The university has launched new “Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice” and “Law and Taxation” programmes in an effort to further develop undergraduate study of law.

Law, Criminology and Criminal Justice will combine the study of a full undergraduate law degree with specially-developed modules in criminal law, criminology and criminal justice.

Programme director Dr Diarmuid Griffin said: “Graduates of this programme will be well positioned to pursue careers as barristers or solicitors specialising in criminal law or working with the agencies and organisations of the criminal justice system.”

Meanwhile, Law and Taxation will combine the study of a full undergraduate law degree with taxation and still explore other related areas of law and commerce including business and commercial law, accountancy, economics, digital business and management.

Senior tax and finance lecturer Dr Emer Mulligan said: “Ireland is an increasingly important hub on the international taxation landscape. Irish law and other professional services firms advise leading domestic and international corporations and financial institutions, who undertake their business in and from Ireland.

“This Law and Taxation degree will equip students with the graduate attributes, knowledge and practical work experience needed to pursue a range of careers in taxation across tax advisory roles and industry.”

The two new programmes complement existing law degrees on offer at NUI Galway including Law, Law and Business, and Law and Human Rights, which was launched in 2019 and is the first of its kind in the country.

All law degrees offered by NUI Galway are full law degrees where students have the option to pursue professional legal training as a solicitor or as a barrister upon graduation.

Dr Charles O’Mahony, head of NUI Galway School of Law, said: “NUI Galway law students become highly skilled, employable graduates able to progress to professional qualification and to pursue a range of other careers locally, nationally and globally.

“Our new law degrees allow students to specialise in areas of interest to them, equipping students with both the academic and practical skills required for successful careers.”