This module will:

Examine the development of human rights law in an international, European and Irish context. Learners will be encouraged to critique the ever evolving devloment of human rights protections and to develop the ability to interpret and apply the principles of Europen Convention of Human Rights to hypothetical scenarios.

1. Critique the fundamental principles and concepts that underpin both International, regional and national human rights law
2. Understand and evaluate the complexities of human rights in divided societies
3. Demonstrate an ability to analyse the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights
4. Evaluate the substantive context of selected human rights
5. Analyse established case law and circumstances to evaluate application of the principles of human rights to composed simulated scenarios.
6. Demonstrate an ability to make a formal application to the European Court of Human Rights

This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the constitutional, institutional and procedural aspects of the European Union and of the legal and constitutional implications of Ireland's membership of this Union.

1. Critically discuss the origins and development of the EU, including the principal features of the founding and amending Treaties;
2. Describe and critique the composition and function of each of the EUs principal institutions and the interrelationship of these institutions;
3. Identify, describe and critique the sources of EU law and the EUs legislative processes;
4. Describe and critique the relationship between EU law and the domestic law of the EU Member States, with particular focus on the fundamental principles of supremacy, direct effects and state liability;
5. Describe and critique the direct and indirect jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU;
6. Identify, describe and critique the key legal provisions and principles underpinning the free movement of goods, with particular focus on fiscal (customs duties and internal taxation) and non-fiscal (quantitative restrictions) barriers to the free movement of goods;
7. Identify, describe and critique the key legal provisions and principles underpinning the free movement of services, persons and capital;
8. Apply the principles of EU law to hypothetical scenarios.

This module will provide students with the ability to critically evaluate and apply the theories, processes, and values of the Restorative Justice Process within the Criminal Justice System and related contexts.

1.
Compare Restorative Methodology with adversarial approaches and traditional models of crime and punishment.

2.
Examine case-studies on Restorative Practice & Restorative Justice.

3.
Organise and Manage the facilitation of a Restorative intervention.

4.
Participate effectively in peer-assessment of role-play conference simulation.

5.
Critically self-reflect in relation to simulated conference facilitation.

This module will give the learner an insight into the processes involved in the final disposal of criminal matters and the factors which influence the duration and nature of the penalty to be imposed. It will consider the participative role of the victim and the need for consideration of necessary reports. Finally, it will consider the comparative international experience and the potential direction Irish sentencing policy may take in the future.

1. Discuss authoritatively the philosophical justification for punishment.
2.
Evaluate the weight given to circumstances which ground a sentences, including mitigating and aggravating circumstances

3.
Distinguish between the forms of punishment available to judges and consider the participative role the victim of crime should play in this regard

4.
Discuss comparative international practice and evaluate the merits of change.

This module will familiarise the student with the fundamental rules and principles governing the admission, exclusion, and presentation of evidence in court and in criminal trials in particular. It will enable the student to develop an ability to relate the law of evidence to the contextual setting of fact based scenarios. The module also facilitates the development in the student of a critical appreciation of the policy considerations that underlie evidential rules and the potential for law reform.

1. Assess the nature and various forms of evidence.
2. Examine the fundamental principles that underpin and inform the rules of evidence.
3. Appraise the role of evidence in the trial process.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of the rules of evidence and formulate ways of improving/reforming them.
5. Resolve evidentiary issues present in problem based scenarios through selection and manipulation of appropriate rules and principles of evidence.
6. Formulate and present cogent oral and written arguments supported by first principles, case law and other relevant sources.

This module focuses on the history of the emergence of the law of equity with particular focus on modern equitable remedies and reliefs as well as the specific conditions regarding their use today. Areas also covered include the emergence of equity pre- and post- Judicature as well as the historical development and administration of the Trust.

1. Explain law of equity and trusts and how it applies to the legal system as a whole
2. Critique the historical development of the law of equity and trusts
3. Apply the principal equitable maxims and doctrines
4. Analyse the different types of equitable remedies including when and in what context they can be relevant
5. Apply relevant equitable doctrines
6. Critically analyse the concept of the trust, including its creation (both implied and express) and the roles of trustees, as well as the main types of trust

Criminology is a theoretical discussion-based module that aims to provide students with a comprehensive and critical understanding of crime, criminals, and the wider criminal justice system through the exploration of criminological and penal theories, the interpretation of crime statistics, and the examination of the social dimensions of crime.

1.
Identify, describe and critically discuss various definitions and conceptions of crime;

2.
Chart, describe and critically discuss the historical development of crime and punishment;

3.
Comprehend and interpret crime statistics;

4.
Identify, describe and critically evaluate the principal theories of crime causation;

5.
Describe and critically discuss the social dimensions of crime specifically, age and crime, gender and crime, mental health and crime;

6.
Describe and critically discuss the portrayal of crime in the media, including social media, and its influence on the publics perceptions of crime, criminals and the criminal justice system;

7.
Identify, describe and critically evaluate the principal theories underpinning punishment.

Consider the nature, quality and functions of the law. Analyse the underlying issues and philosophies that inform the operation of the law. Compare and contrast some of the most influential legal theories. Critique existing case law by virtue of reference to established influential legal theories

1. Identify the value of jurisprudential issues.
2. Apply jurisprudential methodologies in analysing the various theorists.
3. Analyse the leading theories of law from positivism to Marxist theory.
4. Evaluate different theories of justice and law and morality.

Health law is a theoretical and case study-based module that examines the legal framework governing the provision of health and medical care in Ireland. Through the exploration of topics such as medical ethics, consent to treatment, disability law, mental health law, medical negligence, and beginning and end-of-life issues, students come to understand the legal, ethical, and practical matters that arise in this sector.

1. Describe and critically discuss the legal framework (principles, provisions, policies and practices) pertinent to various factions of the health care system in Ireland, such as that pertaining to consent, capacity, disability, mental health, negligence and beginning and end of life issues;
2. Identify and critically discuss key legal, philosophical and ethical issues arising in each of the above areas;
3. Identify and critically discuss areas in need of reform;
4. Apply theoretical knowledge to real and hypothetical contexts.