Diploma in Professional Legal Studies (Legal Executive)

The Diploma in Professional Legal Studies is Stage Two of our Professional Legal Studies Programme and has been designed for students who wish to practice as a Legal Executive in the Republic of Ireland. A legal executive is a legal professional usually working with or under the supervision of a solicitor. This can take place in private practice, or in the public service. This course was designed by our Program Leader to meet a need in the professional context which she identified during her career as a barrister. Students are eligible to progress to the Diploma if they have successfully completed the Certificate in Professional Legal Studies or can demonstrate prior learning equivalent to the Certificate modules. This is an advanced Diploma and develops the learners understanding of the Irish jurisdiction as a progression from Stage One of the Certificate. Stage level covers three key areas of law and offers students an elective choice of two to choose the pathway they are most interested in.

This course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives UK (CILEx). CILEx is the professional association for over 20,000 Chartered Legal Executive lawyers, paralegals and other legal practitioners in Ireland, England and Wales. For more than 50 years, they have been offering pathway to a flexible career in law.

The course is delivered both in-class and via blended learning. This will facilitate students living outside of Dublin who wish to take the course. Class lecturers are recorded and posted online for students to access via our Moodle platform. There are a number of Saturday workshops throughout the 20 weeks that you will be required to attend as part of the blended learning approach.