Diploma in Legal Executive Studies – 8th May 2024

Course Overview

The Diploma in Legal Executive Studies is a course designed for professionals who are either working as a legal executive, secretary or paralegal and persons who want to gain professional qualification in legal practice. The Diploma will equip learners with the skills required to work as a legal executive and/ or paralegal and will provide learners with a solid understanding of the practice of law in Ireland.

The Diploma in Legal Executive Studies will equip learners with the skills required to work as a legal executive and/ or paralegal and will provide learners with a solid understanding of the practice of law in Ireland.

City Colleges currently provides professional legal training to persons seeking to pursue professional practice as either a solicitor or barrister in their provision of King’s Inns’ courses and FE-1 courses. With this Legal Executive Studies Diploma, City Colleges will be in a position whereby they provide professional legal training for all areas of legal practice.

Modules

Week 1            Introduction to the Course and Irish Legal System

• The Legal Profession
• The Court System
• The first instance jurisdiction of the Courts
• Introduction to Civil and Criminal Procedure
• The Appellate jurisdiction of the Courts
• Precedent
• Legislation

Week 2            Legal Skills

• Legal writing
• Finding and reading case law and legislation
• Professional communication
• Ethics, professional standards and codes of conduct
• How to prepare attendances

Week 3            IT skills

• MS Word
• MS Excel
• MS Teams
• Presentation

Week 4            Conveyancing

• Ownership of land
• The Family home, the shared home and the acquisition of property rights
• Incumbrances
• Licences and leases
• Title
• Overview of steps in conveyancing

Week 5            Civil Litigation I

• Statute of Limitations
• Initiating proceedings
• Parties to actions
• Costs
• Initiating letters
• Service

Week 6            Civil Litigation II

• Pleadings
• Affidavits
• Privilege
• Discovery

Week 7            Criminal Litigation

• Instituting proceedings
• Taking instructions
• First Court appearance
• Bail
• Trials in the District Court
• Arraignment and pleas
• Circuit Court practice and procedure

Week 8            Personal Injuries Litigation

• The Personal Injuries Assessment Board
• The Personal Injuries Guidelines
• Application for assessment
• Recovery of certain benefits and assistance scheme
• Pleadings in Personal Injuries cases
• Mediation

Week 9            Family Law

• Introduction to family law
• Family law practice and procedure
• Judicial separation
• Divorce
• Ancillary reliefs
• Domestic violence

Week 10          Employment law

• Introduction to employment law
• Adjudication of employment disputes
• Workplace Relations Commission practice and procedure
• The Labour Court

Preparing written submissions

Assessments

Assessment will be through 100% continuous assessment comprised of a take home exam and written assignment

Lecturer

Áine Smyth

Áine is a barrister with a mixed general practice. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Áine worked as a legal executive in both private practice and the public sector. For her undergraduate degree, Áine studied economics and political science in Trinity College Dublin and Science Po, Paris before undertaking an LL.M in International Human Rights Law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway. Thereafter, Áine undertook the Diploma in Legal Studies in the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, followed by the Barrister-at-Law degree course. In addition to her work in the Courts, Áine is a volunteer with the Free Legal Advice Clinic.