LAU11561 Foundations of Law II

Learning Outcomes  

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

• Identify and critically analyse sources of law in the Irish, EU and international legal systems and the relationship between them;  

• Apply appropriate techniques of statutory interpretation;  

• Demonstrate an understanding of international and European law and their status in the Irish legal system;  

• Apply basic principles and doctrines of European law in light of practical problems;  

• Identify the principle judicial procedures in https://www.tcd.ie/tjh/open-modules/;  

• Demonstrate the effective use of practical techniques for solving legal problems;  

• Apply basic legal writing skills when completing assignments;  

• Engage in effective legal research both in the Library and online.  

Module Content  

This module builds on Foundations of Law I and continues to introduce junior fresh students to the key features and sources of the Irish legal system and to essential legal skills. First, the module considers the principles governing statutory interpretation. Second, the module examines the sources of international law and its status in the Irish legal system, looking specifically at the European Convention on Human Rights. Thirdly, the module introduces students to the European Union legal system. Topics studied include: the sources of EU law; the institutions of the EU; the legislative and judicial processes in the EU; and fundamental principles of EU law, including direct effect and primacy.