LAU34151 Public Interest Law

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Critically assess how the legal system may promote social and political reform, having regard, in particular, to the relationship between the political and legal systems;
• Describe how the Irish courts have dealt with legal claims pursued by people with learning difficulties, children from dysfunctional families, members of the Traveller community and social welfare claimants;
• Describe the different models for delivering legal services to marginalized communities and the different types of service provided;
• Conduct research into substantive and adjectival areas of the law relating to social exclusion.

Module Content

Public Interest Law can be defined as ‘the use of litigation and public advocacy to advance the cause of minority or disadvantaged groups and individuals.’ The course examines the use of the law, in particular, litigation, to promote social inclusion. In Part A, we consider the definition and history of Public Interest Law and the issue of access to legal services; In Part B, we consider a number of issues relating specifically to the use of litigation, namely, the constitutional and political legitimacy of public interest litigation; the implications of Public Interest Law for court practice and procedures; and the merits and demerits of litigation strategy. In Part C, we consider selected areas of substantive law such as social welfare law, Travellers’ rights, and children’s rights in an evaluation of the role of the Irish courts in promoting social inclusion.