Undergraduate Law

Student Handbook

2015-2016

SCHOOL OF LAW

Disclaimer: This handbook is intended as a guide for students for the academic year 2015-2016. It refers to that session only. Please note that regulations and requirements for modules may vary. It is the responsibility of each student to familiarise him/herself with the particular requirements of each course of study for which s/he is registered. This guide is not an offer to provide modules or programmes of study nor is it to be construed as imposing a legal obligation on the School of Law or UCC. No guarantee is given that modules, syllabi or regulations may not be altered, cancelled or otherwise amended at any time. The guide confers no rights on any student registered for the session in question.

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This handbook has been designed to be read in conjunction with other publications of the University. The information provided is correct at time of

publication but may be subject to change during the year.

CONTENTS

A WORD FROM THE DEAN........................................................................................................................................ - 5 -

PART ONE: General Information............................................................................................................................. - 6 -

Office Hours............................................................................................................................................................ - 7 -

Law Staff........................................................................................................................................................................ - 7 -

Academic Staff....................................................................................................................................................... - 7 -

Adjunct Professors.............................................................................................................................................. - 8 -

Administrative & Technical Staff...................................................................................................................- 9 -

Programme Directors...................................................................................................................................... - 10 -

Other....................................................................................................................................................................... - 10 -

Sources of Information for students..............................................................................................................- 10 -

UCC Student Information............................................................................................................................... - 10 -

Law Information................................................................................................................................................ - 11 -

Key Dates............................................................................................................................................................... - 11 -

Blackboard........................................................................................................................................................... - 11 -

Correspondence................................................................................................................................................. - 12 -

Law Noticeboards............................................................................................................................................. - 12 -

Web Resources for Students.........................................................................................................................- 12 -

Transport................................................................................................................................................................... - 12 -

Car Parking........................................................................................................................................................... - 12 -

Buses....................................................................................................................................................................... - 12 -

PART TWO: Programmes and Qualification....................................................................................................- 13 -

Professional Recognition.................................................................................................................................... - 13 -

Qualifying for Legal Practice.........................................................................................................................- 13 -

Transfer Policy........................................................................................................................................................ - 16 -

PART THREE: Student Services............................................................................................................................ - 18 -

Facilities..................................................................................................................................................................... - 18 -

Law and Official Publications Information Desk.................................................................................- 18 -

Access to University Computer Facilities...............................................................................................- 19 -

Printing Facilities.............................................................................................................................................. - 19 -

Photocopying Facilities...................................................................................................................................- 19 -

Smartcard............................................................................................................................................................. - 19 -

Student email address..................................................................................................................................... - 20 -

Support Services..................................................................................................................................................... - 20 -

Law School Student Support Services......................................................................................................- 20 -

UCC Student Support Services.....................................................................................................................- 21 -

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PART FOUR: Assessment......................................................................................................................................... - 25 -

Assignments............................................................................................................................................................. - 25 -

Submitting Assignments................................................................................................................................ - 25 -

Online submission............................................................................................................................................. - 26 -

Word Count.......................................................................................................................................................... - 26 -

Tutorials..................................................................................................................................................................... - 26 -

Plagiarism & Collusion......................................................................................................................................... - 27 -

Examination Procedures..................................................................................................................................... - 27 -

Exam Results............................................................................................................................................................ - 28 -

scholarships and prizes....................................................................................................................................... - 28 -

Conferrings................................................................................................................................................................ - 28 -

A FINAL WORD............................................................................................................................................................. - 28 -

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A WORD FROM THE DEAN

Dear Law Students,

As Dean of the School of Law, I am delighted to welcome you to study at UCC. Law at UCC is a dynamic and exciting place to study and research. The School is full of people with expertise, contacts and experience in areas that will interest you, and my colleagues are very willing to share this with you so that you can use this opportunity to make the very most of this experience from an academic and professional point of view. A special welcome is extended to those of you who come from professional or mature backgrounds and from abroad.  The diversity you bring is an important element of the student experience here.

We are committed to providing all our students with an excellent undergraduate experience with a wide range of legal subjects, modules dedicated to the development of transferable legal skills, and quality learning spaces like our Moot Court room. The School has an international focus and provides study abroad opportunities to those on specialist programmes, while welcoming students on all our programmes from our partners in Europe, Canada, the United States, India and China. There is also a dynamic summer placement programme available providing opportunities in Ireland and abroad to all students interested in gaining practical and in some cases very specialist experience. Whether you are following a specialist four year degree with us or studying for a BCL, our longest running degree, you may avail of a wide range of opportunities to tailor your degree to best meet your needs and interests.

This handbook is an essential resource for all of you regarding the facilities offered by the School and the University, rules and regulations regarding assessment, prizes and scholarships, as well as opportunities offered to you in the course of your studies and in the years ahead. However, we have tried to keep this Guide short and there is no attempt for it to be regarded as comprehensive, so information provided on the UCC website and by bodies within the university should be used to its fullest in conjunction with this publication.

As the Dean of Law, I am very aware that these are challenging and for many very difficult times. You and your families have made sacrifices to enable you to pursue a quality legal education and we are committed to helping you to make this investment worthwhile. Our aim is to support you to develop your full potential and to provide you with a range of opportunities that will help you to acquire and apply legal knowledge within a broad social and international context. We work hard to ensure that you benefit from a range of teaching styles and increased diversity in student assessment and we want you to make the most of your time here by getting involved in School activities as well as those organised by students through the Student Law Society and FLAC, for example.

We are committed to your welfare and we have put in place a range of supports to enhance the student experience. As the Handbook explains, every programme has a Programme Director and every student is appointed to a Personal Tutor, with guidelines in place to make this process work for you as effectively as possible. In addition, the School has a dedicated Student Wellbeing Officer, Dr Aisling Parkes. Aisling also takes care of students needing disability support. Lecturers are always happy to hear from you and as Head of Law, I am committed to listening to your feedback either through the Student Council – where class representatives will meet regularly with me to ensure that I am informed about what matters to you – or by those who contact me individually.

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I encourage you all to make the most of this opportunity studying at one of the top 100 law schools in the world. Please stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube and we look forward to meeting you in person too, during the academic year. As with all law schools, UCC Law School is shaped, not just by the students and staff of today but, by those who have gone before. We are delighted that you have chosen to study with us and we look forward to engaging with you as undergraduate students on our diverse and exciting programmes.

Professor Ursula KilkellyDean of the School of Law 7th September 2015

PART ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION

The Law School is located on the first and second floors of Áras na Laoi, UCC.

The Front Desk is on the First Floor, Room AL1.53, and may be reached on 021-490-2220/3249 or by email at lawenquiries@ucc.ie or lawfac@ucc.ie

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OFFICE HOURS

During term, the office is open:

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday

Late Opening - Tuesday(during term-time only)

Friday (early closing during term-time)

10 a.m.-12 noon &2 - 5 p.m.

5:30-8 p.m.

10 a.m.-12 noon

Outside of term, the office is open:

Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-12 noon &2 - 5 p.m.

Outside of these hours, if the office is unattended, please call to one of the other administrative offices, which are located on the first floor.

LAW STAFF

ACADEMIC STAFF

Staff Member Tel. (021) Email address Room

Áine Ryall (Dr) 4903201 a.ryall@ucc.ie AL 2.69

Aisling Parkes (Dr) 4205167 a.parkes@ucc.ie AL 2.62

Bénédicte Sage-Fuller (Dr) – on leave until Feb 2016

4903812 b.sage@ucc.ie AL 2.60

Caroline Fennell (Prof.) 4902547/4903257

c.fennell@ucc.ie AL 1.59 /West Wing

Cathal Curran (Dr) 4902376 cathal.curran@ucc.ie AL 2.52

Catherine O’Sullivan (Dr) 4903285 catherine.osullivan@ucc.ie AL 2.59

Claire Murray (Dr) 4903809 c.murray@ucc.ie AL 2.73

Conor O’Mahony (Dr) 4903041 conor.omahony@ucc.ie AL 2.61

Darius Whelan (Dr) 4903452 d.whelan@ucc.ie AL 2.68

David Morgan (Prof., Emeritus) 4902532 d.morgan@ucc.ie AL 1.61

Declan Walsh 4902639 declan.walsh@ucc.ie AL 2.71

Deirdre Madden (Prof.) 4902990 d.madden@ucc.ie AL 2.48

Fidelma White (Dr) 4902176 f.white@ucc.ie AL 2.74

Fiona Donson (Dr) 4903159 f.donson@ucc.ie AL 1.44

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Irene Lynch Fannon (Prof.) 4903898 i.lynchfannon@ucc.ie AL 1.60 /ORB 3.02

John Mee (Prof.) – on leave from Jan 2016

4902494 j.mee@ucc.ie AL 2.49

Louise Crowley (Dr) 4903879 l.crowley@ucc.ie AL 2.50

Maeve McDonagh (Prof.) 4902854 m.mcdonagh@ucc.ie AL 2.51

Maria Cahill (Dr) on leave from Jan 2015 until January 2016

4902343 maria.cahill@ucc.ie AL 2.56

Mary Donnelly (Prof.) – on leave from Jan 2016

4902857 m.donnelly@ucc.ie AL 2.72

Owen McIntyre (Prof.) 4902090 o.mcintyre@ucc.ie AL 2.58

Patrick O’Callaghan (Dr) 4901881 patrick.ocallaghan@ucc.ie AL 2.66

Seán Ó Conaill (Dr) 4903811 s.oconaill@ucc.ie AL 2.64

Siobhán Mullally (Prof.) 4902699 s.mullally@ucc.ie AL 2.67

Steve Hedley (Prof.) 4903990 s.hedley@ucc.ie AL 1.57

Ursula Kilkelly (Prof.)

Dean of the School of Law 4902531/4903642

u.kilkelly@ucc.ie AL 1.55 / AL 2.57

ADJUNCT PROFESSORS

Justice Teresa Doherty

The Hon. Mr Justice Frank Clarke

Dr Vincent Power, Partner, A&L Goodbody Solicitors

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ADMINISTRATIVE & TECHNICAL STAFF

School Manager Mags WalshRoom: 1.46Tel: 021 4903414Email: m.walsh@ucc.ie

Senior Postgraduate Administrator Veronica CalnanRoom: 1.47Tel: 021 4903995Email: v.calnan@ucc.ie

Clinical Education Coordinator Dorothy AppelbeRoom: 2.63Tel: 021 4903203Email: d.appelbe@ucc.ie

School Administrator Anne-Marie CurtinRoom: 1.63Tel: 021 4903249Email: am.curtin@ucc.ie or lawfac@ucc.ie

School Administrator Mary O’ReganRoom: 1.54Tel: 021 4902224Email: m.oregan@ucc.ie

Main Reception

Aislinn CollinsRoom: 1.53Tel: 021 4902220Email: a.collins@ucc.ie or lawenquiries@ucc.ie

Postgraduate Administrator Anna O’SullivanRoom: 1.63ATel: 021 4205170Email: anna.osullivan@ucc.ie

Conference Administrator Noreen DeleaRoom: 1.53Tel: 021 4903220Email: n.delea@ucc.ie or : lawevents@ucc.ie

IT & Multimedia Officer Patrick RiceRoom: 1.45Tel: 021 4902796Email: p.rice@ucc.ie

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PROGRAMME DIRECTORS

BCL Dr Louise Crowley

BCL (Law & French) Dr Bénédicte Sage-Fuller | Dr Seán Ó Conaill (acting-Director until Feb 2016)

BCL (Law & Irish) Dr Seán Ó Conaill

BCL Clinical Dorothy Appelbe

BCL International Dr Claire Murray

Evening BCL Dr Aisling Parkes

OTHER

Student Wellbeing OfficerDisability Liaison OfficerMature Student Liaison

Dr Aisling Parkes

Summer Placement Programme Dr Louise Crowley

ERASMUS Incoming Students Dr Seán Ó Conaill (until Feb 2016, then Dr Bénédicte Sage-Fuller)

Incoming Students from PR China Dr Darius Whelan

SOCRATES Incoming Students Dr Claire Murray

Student Recruitment and Liaison Officer Anne WallaceRoom ORB 3.3ATel: 021-4205102Email: a.wallace@ucc.ie

SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

UCC STUDENT INFORMATION

http://www.ucc.ie/en/students/ The website listed above on the main UCC webpage contains links to the University College Calendar, Book of Modules, Marks and Standards, General Regulations and Procedures governing examinations, Student Advisor and Ombudsman, Clubs and Societies and in general all information relevant to your time at University College Cork.

Students are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with these webpages.

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LAW INFORMATION

You can keep up to date with happenings and events in the Law School in a number of ways:

Website: http://www.ucc.ie/law/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/UCC-Law-School/378423692170703

Twitter: @LawUCC

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lawucc

Linkedin: https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/school-of-law-ucc/59/525/24a

KEY DATES

From (Monday) To (Friday)

First Semester 7th September 2015 27th November 2015

Study/Review Week 30th November 2015 4th December 2015

Winter Examinations 7th December 2015 18th December 2015

Winter Recess 21st December 2015 8th January 2016

Second Semester 11th January 2016 18th March 2016

Spring Recess 21st March 2016 1st April 2016

Second Semester (cont.) 4th April 2016 15th April 2016

Study/Review Week 18th April 2016 22nd April 2016

Summer Examinations 25th April 2016 6th May 2016

Autumn (Repeat) Examinations 2nd August 2016 (Tuesday) 12th August 2016

BLACKBOARD

For most Law School modules, lecturers have placed course materials in UCC's Blackboard system at http://blackboard.ucc.ie

For information on accessing Blackboard please see: http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/faq/faqblackboard/

To log on to Blackboard, you must use your student ID number and PIN (both numbers issued to you when you register as a student of the university).  Once you log in, Blackboard will automatically show you information on the modules for which you are registered.   You cannot change your modules within Blackboard as the data is taken from the central university registration system every 24 hours. 

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If you wish to change the modules for which you are registered (within the allowed time limits), you must do so on the student IT system at http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/ and in due course the change will be reflected in Blackboard.   At the beginning of term, you may find that some modules are not appearing on Blackboard even though you have registered for them.  This is normal, and within the first few weeks lecturers will make the modules "available", once they are ready.  The course materials made available on Blackboard are not intended in any way as a substitute for full attendance at lectures and tutorials.  If you are having difficulty accessing Blackboard, please contact the Learning Technologies Unit at ltu@ucc.ie. 

CORRESPONDENCE

University and School of Law correspondence with you over the course of the year will be predominantly by email and will be to your UCC student email account. Therefore it is essential that you check this regularly. Messages regarding lectures, timetable changes, events etc. will also be posted on Blackboard.

LAW NOTICEBOARDS

School of Law Noticeboards are located on each floor of Áras na Laoi and display information relating to timetables, room changes, Personal Tutor Scheme lists, seminars and careers. Noticeboards also have information on employment opportunities, postgraduate study and law events.

WEB RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

On the Current Student webpage students will find a variety of useful information such as timetables, e-resources such as Lexis, Blackboard etc., Assignment Submission Forms, Assignment Extension Forms, information on the vacation placement programme, careers information and the Law skills page.

TRANSPORT

CAR PARKING

The car parks on Perrott Avenue, (off College Rd) and Perrott’s Inch (at Gaol Cross) have hourly charges. Satellite car parks for students are situated at PBC Sports Ground, Dennehy’s Cross and Pouladuff Road. A free shuttle bus service will bring students to UCC. As car parking is quite limited, students are encouraged to use alternative modes of transport or car share where possible.

BUSES

Currently the bus numbers 208 and 205 both have routes that directly pass the campus or nearby. Routes and timetables may be verified here:http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=248#Cork

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PART TWO: PROGRAMMES AND QUALIFICATION

Undergraduate Programmes

The School of Law offers a number of different degree programmes at undergraduate level. Please click on the links below to read more about them or see http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/law/index.html for the Calendar entries.

Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) Degree BCL (Law and French) BCL (Law and Irish) BCL (International) BCL (Clinical) Evening BCL Degree

For visiting student from our partner universities in Europe, there is the Diploma in Common Law, and for those from non-EU countries, the Diploma in Common Law (European) or the Diploma in Law and Legal English.Additionally, for visiting students specifically interested in Human Rights Law, we offer Certificates in both International Human Rights Law and European Human Rights Law.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

QUALIFYING FOR LEGAL PRACTICE

Please note: the following information is intended as a guide only and is subject to change. Students interested in pursuing the following careers are advised strongly to contact the appropriate bodies to verify and obtain further up to date information. Students are also advised strongly to follow developments in relation to the Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011, which may bring significant changes in the near future. This is not an exhaustive list.

IRISH LEGAL PRACTICE

SOLICITOR

The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland (Blackhall Place, Dublin) is the educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession in Ireland.

While there are no subject-specific pre-requisites to gain entry to the Law Society’s solicitor training course, graduates who wish to qualify as a solicitor must first pass an entrance examination, also known as the Final Examination - First Part (FE-1).

This examination is held twice a year, normally in April and October. It consists of the following eight papers:

Company Law

Constitutional Law

Law of Contract

Criminal Law

European Union Law

Equity

Real Property

Law of Tort

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Once a candidate has obtained an undergraduate degree, they can apply to the Law Society for the forms necessary to take these examinations. A candidate has five years from the date of their degree to apply for the entrance examinations. Candidates must sit and pass a minimum of three examinations in one of their first sittings in order to be able to carry these forward to the next examination sitting.

Once a candidate successfully completes the eight entrance examinations, the Law Society solicitor training course also requires a candidate to:

Secure a training contract (an apprenticeship)

Attend the Professional Practice Course I and pass the course examinations. This course and examination period takes place over 4 months (approx.)

Spend a period of 11 months as a trainee solicitor in the training solicitor's office

Attend the Professional Practice Course II and pass the course examinations; this takes another 3 months

Serve 6 more months in the training solicitor’s office following successful completion of the Professional Practice Course II

The process takes approximately 24 months in total.

For further information on qualifying as a solicitor please contact The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7; http://www.lawsociety.ie

BARRISTER

Graduates (with approved law degrees) who would like to practise as a barrister must complete the Barrister-at-Law degree course in the Honorable Society of the King’s Inns. Applicants for this degree must first have passed certain ‘core subjects’ in their law degrees and must pass an entrance examination.

To be eligible to apply for Kings Inns, students must have passed the following subjects during their degree:

Land Law (including Law of Succession) (UCC Property Law I LW2249 and II LW2250)

Equity (UCC Equity I LW3303 and II LW3305)

Administrative Law (UCC LW2264)

Company Law (LW3345 and LW3346)

Law of the European Union (LW1112 and LW2204)

Jurisprudence (LW3367)

King’s Inns will also require entrants to sit and pass an entrance examination involving the following five subjects:

Law of Contract

Criminal Law

Irish Constitutional Law

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Law of Torts

Law of Evidence

Final year Law and Language students must take up to 40 credits of law modules in order to meet the requirements for Kings Inns. For details of module choices please see http://www.ucc.ie/academic/calendar/law/index.html.

King’s Inns currently agrees to accept jurisprudence/philosophy of law subjects studied as part of the year Law and French abroad for entry purposes. A sentence to this effect must be shown on your academic transcript. If you wish to apply to King’s Inns please contact the Law School Office with regard to informing Exams Records to request a transcript with the relevant information included. Law and French students wishing to study at King’s Inns should discuss their module choices with Dr Bénédicte Sage-Fuller at b.sage@ucc.ie Tel: (021) 490 3812 (on leave until Feb 2016 – Dr Seán Ó Conaill acting-director until Dr Sage’s return) or the Law School Office at lawfac@ucc.ie Tel: (021) 490 3249.

On successful completion of the course, students are admitted to the degree of Barrister-at-Law and must then commence pupillage (‘devilling’) with a qualified barrister (a Master) for a year. This is similar to an apprenticeship where a junior barrister learns by shadowing a more senior member of the profession. It is the responsibility of the newly qualified barrister to secure a Master. On completion of the first year, if a barrister wishes to practice on circuit outside Dublin, he or she must undertake further pupillage for another year with a master who practices on that Circuit. It is often the case that barristers who wish to practice in Dublin will also undertake pupillage for a second year, perhaps in a different area of practice. All members of the Law Library are independent contractors and the period spent as a pupil is unpaid.

For further information relating to entry requirements, examinations, and details on becoming a Barrister-at-Law, students should contact The Honorable Society of the King’s Inns, Henrietta Street, Dublin 1. http://www.kingsinns.ie

Telephone (01) 874 4840; Fax (01) 872 6038; Email: info@kingsinns.ie

For information on practicing at the Bar consult the Bar Council of Ireland, Four Courts, Dublin 7. www.lawlibrary.ie. Telephone: (0 1) 817 5000, Fax: (01) 872 0455, Email: barcouncil@lawlibrary.ie.

UK LEGAL PRACTICE

Students who wish to train as a solicitor in the UK must apply to one of the Colleges offering a Legal Practice Course (LPC). For Legal Practice Course providers see http://www.sra.org.uk/students/courses/lpc-course-providers.page

Each LPC course provider will adjudicate to what extent your law degree will receive exemptions. There is no longer central approval of Irish law degrees by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. If you require assistance in making an application please contact your Programme Director.

NEW YORK LEGAL PRACTICE

The New York State Bar Exam is sat by a large number of our graduates. Each application is taken on its own merit and the application process can be long and involved. Interested graduates should study fully Section 520.6 of the rules for the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attourneys and Counselors at Law and their information on the eligibility of Foreign Legal Study http://www.nybarexam.org/foreign/foreignlegaleducation.htm

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If you require assistance in making an application, the School of Law is happy to provide what assistance it can. For a local alternative, the Irish American Bar Association of New York, http://www.iabany.org, is a very good source of relevant information. Established in 1987, the IABANY is a professional organisation dedicated to connecting, serving and celebrating New York’s legal professionals who are Irish born, of Irish heritage or simply interested in all things Irish. Their website contains advice for Irish law graduates contemplating a US legal career.

TRANSFER POLICY

2015/2016

TRANSFERS WITHIN LAW PROGRAMMES

(a) Transfers at the end of First Year

At the end of First Year, transfers are possible from any of the following programmes:

BCL (Hons) BCL (Hons) (International) BCL (Hons) (Clinical) BCL (Hons) (Law and French) BCL (Hons) (Law and Irish)

to any of the following programmes:

BCL (Hons) BCL (Hons) (International) BCL (Hons) (Clinical)

A transfer is possible only if the Head of the School of Law has determined that there is a place available in Second Year of the programme into which the student wishes to transfer. If a place or places become available, interested students will be invited to make an application to the Law School Office (closing date: July 31st 2016) and, in filling the available place or places, priority will be given to applicants based on their First Year results in their current Law programme.

In order to be eligible to transfer the student must have successfully completed the First University Examination and must have taken appropriate modules in the First Year to meet the requirements of the programme. The Law School may impose conditions upon a transfer.

In respect of transfers from one of the above specified programmes into BCL (Hons), which has a larger quota than the other programmes and does not involve the complication of a clinical placement/year abroad, a student may make a transfer application to the Law School Office (on the form which is available from that office) in the course of the academic year. The Law School may, at its discretion, decide to approve such a transfer application (conditional on the student successfully passing the First Year of the other Law programme and having taken appropriate modules in the First Year to meet any prerequisites) without waiting for the July 31st deadline mentioned above.

(b) Transfers at the end of Second Year

At the end of Second Year, transfers are possible from any of the following programmes:

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BCL (Hons) BCL (Hons) (International) BCL (Hons) (Clinical)

to any of the following programmes:

BCL (Hons) BCL (Hons) (International) BCL (Hons) (Clinical)

A transfer is possible only if the Head of the School of Law has determined that there is a place available in the Third Year of the programme into which the student wishes to transfer. If a place or places become available, interested students will be invited to make an application to the Law School Office (with an appropriate deadline being specified in the call for applications) and, in filling the available place or places, priority will be given to applicants based on their First Year results in the other Law programme. In order to be eligible to transfer, the student must have taken appropriate modules in First Year and Second Year to meet the requirements of the programme and the transfer, if approved, will be subject to the student passing the Second Year of their current Law programme.

Note: Students with transfer-related queries should contact the School Office.

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PART THREE: STUDENT SERVICES

FACILITIES

LAW AND OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS INFORMATION DESK

Enquiries:           Tel: (021) 490 3029           Email: LibraryLawDesk@ucc.ieLaw Librarian:    Ann Byrne           Tel: (021) 490 2983           Email: a.byrne@ucc.ie Further information and help is available at the Law and Official Publications Information Desk on Q+2. There is an online guide to the library at UCC Library Law Subject Guide

LEGAL RESEARCH IN THE LIBRARY

The Library is of particular importance to law students.  Law students will get a tour of the Library during registration. During the first two weeks of semester 1, First Year students will be timetabled to attend 4 library workshops.   Further legal resources sessions will take place in the 2nd and 3 weeks of the 1st semester. These sessions will take place in the Research Skills Training Room, Q-1, in the Boole Library.  Attendance at these sessions is mandatory.

The Law Library forms the central part of your legal education.  Students should become familiar with the library resources and how best to use them early in the first term.  The Library is where law students learn to discover read and criticise the various sources of the law: Acts, Statutory Instruments, case law etc.  There is only one way to learn how to read a case or an Act and that is to do it: practice makes perfect.  Persist and you will find that after the first few weeks of effort, the process becomes almost second nature.  Lectures and tutorials in law are scheduled so that you have four to five hours available each day to spend reading in the Library.

LEGAL DATABASES:

It will be important for your studies to familiarise yourself with legal databases. These are available on and off campus. To access theses services off campus logon to the library website and sign up for a password.

The key Law databases are: BAILII: British & Irish Legal Information Institute provides free internet access to primary legal materials from Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

Family Law Online a database of journals, case law and legislation in the area of family law

Hein  is a database of 1600 + journals on US history, US and international law, political science, business, public policy. (Quick Guide to using)

JustCite is a database which provides connections to other legal databases with links to full text cases and legislation of Irish, UK and EU material.

Justis is a full text online legal library of UK, Irish and EU case law and legislation.

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Lexis provides access to journals, case law and books covering Irish, UK, EU and international material.

Westlaw IE is an Irish legal materials database which contains Irish reported and unreported case law, consolidated/annotated legislation, legal journals and books. It also offers a current awareness service providing updates on recent developments in Irish law. 

Westlaw UK covers the United Kingdom, European Union and other jurisdictions. It includes journal articles, case law and legislation. It also includes CELEX database of EU legislation and case law.

See full list of Law databases available at UCC

See the full list of databases available at UCC Library.

Guide to Electronic Legal Resources is a useful guide to using these resources.

ACCESS TO UNIVERSITY COMPUTER FACILITIES

Open-access computer centres with full PC, email, internet and printing facilities are provided for all students in the Boole Basement, Block A of the Food Science Building, the O’Rahilly Building, the Student Centre and many other areas on campus.  Students are welcome to walk in and use these facilities at any time during opening hours (please check SIT website for details). 

You may also bring your personal computer to UCC; either as a fixed desktop computer for use in UCC accommodation or a laptop with which you can avail of WiFi (go to www.ucc.ie/en/sit/wireless/ for registration details).

IT training is available to all students if desired.

The Computer Centre User Services Helpdesk can be found at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/

PRINTING FACILITIES

All registered students have a UCC Network Access Account. This account allows you to logon to the Open Access computers, access UCC networked services and it allows you to print from the Open Access Printers.

Payment is taken from your UCC Smartcard when you release your print job. For more information please see the Smartcard Office website http://www.ucc.ie/en/smartcard

Please see the following websites for further details:

http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/printing/ & http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/faq/printing/

PHOTOCOPYING FACILITIES

Photocopying facilities are available on all floors of the Boole Library.

Photocopying can be paid for by Smartcard: http://www.ucc.ie/en/smartcard/

SMARTCARD

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Smartcard is the payment service utilising UCC ID cards. The aim is to enhance the UCC Student experience. Students are able to access and pay for a range of services using their current Student ID Cards.

New UCC students will have smartcard services automatically on their UCC IC card upon issue of their card by the Student Records and Examinations Office.

Students may top-up their cards in three ways: cash, online or by smart phone. http://www.ucc.ie/en/smartcard/top-up/

STUDENT EMAIL ADDRESS

A UCC email address is automatically created for every student within days of your registration.  Many students will already use a personal email address, however it is very important that you access your UCC email address on a regular basis since correspondence from UCC and the Law School will only be sent to your UCC email.   Computer passwords are based on your student PIN (personal identification number). If you have queries, the staff at the Computer Centre HelpDesk in the Boole Basement MicroCentre will be happy to assist.

SUPPORT SERVICES

LAW SCHOOL STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

PERSONAL TUTOR SCHEME

Students sometimes need both pastoral and academic support to enable them to make the most of their studies at University. We are committed to providing support to students and to help students access available supports in the wider University. The principal means by which we provide this support is via the Personal Tutor Scheme. Programme Directors, the School’s Student Wellbeing Officer and other members of academic and administrative staff also play a role.

The role of the Personal Tutor is to:

Act as a contact point with the School of Law for all students;

Respond to student queries and concerns whether academic or personal;

Provide students with information and access to the supports and services available in the University to meet students’ needs;

Provide advice to students on subject choices, further education possibilities and careers.

The Personal Tutor Scheme involves each undergraduate law student being assigned a personal tutor. Programme directors in Law and French, Law and Irish, Law Clinical and Law International generally act as personal tutors for these students. Evening Law and International students will also be assigned to specified individual staff members.

The name and contact details of their Personal Tutor will be communicated to each first year student by email in the first week of term. Second, 3rd and 4th years students will receive an email reminder of their Personal Tutor by email in the first week of autumn semester.

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It is to be expected that first year students should meet their personal tutor at least once a term. Second, 3rd and 4th year students should expect to meet with their tutor at least once a year.

Meetings with first year personal tutees will be arranged for the second week of the first term and communicated to tutees by email. Group meeting with personal tutees in other years will be arranged, on the same basis as for first years, for the third week of term 1.

Students should make contact with their personal tutor either in person or by email at any time if they have any concerns or queries.

Any student who wishes to change their personal tutor should email Aislinn Collins in the Law School Office: a.collins@ucc.ie

STUDENT WELLBEING OFFICER

Support offered to all students experiencing problems of a serious academic or personal nature. Please email Dr Aisling Parkes to make an appointment on a.parkes@ucc.ie

DISABILITY LIAISON OFFICER

The Disability Liaison Officer is available to give advice and support to students with disabilities including mental health issues, significant on-going illnesses, hearing/visual impairments, physical disabilities or specific learning difficulties. Please email Dr Aisling Parkes for an appointment on a.parkes@ucc.ie

STUDENT COUNCIL

The Student Council is made up of class representatives and it meets with the Dean periodically throughout the academic year in order to discuss issues relevant to the Law student body. Elected class representatives should make themselves known to Anne-Marie Curtin (am.curtin@ucc.ie) to be included in the Student Council mailing list.

UCC STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

STUDENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT

http://www.ucc.ie/en/studenthealth/

Opening Hours - Monday to Friday

9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

2:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Student health services are free to all full-time students. Doctors and nurses consultations are by prior appointment. A triage system is in place for emergencies and acutely ill students. This involves a medical assessment by a student health nurse who will either address the situation him/herself or if necessary refer the patient to a doctor.

To arrange an appointment, telephone 021-4902311 or call to the department during office hours. It is not possible at present to arrange an appointment by e-mail. During busy periods, there may be a five-day wait for a routine appointment.

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Those who make appointments and decide not to avail of the consultation should notify the Student Health Department in advance. Failure to do so can deprive other students of the opportunity to use that appointment.

Confidentiality: All consultations are confidential and details will not be disclosed to anyone without the student’s permission. All notes are confidential and kept in the Student Health Department and do not form part of the student’s academic record.

Location: Ardpatrick House, College Road (next to College Road Car Park). Tel: 021-4902311.

STUDENT COUNSELLING AND DEVELOPMENT

http://www.ucc.ie/en/studentcounselling/

During your time at UCC you may experience emotional, educational or social concerns which interfere with your sense of wellbeing and/or your academic progress. Student Counselling and Development is a CONFIDENTIAL service.

Telephone: 021 490 35 65

Text: 087 215 25 05

Email: counselling@ucc.ie

Open: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Location: Ardpatrick House, College Road, Next to College Car Park

Emergency Contact Details:

Student Counselling & Development, Hours 9:15-1pm, 2:15-5pm Mon-Fri Tel: (021) 4903565

Student Health Department Hours 9:15-1pm, 2:15-5pm Mon-Fri, Tel: (021) 4902311 UCC General Services Security, 24 Hours, Tel: (021) 4903111 Anglesea Street Gardaí HQ, 24 hours, Tel: (021) 4313031 Accident & Emergency, Cork University Hospital, 24 hours, Tel: (021) 4920230 South Doc Evenings week ends, Tel: 1850 335 999 (out of hours G.P. service) Niteline: Freephone: 1800 32 32 42

Niteline is a confidential listening service offered by students for students. Available throughout the academic year on Tues, Weds & Thurs from 9.00pm to 1.00am

Samaritans: 1850 60 90 90 Coach St., Cork. Tel: 021 427 13 23 (www.samaritans.org).

Confidential emotional support for those who are despairing or suicidal, 24 hours a day by telephone, e-mail, letter or face to face.

STUDENTS’ UNION

http://www.collegeroad.ie/

The Students’ Union website is full of useful information, guidelines and tips, ranging from general student information on college life to student personal and medical welfare, entitlements, student services, student societies, educational information, exams, change of mind, etc.

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THE STUDENT LAW SOCIETY

http://ucclawsociety.wordpress.com/ or at www.facebook.com/ucclawsociety

An invitation to join the Student Law Society is issued to all law students. Please check their website or Facebook page for contact details for members of the committee as well as for information regarding social events and on electing class representatives.

CAREERS SERVICE

http://www.ucc.ie/careers/

The Careers Service supports students in assisting them to identify their career interests, evaluate and assess career opportunities and effectively implement their career decisions.

Telephone: 021 4903193 (careers bookings/information) or 021 4902924 (employer liaison/placements) Fax: 021 4903558 Email: careers@ucc.ie

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICE

http://www.ucc.ie/en/dss/

The Disability Support Service is committed, in as far as is reasonably possible, to empowering students with disabilities to achieve their educational and vocational goals in an inclusive learning environment.

The Disability Support Service is located in South Lodge, on College Road and behind the Boole Library.

Tel: 021- 4902985

By Text/SMS (for deaf students): 087-9150697

Email: dssinfo@ucc.ie

THE STUDENT OMBUDSMAN

http://www.ucc.ie/en/students/policies/The current Student Advisor and Ombudsman is Professor Robert Devoy. Professor Devoy welcomes enquiries from students by email at studentombudsman@ucc.ie.

Office space and a contact number are currently being organised. Please see the above link for updates.

THE STUDENT BUDGETARY ADVISOR

The UCC Budgetary Advisor is Evan Healy. He is available for students by appointment and may be reached by Tel: (021) 490 2151 or by email: studentbudgetingadvice@ucc.ie

http://www.ucc.ie/en/studentbudget/budgetaryadvisor/

The Student Budgetary Advisor will help you as a UCC student to manage your money by:

Providing "one to one" advice and guidance to students on managing your money. Delivering workshops on budgeting for students, where information and practical

advice will be available to you. Assisting in the completion of your Student Grant scholarship and Student Assistance

Fund applications.

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Liaising with external agencies, such as MABS, Dept of Social Welfare and Protection, Local Authorities and St. Vincent de Paul, on your behalf.

CAMPUS WATCH

http://www.ucc.ie/en/campuswatch/

Campus Watch is based on the well-established Neighbourhood Watch scheme. The objective of Campus Watch is to make UCC a safer place in which to work and study.

Co-ordinator: Maura O’Neill Tel: 021-490 2479

UCC Campus Security: Tel: 021-490 3111 / 490 2266

Garda Stations near UCC:

Anglesea Street HQ Tel: 021-431 3031 (open 24 hours) Barrack Street Tel: 021 432 7300/7301 Bridewell Tel: 021 4270681 (open 24 hours Bishopstown Tel: 021 4541012

In the event of any suspicious activity on campus it is of paramount importance that you

Report the incident to the Gardaí, or Report the incident to Campus Watch in UCC.

The Gardaí run an information stand throughout Freshers’ Week in the Boole Basement.

The Law School’s Representative on Campus Watch is Dr Seán Ó Conaill.

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PART FOUR: ASSESSMENT

ASSIGNMENTS

Many law modules require the submission of coursework – essays and/or other assignments – on a regular basis. This has two main objectives. Firstly, these assignments offer students the opportunity to prove their understanding and comprehension of a particular legal topic. If this understanding is lacking, it can be identified and rectified before examinations begin. Secondly, it allows students to work on and perfect the art of writing in good, succinct legal English, essential to the completion of a law degree and for success in any aspect of the legal profession.

First year students begin this process with the Legal Writing Module (LW1156). However, other written work will also be required during the first term and it is useful, therefore, to bear in mind the following general advice:

Get an early start

Plan your essay

Ensure your work is clearly presented and well written.

Do not plagiarise

Submit on time

To assist students in the presentation of their work to a professional level, the Law School has compiled a Skills booklet, a copy of which is made available to incoming students and is also available online at http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/currentstudents/skills/. Included within this booklet is advice on how to incorporate quoted text, how to cite references, how to use footnotes, etc.

SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS

The Front Desk in the School of Law will be open all day (from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) on the day an assignment is due, to facilitate students submitting assignments.

The first page of each assignment should include the following information:

Name

Student No.

Module Code

Assignment Title

Lecturer

Word Count (where specified)

Assignments will not be accepted unless this information is provided.

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Students are required to submit two copies of the assignment. One copy will be returned to the student with feedback, the other copy is retained by the School. Students are advised to retain a third copy of all work submitted.

Students are required to complete the Assignment Submission RECEIPT form, which must accompany the two copies of the assignment. This is available from the Front Desk in the Law School or fromhttp://www.ucc.ie/en/media/academic/law/documents/LawDeptAssignmentSubmissionReceipt.pdf

Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the penalties for plagiarism (please see below).

Where there is more than one assignment in a module, students can expect to receive feedback on the first assignment before the second assignment is due for submission.

ONLINE SUBMISSION

Increasingly, Law lecturers are using online submission for assignments such as TurnItIn but those who are using this will advise accordingly in lectures or on Blackboard.

WORD COUNT

All Essays and Assignments will have a maximum word count and this will be communicated to you by your lecturer.   This will be applied strictly. A penalty of 5% per of the total marks available for the essay/assignment will apply in respect of each 10% by which the essay exceeds the word count.

Example:-

If the limit is 3,000 words:

from 3001 to 3299 the penalty is 5%. from 3300 to 3599 the penalty is 10% etc. 

This maximum word count excludes reasonable footnotes and excludes the bibliography.

If essays are submitted in hard copy/pdf, you will also be required to keep an electronic copy of your essay and to make this available on request to your lecturer.

TUTORIALS

The School of Law uses an online tutorial signup system, available athttp://www.ucc.ie/law/students/tutorialsignup/

The purpose of the system is to allocate places in tutorials on a first-come first-served basis, bearing in mind that students will have exercised various module choices.  You will be provided with information in lectures at the beginning of the academic year on how to access and use the sign-up system.

It is important to take care in signing up for your tutorial times.  Have your lecture timetable and tutorial timetable to hand.  Check the tutorial timetables for your modules and decide which

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your preferred tutorial slots are.  All tutorial timetables are provisional and subject to change.  Bear in mind the locations of venues and room codes.  Most tutorials run on a fortnightly basis.  The 'Information' column for fortnightly tutorials shows whether the Group meets in Week 1 or Week 2 of each tutorial cycle. It is important to ensure that you know what reading is required before each tutorial and prepare in advance for your participation. 

If you have technical queries, please e-mail Patrick Rice: p.rice@ucc.ie

Attendance at tutorials is compulsory. In general, students must remain in the group that they signed up for. Attendance is recorded by the tutor at each tutorial and repeated failure to attend, will be brought to the attention of the relevant lecturer, and where necessary, the Head of School.

PLAGIARISM & COLLUSION

Any piece of academic work submitted by a student must be that student’s own work. For this reason, both collusion and plagiarism are absolutely forbidden.

Collusion occurs when two or more people work together to produce something which is then submitted as an individual piece of original work.

Plagiarism is the taking of passages, ideas, structure, etc. from another work or author without attribution. Naturally, because law is a subject in which authorities of various sorts are of great importance, you will frequently have to quote from judgments, statutes, authoritative works of reference, academic articles, etc. The essential point, however, is that the writer should indicate unequivocally (usually by a footnote reference although sometimes he or she may prefer to state it in the text) that the material is taken from another source.

For information on how to cite or quote without plagiarising and how suspected plagiarism will be dealt with, please refer to the Skills Booklet for UCC Law Students, available online at http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/currentstudents/skills/ and/or consult with the lecturer who has assigned the work prior to the submission of the assignment.

Plagiarism and collusion are strictly forbidden. Students are warned that heavy penalties are imposed. These include the student’s work being marked at zero and referral to the College Disciplinary Committee.

EXAMINATION PROCEDURES

Procedures and policies for the conduct of examinations, viewing of scripts, consultations regarding examinations scripts and other pertinent areas may be read here;

http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/recordsandexaminations/examsmarch2014/ExaminationRegulationsandProcedures_HandbookForStudents.pdf

General information pertaining to examinations in UCC may be read here: http://www.ucc.ie/en/exams/

Exam Re-Check and/or Appeal

Procedures for the formal checking and appeal of examination results may be obtained from the Examinations and Records Office website at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/exams/procedures-regulations/

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Information on the Mitigation Committee may be obtained at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/recordsandexaminations/documents/MitigationApplicationForm.pdf

EXAM RESULTS

Official Examination Results are available on the Student Portal http://www.ucc.ie/en/sit/normally around mid-June and late August.

Examination results are not available from the School of Law office. For enquires concerning exam results, please contact Exams/Records Office at: Tel: 021 – 4902422 or Email: exams@ucc.ie

SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES

There are a number of scholarships and prizes awarded through competition or for exam results. For more information, please see http://www.ucc.ie/calendar/scholarship/index.html

CONFERRINGS

Information on Conferrings may be found here: http://www.ucc.ie/en/current/conferrings/

A FINAL WORD

We hope that your student experience at UCC will be a stimulating and fulfilling one. We wish you well in an endeavour which almost everyone finds infinitely interesting and rewarding.

Tús maith, leath na hoibre!

A good start is half the work!

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