This micro-credential will be of particular relevance to individuals who do not have a legal background but wish to build a foundation of legal knowledge, in particular understanding and applying the key aspects of Irish law of relevance in private disputes, particularly the laws of evidence, contract and tort.
Irish Law and Legal Procedure Micro-credential
Overview
| Subject Area | Law |
| Credits | 5 |
| NFQ | 9 |
| EFQ | 7 |
| Start Date | 20 January 2025 |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Time | Wednesday 16:00 - 17:50 (Subject to change.) |
| Mode of Delivery | Hybrid |
| Lead Academic | (opens in a new window)Assoc Prof. Brian Hutchinson |
| Fee | €750 - 20% UCD Alumni Discount. 50% Learner fee Subsidy |
| Application Deadline | 12 January 2025 |
This micro-credential provides an introduction to Irish law and procedure, focusing on the law of contract, tort, evidence and litigation procedure. The focus is on the general principles of law, and the purpose of the micro-credential is to equip learners who do not hold university law degrees or equivalent qualifications with the knowledge to be able to address legal issues arising in the substance of a dispute.
On completion of this module learners will:
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the sources of Irish Law
- Intimate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and substance of Irish law of contract, tort, evidence and civil litigation procedure
- Be able to analyse given fact scenarios and problems and apply the correct legal principles to advise on appropriate solutions
- Introduction to Irish Law and Sources of Law
- Civil Litigation and Civil Procedure
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration Principles
- Law of Evidence
- Law of Contract
- Law of Tort
Irish law and the legal system are foundational to how individuals and businesses operate in our society. This course will equip students with core understanding of that legal system, the nature of the obligations we owe to one another and how breaches of those obligations are resolved within different forms of dispute resolution.
Taking this UCD micro-credential will give you the opportunity to learn from leading legal experts, with extensive experience in academia and in practice. This course also covers the syllabus of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Module 1 “Laws of Obligations and Civil Evidence”, enabling students to build towards a Professional Diploma in Arbitration.
This micro-credential consists of weekly 2 hour lectures, supplemented by online reading and resources and in-class and online exercises. Learners are encouraged to engage with the teaching activities for this micro-credential on campus at UCD (face-to-face). However, lectures will be available online, to suit learners' circumstances and requirements.
A repository of resources will be available to support your learning, and as a UCD student you will have full access to the library.
This is a 5 ECTS micro-credential and involves approximately 100-125 hours of learner effort.
Applicants must hold a degree in law or another relevant discipline, including the social and natural sciences. An upper second-class honours Level 8 degree (GPA 3.08), or international equivalent is required.
Applications will also be accepted from those with significant, relevant, practical experience or those with a graduate qualification relevant to the micro-credential.
Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proof of English proficiency as per UCD's minimum English language requirements.
All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- 2000 word essay – 50%
- 2 hour end of trimester exam – 50%
Group feedback will be supplied in class and/or online following assessment inline with UCD School of Law policies. Individual feedback may also be sought by individual students on how they stand relative to the group feedback.
Irish Law and Legal Procedure will be of particular interest to those without a previous legal background.
The Arbitration Law and Legal Procedure micro-credential may also be of interest. These micro-credentials are also modules on the UCD Sutherland School of Law’s Professional Diploma in Arbitration.
If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.
Please note: Learners can avail of only one form of funding per application.
Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy-Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3
The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy has been introduced to enable more learners to address critical skills gaps and engage with lifelong learning through micro-credentials. The HCI Pillar 3 Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidy is funded by Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only and in fixed numbers from March 2024 until October 2025.
Please see Eligibility Criteria for further information.