Freshman Modules
Book of Modules for 2012-13 is available here.
Junior Freshman (1st Year) Modules
Semester 1 (Michaelmas Term)
Semester 2 (Hilary Term)
Senior Freshman (2nd Year) Modules
Semester 1 (Michaelmas Term)
Semester 2 (Hilary Term)
Torts: (LA1015) 10 ECTS
JF Law, JF Law and Business, JF Law and Politics, SF Law and French, SF Law and German
This is a standard course designed to provide Freshman students with an introduction to the law of torts. Topics covered include the major torts such as negligence, defamation and nuisance, but also issues such as defences, limitation periods and the interaction between the law of torts and the Constitution.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify and analyse the key principles underlying the law of tort;
- Use appropriate legal concepts, relevant judicial precedents and statutory law to solve concrete practical problems;
- Explain how tort law seeks to give effect to social policies as well as address issues of personal responsibility;
- Differentiate between liability for intentional wrongs, negligence and strict liability;
- Discuss the principles of compensation and their practical application in specific contexts.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars |
Assessment: |
Examination -100% |
Lecturers: |
Dr. Des Ryan |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Constitutional Law I: (LA1016) 10 ECTS
JF Law, JF Law and French, JF Law and German, SF Law and Business, SF Law and Politics.
Constitutional law I introduces students to the study of constitutional law and theory, addressing a number of key doctrines and significant points of debate. The first part of the module addresses a number of constitutional rights, including rights relating to the criminal trial, property and unenumerated rights. The second part of the module addresses the separation of powers under the Irish Constitution, focusing on the limits of and interaction between the legislative, judicial and executive powers of government. The third part of the module addresses the overarching issues of constitutional litigation and constitutional interpretation.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Map the basic structure of government in Ireland;
- Identify, evaluate and critique the role of constitutional law in ensuring respect for human rights and democratic governance;
- Apply constitutional law concepts and doctrines for the purpose of solving concrete practical problems;
- Identify the role which judicial interpretation plays in the development of constitutional law;
- Critically analyse the case law interpreting Articles 38, 40 and 43 of the Constitution, articulating a coherent position on the ways in which constitutional law should develop in the future;
- Apply critical analysis and problem-solving skills and techniques to different essay and problem-based questions on the implications of the above constitutional provisions;
- Write convincingly on basic issues in the development of Irish constitutional law, grounding analysis in the constitutional text and decided cases.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in the |
Assessment: |
Essay - 20%, Webcourse Participation - 5% Examination - 75% (1 x 2 hour paper) |
Lecturer: |
David Kenny |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
The Irish Legal System: (LA1017) 10 ECTS
JF Law, JF Law and French, JF Law and German, JF Law and Business and JF Law and Political Science
The Irish Legal System: (LA1017) (including Legal Skills: (LA1011)) 10 ECTS
This module is intended to provide students with a thorough grounding in a number of aspects of the Irish legal system. Commencing with an identification of the key sources of law in Ireland and the principal features of the common law system, the module also includes a detailed analysis of the courts system in Ireland, as well as a thorough examination of the key principles of common law precedent. The impact of the European Convention on Human Rights is also explored in detail. The course concludes with an overview of key aspects of civil and criminal procedure.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify and comment critically on the key features of the common law nature of the Irish legal system when contrasted with other legal systems;
- Identify and comment critically on a number of aspects of the Irish courts system, including recent and proposed reforms within this system;
- Critically assess the impact upon the Irish legal system of both EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights;
- Apply critical analysis and problem-solving skills and techniques to different essay and problem-based questions on material covered in the module.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars |
Assessment: |
Essay (3,000 words) - 15%, Legal Skills Assignment - 10%, Examination - 75% |
Lecturer: |
Professor Neville Cox |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Legal Skills
This introductory course which aims to provide students with the basic skills required for the study of Law. The course is applied in nature, and covers topics such as reading a case, answering problem questions, legal writing, library and internet resources and exam technique, all of which are necessary to ensure success in your substantive subjects. The course has been in operation for a number of years and has changed and developed over time. It is taught by seminar. As in all seminars, student discussion is vital to ensure its success. You should feel free to contribute and ask questions in class.
HOW LEGAL SKILLS WORKS
You will be divided into groups to attend a total of seven seminars per group, all in the first term. The seminars will be weekly for the first three weeks, then change to fortnightly for the remainder of the term. There will be no seminars in reading week. Classes will run in the following weeks:
Weeks 5 – 6
Week 7 (in PC Lab)
Weeks 8, 10, 13, 15 or Weeks 9, 12, 14, 16
Contract Law: (LA1204) 10 ECTS
JF Law, JF Law and Business, JF Law and Politics, JF Law and French, JF Law and German
Contract is one of the core subjects of the common law of obligations. It involves analysis of the legal principles behind the rules relating to the formulation of contracts and the circumstances in which they will not come into existence or in which they cease to be effective.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Engage in sophisticated, creative and critical discussion of common law concepts, both orally and in writing,
- Analyse and apply the substantive principles of the law of contract,
- Appreciate and explain the role of the law of contract in society,
- Identify contractual issues in disputes, and advise accordingly, and
- interpret and draft key contractual provisions
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in |
Assessment: |
Examination - 100% |
Lecturer: |
Professor Blanaid Clarke and Professor Eoin O’Dell |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Criminal Law: (LA1203) 10 ECTS
JF Law, JF Law and French, JF Law and German, SF Law and Business, SF Law and Politics
This module is about criminal liability; it is concerned with whether certain acts and conduct performed by a person amounts to that person being guilty of a particular crime. The module accordingly deals with the definitions of criminal offences and defences. Offences are broken down into physical elements (precisely what acts, in terms consequences and conduct, are prohibited?) and mental elements (what intentions must be present in the person’s mind at the time of their act in order for them to be guilty?). The module is also concerned with general principles that apply across the board to questions of criminal liability such as the question of what it means to cause something to happen. The basic aspects of the court-based process by which a person can be found to be guilty of a crime and punished are also looked at.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify and critically analyse the basic principles of criminal liability and substantive criminal law;
- Appraise and evaluate general rules relating to individual governing criminal defences;
- Appraise and evaluate specific principles relating to particular categories of offences;
- Appraise and evaluate rules and principles regulating different modes of criminal liability;
- Apply critical analysis and problem-solving skills and techniques substantive criminal law knowledge to different essay and problem-based criminal law questions
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and 4 seminars in |
Assessment: |
Essay (1,500 words) - 10%; Examination - 90% |
Lecturer: |
Professor Ivana Bacik |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Legislation and Regulation: (LA1231) 10 ECTS
JF Law, SS Law and French, SS Law and German, JS/SS Law and Business, JS/SS Law and Political Science
This exciting new course is about how legislation is made, interpreted, administered and enforced with reference to regulatory law. We will examine the important aspects of regulatory law which is among the most prevalent and powerful sources of law that you will encounter as a legal practitioner or a citizen. The course deals with the role of regulators, how regulatory systems are designed, operated and enforced, how they provide for democratic control, quality decision-making, transparency in decision-making and access to justice for those who wish to question the substantive and procedural merits of decisions. The skills that you will acquire in this course will transfer to other courses and to your jobs, whether you work for a private firm, a non-profit group, or a government organization. They will also enable you to understand and evaluate the structure and operation of our national government better.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify and evaluate the structure of the national government of the Republic of Ireland
- Critically assess the different regulatory systems and the manner in which they work
- Identify and evaluate how all kinds of legislation is enacted in Ireland
- Evaluate the roles of the Regulators and their transparency and accountability
- Possess the knowledge and skills to read and interpret legislation
- Critically assess and evaluate the structure and operation of the national government of the Republic of Ireland
- Assess the roles of the courts in overseeing actions
- Analyse the merits of different kinds of regulatory enforcement.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in the 2nd Semester. |
Assessment: |
Participation in group work and legislative drafting exercise - 33.3% and 1 x 2 hour paper in annual examinations - 66.66% |
Lecturers: |
Professor Yvonne Scannell |
Administrative Law: (LA1233) 10 ECTS
JF Law, SS Law and French, SS Law and German, JS/SS Law and Business, JS/SS Law and Political Science
This module examines public administration and judicial review of administrative action. The module addresses the powers of the administration, the position of the administration in separation of powers, and the non-delegation doctrine will be examined. The bulk of the module is concerned with the control of administrative action through judicial review. The module will consider in depth the reach of judicial review and in particular, the main grounds of judicial review. The module will also address judicial review procedures and remedies. Throughout this module, extensive comparisons will be made between the English and Irish case law.
Learning Outcomes
Administrative law in Ireland is primarily judge-made. It is a public law subject and is often concerned with issues that are politically contentious and raise separation of powers concerns. Students will need to develop the ability to navigate the complex tapestry of public law principles that have developed in Irish administrative law jurisprudence. Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Describe and assess the theoretical rationale for judicial supervision of administrative action.
- Discuss the substantive case law in a manner that incorporates the principles and theory of administrative law.
- Classify and compare the grounds for judicial review.
- Synthesise and evaluate case law on each of the main grounds of review.
- Apply the relevant principles and predict legal outcomes in factual situations.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in the 1st Semester. |
Assessment: |
Essay (3,000 words) - 25%; Examination (1 x 2 hour paper) - 75% |
Lecturer: |
Professor Hilary Biehler and Dr. Catherine Donnelly |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Constitutional Law II: (LA2345) 10 ECTS
SF Law, JS/SS Law and Business, JS/SS Law and Political Science, SS Law and French, SS Law and German
This module examines the following aspects of constitutional law - the guarantees relating to the family and education; freedom of religion; freedom of expression; freedom of association; freedom of assembly; the guarantee of personal rights; the guarantee of personal liberty; inviolability of the dwelling; constitutional policy on abortion.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Critically analyse the case law interpreting Articles 40 to 45 of the Constitution, articulating a coherent position on the ways in which constitutional law should develop in the future;
- Assess the role of the courts in the protection of constitutional rights;
- Discuss the philosophical influences on the fundamental rights provisions of the Constitution;
- Apply critical analysis and problem-solving skills and techniques to different essay and problem-based questions on the implications of the above constitutional provisions.
Teaching |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in the 1st Semester. |
Assessment: |
Essay (2,000 words) - 25%; Examination (1 x 2 hour paper) - 75% |
Lecturer: |
Professor Gerry Whyte |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
Equity: (LA2344)10 ECTS
SF Law, JS/SS Law and Business, JS/SS Law and Political Science, SF Law and French, SF Law and German
Equity may be described as that body of rules and principles which was developed by the Court of Chancery in order to mitigate the rigours of the common law. This course examines general principles, the law relating to private and public or charitable trusts and the administration of trusts, focusing on the powers and duties of trustees. It also covers some aspects of equitable remedies such as injunctions and examines the principles relating to proprietary estoppel.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Evaluate the relationship between law and equity;
- Identify the contribution made by equity and the law of trusts to legal relationships and commercial situations;
- Discuss and debate different perspectives on various aspects of the law relating to trusts of a private and public nature;
- Use appropriate legal concepts, case law and statute law to analyse and solve legal problems relating to the use of equitable remedies
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and four hours of seminars in the 2nd Semester. |
Assessment: |
Examination - 100% |
Lecturers: |
Professor Hilary Biehler |
Land Law: (LA2020) 10 ECTS
SF Law, SF Law and German, SF Law and French, SF Law and Business, SF Law and Political Science.
This module introduces the student to the considerable body of common law, equitable principles and legislation which governs the various ways in which land may be acquired, held and alienated. It commences with an historical account of the evolution of land law, an understanding of which is fundamental to an appreciation of the complex system in operation in Ireland today. The substantive areas dealt with include leases, rights of way, the use of land as security, and succession to the property of deceased persons.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify and analyse the evolution of land law and the complexities of the system in Ireland;
- Outline the body of common law, equitable principles and legislation governing the ways in which land may be acquired, held and alienated;
- Analyse and apply substantive areas in land law such as leases, rights of way;
- Explain the use of land as security and succession to the property of deceased persons.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and 4 seminars in the 1st Semester. |
Assessment: |
Examination - 100% |
Lecturers: |
Paul Coughlan |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying Law in their home university. |
Private Law Remedies: (1232) 10 ECTS
SF Law, SF Law and German, SF Law and French, SF Law and Business, SF Law and Political Science.
Students will already have encountered private law obligations in the Tort (JF), Contract (JF), and Equity (SF) courses. A conceptual understanding of the remedies available to a plaintiff in civil proceedings at Common Law and in Equity to vindicate those obligations is the capstone of private law analysis. This course analyses the remedial goals (such as compensation for loss, punishment for wrongdoing, or restitution of unjust enrichment) underpinning various personal and proprietary remedies available for private law claims arising from tort, breach of contract, unjust enrichment, equitable wrongs, and so aon.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- evaluate remedial strategies from a range of theoretical and comparative perspectives,
- analyse private law claims at law and in equity to determine the appropriate remedy or remedies, and
- advise and advocate accordingly.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and 4 seminars in the 2nd Semester. |
Assessment: |
Examination (1 x 2 hour paper) - 80%; Moot - 20% |
Lecturers: |
Professor Eoin O'Dell |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying Law in their home university. |
Mooting Programme (LA2011)
This programme gives students the opportunity to develop the written and oral advocacy skills which are a central component of any lawyer's training. Students prepare mock cases for appeal before the Supreme Court, arguing on behalf of their clients. Following a series of introductory classes, students undertake two moots: one on the law of tort in the first term; another on the law of contract in the second term. This programme is part of the Private Law Remedies Assessment.
EU Law: (LA2346) 10 ECTS
SF Law, SS Law and French, SS Law and German, JS Law and Business, JS Law and Political Science.
The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to the law and institutions of the European Union, in particular to examine their origins and development. The first part of the course concentrates on constitutional issues, including the workings of the institutions and legal system. The second part of the course examines selected aspects of substantive law, including free movement of goods and persons and an introduction to EC Competition law.
Learning Outcomes:
Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:
- Identify the general principles of European Union Law;
- Differentiate between the Institutions of the European Union and evaluate their role in the formulation and application of EU Law;
- Explain the relationship between European Union Law and the national law of the EU Member States;
- Discuss and appraise key aspects of European Union substantive law.
Teaching: |
3 hours of lectures per week and 4 seminars in the 2nd Semester. |
Assessment: |
Examination - 100% |
Lecturers: |
Dr. Caoimhin MacMaolain |
Erasmus/ |
Places are limited. Priority will be given to students studying law in their home university and are attending Trinity on a law exchange programme. Auditing this module is only possible subject to availability of spaces. |
This page was last modified by Catherine Finnegan