The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Child and Family Law) is a full-time programme running for 9 months full-time or a part-time programme running for 18 months over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme. A full-time candidate may not, during the currency of the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Child and Family Law), simultaneously pursue any other form of education training or employment, without the advance permission of the School of Law.

Candidates must be approved by the School of Law and must normally:

(a) hold a Law Degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1
or
(b) have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate to undertake the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Child and Family Law)
or
(c) have passed the Postgraduate Certificate in Child Law or the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Family Law offered by the School of Law at UCC.

Note: Where appropriate, the Academic Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, certain elective modules to be taken by a candidate admitted under entry criteria (b) or (c) above.  The taking of specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate’s application.

The number of places available in any given year is dependent on resources and all qualified candidates may not be admitted.

Full-time:
Students take 60 credits as follows.

Core Modules – List A:
Students take core modules to the value of 50 credits as follows:

LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)
LW6549 International Children’s Rights (10 credits)
LW6563 Child Law in Practice (10 credits)
LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)
LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

Plus 1 Clinic Module from one of the following 4 clinic modules. Both the Child Law Clinic and the Family Law Clinic will run as distinct 5 credit modules in each semester.  Each Clinic module will address different issues.  (The other 3 clinic modules not chosen here may be taken as electives see List B below.)  
LW6506 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 1)
LW6611 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)(Semester 1)
LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)

Elective Modules – List B
Student take modules to the value of 10 credits from the list of elective modules set out below. (The Clinic module chosen from List A may not be chosen again)
LW6506 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 1)
LW6611 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)(Semester 1)
LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6603 Legal Regulation of Cohabitation and Emerging Family Forms (5 credits)
LW6584 International Refugee Law (5 credits)
LW6585 Migration Law and Human Rights (5 credits)
LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)
LW6609 Mental Health Law (5 credits)

²List C: Undergraduate Module
LW1161 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights (5 credits)
LW2275 Family Law: Child Law (5 credits)
LW2276 Family Law: Family Relationships (5 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

Notes:

1. In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 10 credits from the list available for the LLM Degree (see here) (other than those listed above) in substitution for 10 credits of the elective modules in List B.
2. Where appropriate, the Academic Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether these modules should be taken by candidates admitted under entry criterion (b) or (c) above. The taking of these and other specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate’s application. Registration for these modules requires the permission of the Programme Director.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Part-time:

List A:  Core modules to be taken in either year 1 or year 2 to the value of 50 credits as follows:

LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)
LW6549 International Children’s Rights (10 credits)
LW6563 Child Law in Practice (10 credits)
LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)
LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

Plus 1 Clinic Module from one of the following 4 clinic modules. Both the Child Law Clinic and the Family Law Clinic will run as distinct 5 credit modules in each semester.  Each Clinic module will address different issues.  (The other 3 clinic modules not chosen here may be taken as electives see List B below.)  
LW6506 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 1)
LW6611 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)(Semester 1)
LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)

Elective Modules to be taken in year 1 or 2 - List B
Student take modules to the value of 10 credits from the list of elective modules set out below. (The Clinic module chosen from List A may not be chosen again)

LW6506 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 1)
LW6611 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)(Semester 1)
LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits) (Semester 2)
LW6603 Legal Regulation of Cohabitation and Emerging Family Forms (5 credits)
LW6584 International Refugee Law (5 credits)
LW6585 Migration Law and Human Rights (5 credits)
LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)
LW6609 Mental Health Law (5 credits)

²List C: Undergraduate Module
LW1161 Constitutional Law: Fundamental Rights (5 credits)
LW2275 Family Law:  Child Law (5 credits)
LW2276 Family Law: Family Relationships (5 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

Notes:

1. In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 10 credits from the list available for the LLM Degree (see here) (other than those listed above) in substitution for 10 credits of the elective modules in List B.
2. Where appropriate, the Academic Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether these modules should be taken by candidates admitted under entry criterion (b) or (c) above. The taking of these and other specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate’s application. Registration for these modulee requires the permission of the Programme Director.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2017 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2016/2017.

Exit Award - Postgraduate Certificate in Child Law (NFQ Level 9 Minor Award)
Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 30 credits that meet the requirements of the Postgraduate Certificate in Child Law (see here), students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Child Law.

Exit Award - Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Family Law (NFQ Level 9 Minor Award)
Upon successful completion of taught modules to the value of 30 credits that meet the requirements of the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Family Law (see here) students may opt not to proceed with the programme and exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Family Law.

LLM (Child and Family Law) Degree
Candidates who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Child and Family Law) may undertake the LLM (Child and Family Law) Degree.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Child and Family Law) (NFQ Level 9, Major award):
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of Irish Child Law and Family Law;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the relevance and significance of International Law for Child and Family Law;
• Critically evaluate primary and secondary legal materials of relevance to Child and Family Law including legislation, international instruments, case-law and academic commentary;
• Identify and explore interconnections between legal topics in the area of Child Law and Family Law;
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving legal problems in Child and Family Law;
• Demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking in relation to relevant legal issues;
• Connect changing values and sentiments in society with legal developments in respect of Child and Family Law;
• Formulate research questions and develop appropriate research methodologies;
• Undertake scholarly research exploring legal themes;
• Use information technology appropriately for high-level legal research and writing;
• Develop an ability to identify and evaluate relevant social and socio-legal research in the area of Child and Family Law;
• Express complex legal and/or policy analysis in an appropriate legal style, in accordance with legal writing standards.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Child Law (NFQ Level 9, Minor award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of Irish Child Law;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the relevance and significance of International Law for Child Law;
• Critically evaluate primary and secondary legal materials of relevance to Child Law including legislation, international instruments, case-law and academic commentary;
• Identify and explore interconnections between legal topics in the area of Child Law;
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving legal problems in Child Law;
• Demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking in relation to relevant legal issues;
• Connect changing values and sentiments in society with legal developments in respect of Child Law.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Family Law (NFQ Level 9, Minor award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of Advanced Irish Family Law;
• Demonstrate an awareness of the relevance and significance of International Law for Advanced Family Law;
• Critically evaluate primary and secondary legal materials of relevance to Advanced Family Law including legislation, international instruments, case-law and academic commentary;
• Identify and explore interconnections between legal topics in the area of Advanced Family Law;
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving legal problems in Advanced Family Law;
• Demonstrate original, independent and critical thinking in relation to relevant legal issues;
• Connect changing values and sentiments in society with legal developments in respect of Advanced Family Law.