Journalism and law still have much to offer despite downturn

PROFESSIONS SUCH as journalism and law, once perceived to be recession-proof, have found themselves, along with many others, subject to the pressures of the economic downturn. While this may erode some of the confidence once invested in them, it does not mean they are an unattractive option for current CAO applicants.

Journalism

Students have the option of choosing undergraduate programmes in these disciplines, or alternatively choosing degrees in other programmes eg, arts, business etc, followed by a specific postgraduate programme in journalism or communications.

Undergraduate programmes in journalism

Both DCU and DIT offer degrees in journalism. DIT also offers journalism with Irish, French, German or Spanish, and DCU offers Irish and journalism in response to the enactment of the Official Languages Act and the granting of official status to the Irish language in the EU.

UL offers degrees in journalism and new media (LM039) alongside new media and English (LM033). For those who are prepared to pay tuition fees, Griffith College offers journalism, alongside journalism and visual media, while Dublin Business School offers a three-year journalism degree.

Communications

DCU (DC131) offers a degree in communications. NUI Galway offers a four-year communications degree (GY106) based in Carraroe. At ordinary degree level, Dundalk IT and Dublin Business School offer communications and multimedia programmes.

Media studies

NUI Maynooth is offering media studies (MH109). There is also a BA in multimedia (with other arts subjects) and a BSc in multimedia (with science subjects) at Maynooth.

Dún Laoghaire IADT offers a broad degree programme in English, media and cultural studies (DL241) and in audio visual media technology (DL133). UL offers a four-year programme in Irish and new media studies (LM048). Carlow and Tralee ITs offer TV and new media broadcasting (CW547TL291) for those interested in working in the broadcasting industry.

Career Options in Law

– Becoming a solicitor:

Those interested in becoming a solicitor must take eight three-hour exams, open to all graduates, and set by the Law Society of Ireland.

Students are examined in company, constitutional, criminal, equity, EU, contract, tort, and property law.

The subject matter of these exams is covered in law degree programmes offered at undergraduate level.

Once you have passed these exams, you have to secure a commitment from a practising solicitor, of at least five years’ standing, who is prepared to offer you a two-year training contract. Details from www.lawsociety.ie

– Becoming a barrister:

The King’s Inns website

www.kingsinns.ie lists law degree programmes, approved for direct entry to their one-year full-time, or two-year modularised degree course, following successful completion of their entrance exam.

Prospective candidates, who hold an approved non-law degree or are mature applicants, may take a two-year, part-time King’s Inns diploma in legal studies, prior to taking their degree programme. On completion of the degree, students receive the degree of barrister at law. For more information visit www.barcouncil.ie

Some courses available in law

NUI Maynooth offers two law degrees, which are geared towards aspiring barristers and solicitors. The first programme is Law and Arts (BCL), whereby students take law and two arts subjects in first year and one other in second and third year. Their second degree is Business and Law (MH406).

UL offers (LM029) Law Plus, which combines a traditional law degree with study in courses such as politics, history, criminal justice and languages.

Law at level 7/6: Letterkenny IT offers a three-year ordinary degree programme (LY207) which provides training in the management of law offices and the production of legal executives, solicitors’ assistants and law clerks. Waterford IT and Griffith College also offer programmes at these levels.

Recent developments:

At UCD, the BCL (DN009) has moved to a four-year format incorporating additional clinical practice within the degree.

It is hoped that entrants to this course in September 2009 will finish their degree in the new UCD Sutherland School of Law, which will include a Clinical Legal Education Centre and moot court.

UCC has now made its Law Clinical programme available through the CAO, and has launched a new programme in Law International degree, which includes a year abroad.

DCU has introduced a Law and Society degree (DC232), which considers justice, equality, fairness and control in society. At Trinity College, two new programmes, Law and Business (TR017) and Law and Political Sciences (TR020), offer interdisciplinary perspectives merging law and a related discipline. Finally, the ITs at Limerick and Carlow have introduced Law and Taxation (LC231) and Business with Law (CW938).

Series concluded.

Brian Mooney's guide to the Leaving Cert mock exams begins in Education Today next TuesdayThis is the final column in Brian Mooney's daily guide to the CAO process. The deadline for CAO applications is 5.15pm on Sunday. For more details see www.cao.ieOnline : Listen in to Brian Mooney's podcast at irishtimes.com/education