DURATION
One year full time with option of a second year leading to FETAC Level 6 Business Certification and ICM Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies.

Minimum entry requirements for 2nd year is a full FETAC Llevel 5 award in Business Studies.

INTRODUCTION

This innovative course is the only Post-Leaving Certificate course of its kind in Ireland which presents the opportunity to get qualifications in both legal and business studies. The course, while designed primarily for those interested in all aspects of Law, has the added attraction of giving the student a Business qualification as well. Thus, a very comprehensive package of Business and Computer Applications has been integrated with the main focus of the course on Legal Studies.

A recent exciting development to the course is an arrangement made with Sunderland University by which it is now possible for students who successfully complete two years achieving Fetac level 6 Businees Studies Certificate and an Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies progress to the final year of the Business Law degree at University of Sunderland.

MAIN AREAS OF STUDY

Year 1

• Legal Studies
• Business Law
• Communication
• Business Administration
• Accounting
• Computer Application
• Word Processing
• French/Italian
• Criminal Law
• Work Experience.

Award is:
FETAC Level 5 Business Studies

Year2

Fetac level 6 subjects

• Services marketing
• Word Processing
• Customer service
• Business law
• Employment law
• Business MGT
• ICM Advanced Diploma subjects
• Constitutional law Tort law and law Company law

Award is:
FETAC Level 6 Business Studies and ICM Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Other essential elements of the course involve attending specific court cases at the local District and High Court. In addition, a number of visiting lecturers, barristers and members of the business fraternity deliver lectures on particular topics. The course has a special relationship with An Garda Síochána and both visiting lecturers and special visits to Garda Headquarters are arranged accordingly.

WORK EXPERIENCE

A number of students have found the course very benificial in their quest to join the Gardaí, some have also joined the Metropolitan Police. Each student gains practical experience of applying their class based learning in the legal/business environment. Previously, students have worked in Solicitor’s Offices, Insurance Offices, Credit Unions, Garda Stations and Free Legal Aid Centres.

CAREER PROSPECTS

While the career area is expanding all the time, career opportunities exist in: Banking, Insurance, Auctioneering, Credit Unions, Legal Secretarial/Clerk Legal Executive, Gardaí, Local Government and Building Societies.

FURTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The unique diversity of the course has enabled  many students to progress to study law at UCC and other third level institutions both in Ireland and abroad.

The college has entered into a progression arrangement with CIT whereby a limited number of places are reserved for direct entry into the 2nd year of the CIT Business Studies Diploma Course for students   who successfully complete two years at CSN with a certain number of FETAC Level 6 distinctions.

Other students have continued their studies (LLB Law Degree) at Aberdeen University & The University of London. A number of students from the course who have completed the ICM Diploma have progressed to the UCC Faculty of Law evening programme.

A linkage scheme is currently in place with UCC Faculty of Law whereby a number of places have been reserved in first year by day Law for students who attain a certain level of achievement in their FETAC Award.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Leaving Certificate or equivalent. Minimum age for registration with ICM is 18 years. All applicants are interviewed and places are awarded on suitability. Places are awarded to mature students on an interview basis.

CERTIFICATION

Year 1:
Fetac level 5 Business Studies award  (ICM exemption from four subjects of diploma)
Year 2:
Fetac level 6 Business award  and option of Diploma /Advanced Diploma  Legal Studies ICM 

COURSE DIRECTOR

- Vincent O’Brien

Declan Keane, a former graduate of the Legal and Business Studies course, who recently obtained a BCL 2nd class honours degree from UCC, and is now studying for his solictors exams.

Maya Konovulcluik, a graduate of the Legal Studies course in Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in 2005/06, progressed to studying Law in University College Cork.