offered to students who are repeating first year BA,
including repeating modules in Law in the current academic year.

Once you are admitted to 2 BA Law you then continue with Law and your second chosen
BA subject for the remainder of your degree.

BA Government Students
Students on the BA Government automatically have a right to continue with Law provided
they pass first year. They may opt to continue with Law either as a Major or a Minor option.
Further information is available here.

1BA Law Student Guide 11

8. Passing 1ST BA Law

How do I pass Law in first BA?

To pass Law in first BA you need to achieve a mark of 40% on average in the subject Law
(but not necessarily in each of your law modules).

What if I fail a module?

If you fail one or more modules it does not mean you fail the subject Law overall. Whether
you pass or not depends on your average result across all Law modules and not on the result
of any one individual module. Failing an individual module does not mean that you repeat
that module either. The only situation in which you repeat a module is if you fail the subject
overall. If you fail the subject Law overall, then you must repeat any failed module (i.e. a law
module in which you receive less than 40%).

How is my subject result calculated?

Your result is calculated by adding together all of your law results based on their ECTS
weighting and dividing that number by the total number of ECTS in Law (20 for the Joint-
Honours programme with 3 subjects and 15 for the BA Connect programmes). If the result
is 40% or above, then you have passed Law outright.

Examples:
BA (Joint Honours) or Denominated with 3 subjects: In these programmes Tort Law has
10 ECTS, Introduction to Law has 5 ECTS and Legal Skills has 5 ECTS. So, for example if
you score 60% in Tort Law, but 30% in Introduction to Law and 30% in Legal Skills your
average will be:
((60 x 10)+(30 x 5)+(30 x 5))/20= 45%

BA Connect with 4 Subjects: In the BA Connect where students take four subjects Tort Law
has 10 ECTS and Introduction to Law has 5 ECTS. So, if you score 50% in Tort Law, but 30%
in Introduction to Law your average will be:
((50 x 10)+(30 x 5))/15= 43%

1BA Law Student Guide 12

What happens if my average is not 40% in Law?

If your average is not 40% or more in Law, you are given the opportunity to resit the failed
modules in the second sitting examinations, which typically take place in the first two weeks
of August. If you achieve an average of 40% or more after the second sitting examinations,
you have passed Law. However, whether you are then permitted to progress to 2nd BA Law
depends on whether there are any places remaining in Law for second year (see 7.1 above).

If I pass a subject but fail a module can I repeat the modules failed?
No, if you pass the subject Law you cannot repeat any of the modules failed.

1BA Law Student Guide 13

9. About CÉIM at the University of Galway

CÉIM is an academic peer support scheme for 1st year students at the University of Galway.
‘CÉIM’ is the Irish for step. Students will be automatically assigned to groups who will meet
weekly from week 3 throughout the academic year with trained 2nd/3rd and final year BA Law
student leaders. CÉIM sessions are student led and are about working in small groups to help
students adjust to University, develop independent learning skills, gain a greater
understanding of coursework, develop new skills, and meet people studying the same
course. Sessions focus on collaborative learning, and the format is generally quite different
to lectures and tutorials. Students often comment on how CÉIM sessions are informal and
friendly, yet focused. CÉIM supports student transition to higher education, health and
wellbeing, academic success, and progression, and is part of the ecosystem of academic
and pastoral supports at the University of Galway. Students will be kept informed of sign-up
details/timetabling for CÉIM sessions via email, through their Your Space accounts, and in
classes.

Why attend CÉIM sessions?

We strongly recommend that you attend CÉIM sessions, particularly if you wish to
pursue Law into second year and beyond. Not only is CÉIM an opportunity for you to
improve your academic performance, it’s also a chance for you to chat with other
students more informally. Since the sessions are also delivered by undergraduate
students taking second and final year Law, it is a rare and valuable chance to benefit
from their insight and personal experiences.

More information is available here: https://ceim.su.universityofgalway.ie/

1BA Law Student Guide 12

 10. Overview of Year 2024-2025 - Important Semester Dates

The first semester is broken into 11 weeks and you will often hear of things happening in a
particular week. This year the 11 weeks take places from Monday 16th September to Friday
29th November.

ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025

Orientation 1st years Web Welcome: from Monday 9th
September

Start of semester 1 teaching and Monday 16th September 2024

registration for 1st year subjects

Tort Law MCT (worth 20% of Tort Law) 4pm Monday 18th November

End of semester 1 teaching Friday 29th November 2024

Semester 1 Exams Monday 9th December – Friday 20th

December 2024

Introduction to Law Exam TBA – see here for exams timetable from
early November

Semester 2 teaching Monday 13th January – Friday 4th April

2025

Reading Week Monday 17th February – Friday 21st

February 2025

Semester 2 Exams Monday 22nd April – Friday 9th May

Autumn Second Sitting Exams Tuesday 5th August – Friday 15th August

Holidays (no classes):

• Bank Holiday Monday 28th October 2024
• St Brigid’s Day: Monday 3rd February 2025
• Bank Holiday: Monday 17th March 2025

1BA Law Student Guide 13

11. School of Law Office

The School of Law is located on the second floor of Tower 2, on the Arts Concourse Building.
Tower 2 is the tower closest to the Bank of Ireland in the Arts Concourse building. The office
can be reached by taking the lift to the second floor or by taking the stairs. It is advisable to
get in touch with the School of Law in the first instance by email at: [email protected].

12. Law Society

We are delighted to have a student-run Law Society on campus. Established in 1920, it is one
of the largest academic and social societies at the University of Galway. All law students at
the University of Galway are strongly encouraged to engage with the Society’s activities. It is a
great way to meet Law students from your own programme and other Law programmes, to
hear talks from eminent speakers, and to get involved in competitions and mooting activities.
Further details on the Law Society and its activities can be found here:
https://socs.universityofgalway.ie/societies/

1BA Law Student Guide 14

 13. University Supports

There will be times when you will face challenges that you could use support with. We have a
wide range of such supports available to you including financial, health (both physical and
mental), housing, and academic. Please see below some useful links for these supports and
always feel free to discuss any difficulties with your Subject Co-ordinator Ursula Connolly
([email protected]) who can advise you.

• Students’ Union: https://su.universityofgalway.ie/

• Dean of Students: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/officeofthedeanofstudents/
• Financial support: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/financialaidfund/
• Accommodation: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/student-life/accommodation/
• Counselling (free): https://www.universityofgalway.ie/counsellors/

• Medical (generally free): https://www.universityofgalway.ie/health_unit/

The Student Support Officer for the College of Arts, Social Sciences & Celtic Studies, Dr.
Rosemary Crosse, also provides dedicated support to BA students. The role of the Student
Support Officer is to provide confidential, non-judgmental support and an empathetic space for
students to share their concerns. In addition, a Student Support Officer can offer personal
support and advice on topics such as study planning, time management and any personal
challenges that may compromise their ability to study.

Please find further details on how to engage in the service and support provided by Rosemary
here: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/artsstudentsupport

1BA Law Student Guide 15