Description
The course is well suited for:
- Students who are currently studying for their FE1’S or the Bar
- People who are considering a career in law
- Individuals who are already working within the legal department, social care, family support roles etc
- People who are interested in the area of family law within Irish law
No previous knowledge of the law is needed in order to apply for this course.
Course overview
The family law course allows students to be introduced to the legal side of family law by going through topics such as marriage, cohabitation, rights of a child, custody and guardianship and so much more. Family law and where it derives from within Irish legislation is taught and students will finish the course with a better understanding of each topic covered.
Course Modules
- Introduction to family law
- Marriage and Cohabitation
- Custody and Guardianship
- Domestic Violence and Protective Orders
- Separation and Divorce
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Maintenance
- Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
- Adoption and Foster Care
- Rights of the Child
- Revision and Examination Preparation
The final two weeks will consolidate the material covered throughout the course.
Course Duration
12 weeks, with 10 weeks of teaching and 2 weeks of revision and examination
Accreditations / Awards
Upon completion the student will receive CPD level 3 diploma in family law (Continuing professional development)
Learning Aims & Objectives / Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Explain the fundamental principles of Irish family law.
- Define the family unit within the context of Irish constitutional and family law.
- Identify the constitutional protections afforded to the family.
- Explain the legal concepts of marriage and cohabitation.
- Distinguish between custody and guardianship.
- Explain the operation of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964.
- Identify and explain the principal types of domestic-violence protective orders.
- Understand the legal principles governing separation and divorce.
- Explain the principal issues dealt with in separation agreements.
- Understand the law relating to maintenance of spouses and children.
- Explain the role of mediation and other alternative dispute-resolution processes.
- Develop an understanding of pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.
- Explain the basic legal framework governing adoption and foster care.
- Identify the principal rights and protections afforded to children.
- Locate and interpret relevant legislation and case law.
- Analyse legal principles arising from leading Irish and comparative cases.
- Apply legislation and case law to hypothetical and real-life legal scenarios.
- Develop the ability to identify the principal legal issues arising in family-law disputes.
Course Delivery
The course will be delivered through a combination of:
- Teaching
- Lectures and presentations
- Discussion and class participation
- Case law analysis
- Reviewing of legislation
- Practicing legal scenario questions
- Question-and-answer sessions
- Examination preparation and revision
Delivery format
The course can be delivered either online/ in person once a week.
Schedule
Duration: 12 weeks
Classes: once per week
Class time: 2 Hours
Day: Wednesdays 3.30pm (provisional day)
Entry requirements
- Leaving certificate
- Sufficient English-language proficiency
- No previous legal knowledge required.
