2021/2022

Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Environmental and Natural Resources Law)

NFQ Level 9, Major Award

Note: Every effort has been made to ensure that the programme and module content as described in the University's Calendar and Book of Modules for the 2021-22 academic year are accurate. However, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, no guarantee is given that programme/module content, delivery and assessment may not be altered, cancelled, replaced, augmented or otherwise amended. Any changes will ensure the same competencies and Learning Outcomes are met. Programme and/or Module Coordinators will communicate any such changes to students.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) is a full-time programme running for 9 months 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 (Environmental and Natural Resources Law), simultaneously pursue any other form of education, training or employment, without the advance permission of the School of Law.

Full-time:
Students take 60 credits as follows:

Core Modules
Students take core modules to the value of 40 credits as follows:
LW6101 Introduction to Planning Law (5 credits)
LW6580 Environmental Law in Practice (5 credits)
LW6581 Method in Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6617 International Biodiversity and Ecosystems Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6618 Climate Change Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6627 International Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6645 Marine Environmental and Natural Resources Law (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students take modules to the value of 20 credits from the lists of elective modules set out below. Students must take at least 10 credits from List A. It may be that not all modules listed below will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

List A
GG6501 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)
GG6502 Introduction to Remote Sensing (5 credits)
LW6550 International Criminal Law (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6566 Contemporary Issues in International Law (5 credits)
LW6589 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (5 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
LW6620 Introduction to the Law of the Sea (10 credits)
LW6623 Global Maritime Security (5 credits)
LW6624 Port Law (5 credits)
LW6633 Public International Law (5 credits)
LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)
LW6636 European Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Rescue (5 credits)
LW6637 Brexit - Legal and Political Perspectives (10 credits)
LW6638 Crisis and the Future of Europe (10 credits)
LW6639 FinTech: Law and Regulation (5 credits)
*LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic (10 credits)
LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)

* LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic cannot be selected without the prior approval of the Programme Director.

List B: Undergraduate Modules*
LW2211 Principles of Public International Law (5 credits)
LW2216 Humanitarianism and the Law (5 credits)
LW3371 Sources and Foundations of Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW3372 Environmental Law: Contemporary Issues in Governance, Regulation and Enforcement (5 credits)

* Registration for these modules requires the permission of the Programme Director. Where appropriate, the Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether any undergraduate modules should be taken by candidates admitted under entry criterion (b) above. The taking of these and other specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate's application.


Part-time:
Students take 60 credits, completing a total of 30 credits in Year 1 and 30 credits in Year 2.

Part-time Year 1:

Core Modules
Students take a minimum of 25 credits from the following:
LW6101 Introduction to Planning Law (5 credits)
LW6580 Environmental Law in Practice (5 credits)
LW6581 Method in Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6617 International Biodiversity and Ecosystems Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6618 Climate Change Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6627 International Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6645 Marine Environmental and Natural Resources Law (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students may choose up to 15 credits from the lists of elective modules set out below. No more than 10 credits in total may be chosen from List B in the course of the Postgraduate Diploma. It may be that not all modules listed below will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

List A
GG6501 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)
GG6502 Introduction to Remote Sensing (5 credits)
LW6550 International Criminal Law (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6566 Contemporary Issues in International Law (5 credits)
LW6589 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (5 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
LW6620 Introduction to the Law of the Sea (10 credits)
LW6623 Global Maritime Security (5 credits)
LW6624 Port Law (5 credits)
LW6633 Public International Law (5 credits)
LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)
LW6636 European Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Rescue (5 credits)
LW6637 Brexit - Legal and Political Perspectives (10 credits)
LW6638 Crisis and the Future of Europe (10 credits)
LW6639 FinTech: Law and Regulation (5 credits)
*LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic (10 credits)
LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)

* LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic cannot be selected without the prior approval of the Programme Director.

List B: Undergraduate Modules*
LW2211 Principles of Public International Law (5 credits)
LW2216 Humanitarianism and the Law (5 credits)
LW3371 Sources and Foundations of Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW3372 Environmental Law: Contemporary Issues in Governance, Regulation and Enforcement (5 credits)

* Registration for these modules requires the permission of the Programme Director. Where appropriate, the Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether any undergraduate modules should be taken by candidates admitted under entry criterion (b) above. The taking of these and other specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate's application.

Part-time Year 2:

Core Modules
Students must take core modules not already taken in Year 1:
LW6101 Introduction to Planning Law (5 credits)
LW6580 Environmental Law in Practice (5 credits)
LW6581 Method in Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6617 International Biodiversity and Ecosystems Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6618 Climate Change Law and Policy (5 credits)
LW6627 International Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW6645 Marine Environmental and Natural Resources Law (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Students choose their remaining credits from the lists of elective modules set out below, provided that the relevant modules have not already been taken. No more than 10 credits in total may be chosen from List B in the course of the Postgraduate Diploma. It may be that not all modules listed below will be offered each year and/or other options may become available.

List A
GG6501 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (5 credits)
GG6502 Introduction to Remote Sensing (5 credits)
LW6550 International Criminal Law (10 credits)
LW6560 Law of Cybercrime (10 credits)
LW6566 Contemporary Issues in International Law (5 credits)
LW6589 Contemporary Issues in EU Competition Policy (5 credits)
LW6606 International Human Rights Law (10 credits)
LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)
LW6620 Introduction to the Law of the Sea (10 credits)
LW6623 Global Maritime Security (5 credits)
LW6624 Port Law (5 credits)
LW6633 Public International Law (5 credits)
LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)
LW6636 European Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Rescue (5 credits)
LW6637 Brexit - Legal and Political Perspectives (10 credits)
LW6638 Crisis and the Future of Europe (10 credits)
LW6639 FinTech: Law and Regulation (5 credits)
*LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic (10 credits)
LW6643 Negotiation and Mediation (10 credits)
LW6644 Managing Complex Disputes (10 credits)

* LW6642 Environmental Law Clinic cannot be selected without the prior approval of the Programme Director.

List B: Undergraduate Modules*
LW2211 Principles of Public International Law (5 credits)
LW2216 Humanitarianism and the Law (5 credits)
LW3371 Sources and Foundations of Environmental Law (5 credits)
LW3372 Environmental Law: Contemporary Issues in Governance, Regulation and Enforcement (5 credits)

* Registration for these modules requires the permission of the Programme Director. Where appropriate, the Programme Director will identify, in consultation with the candidate, whether any undergraduate modules should be taken by candidates admitted under entry criterion (b) above. The taking of these and other specified modules may be made a condition of acceptance of a candidate's application.

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

Examinations
Full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2021/2022 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2021/2022.

LLM (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) Degree
Candidates who successfully complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) may undertake the LLM (Environmental and Natural Resources Law) Degree.

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

  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Irish, European and International Environmental and natural Resources Law;
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the particular relevance and significance of EU and International Law in this field;
  • Critically evaluate primary and secondary legal materials of relevance to Environmental and Natural Resources Law, including legislation, international instruments, case-law and academic commentary;
  • Identify and explore interconnections between disparate legal topics in the area of Environmental and Natural Resources Law;
  • Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving legal problems in Environmental and Natural Resources 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 Environmental and Natural Resources 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;
  • Express complex legal and/or policy analysis in an appropriate legal style, in accordance with legal writing standards.

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