Equity

ECTS weighting  10
Semester/term taught  HT
Contact Hours and Indicative Student Workload 

33 hours of lectures; approximately 100 hours of independent study (lectures prep), 100 hours of assessment and coursework study. 

Module Coordinator/Owner 

Prof Hilary Biehler 

Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this module, students should be able to:  

LO.1 : Evaluate the relationship between law and equity; 

LO.2 : Identify the contribution made by equity and the law of trusts to legal relationships and commercial situations; 

LO.3 : Discuss and debate different perspectives on various aspects of the law relating to trusts of a private and public nature; 

LO.4 : Use appropriate legal concepts, case law and statute law to analyse and solve legal problems relating to the use of equitable remedies. 

 
Module Learning Aims 

The aim of this module is to familiarise students with the principles which govern the exercise of equitable jurisdiction and to explore the nature of trusts of a private and public nature and how these trusts are administered. The module also examines the discretionary nature of equitable remedies by focusing on injunctions and aims to equip students with the skills to understand and advise on the circumstances in which remedies of this nature may be granted. 

 
Module Content 

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. 

Recommended Reading List

Recommended Books    

Biehler, Equity and the Law of Trusts in Ireland (7th ed., 2020)     

Virgo, The Principles of Equity and Trusts (5th ed., 2023)     

Keane, Equity and the Law of Trusts in Ireland (3rd ed., 2017)     

Glister and Lee, Hanbury and Martin: Modern Equity (23rd ed., 2024) 

  

Assessment  

Examination (2 hour paper) – 100% 

Reassessment 

As above