For example, Portobello College has grown to become one of Ireland's leading independent university-level colleges, and offers a law degree which is now recognised by the relevant authorities as being the equivalent of any other on offer in Ireland. Of course, Portobello College has been offering its degree since 1992, a degree which has been validated by the University of Wales since its commencement. This degree is now also accredited by HETAC and is offered through the CAO, thereby opening it up to a considerably wider audience.

It was the quality of the existing degree which led to its accreditation by HETAC.

While the programme, from an early stage, allowed graduates to go straight to the entrance examination of the Law Society, it is only in recent times (since December 2004) that Portobello law graduates could dispense with the need for the twoyear diploma in order to undertake the entrance examinations for Kings Inns . . . thereby placing it on a par with UCD and Trinity.

This is good news for any students who are considering putting Portobello College's law degree on their Change of Mind form because, although demand is strong, law at Portobello College is still available to those on considerably lower points relative to what is required for UCD or Trinity.

In addition to the Degree in Law, Portobello College also offers a Higher Diploma in Legal Studies, an FE1 Preparation Course and an LLB degree course over two years, which allows people to advance to the entrance examinations for Blackhall Place. The College also offers honours degrees in Accounting and Finance, Business and Marketing and a range of Higher Certificate programmes in Business and Computing.