EDUCATION
AT KING’S INNS
Acknowledgements:
Photographs inside front cover and on p.12 by David Davison/Davison and Associates
Photographs of students by Harry Weir/Harry Weir Photography
Design: Origin | www.origin.ie
We thank our former students for permission to photograph them while at King’s Inns.
© The Honorable Society of King’s Inns
King’s Inns was formally established in 1541. It derives
its name from King Henry VIII who was instrumental in
ensuring that a lease of the lands at Inns Quay (where
the Four Courts are now located) was transferred
to the benchers. By the end of the 19th century,
the government of the day decided that it needed
a building in which to house permanent courts.
Thus, in 1800, the noted architect, James Gandon,
having just completed the Four Courts building, was
commissioned by King’s Inns to design the present
buildings on Constitution Hill. Henceforward, these
would be the headquarters of the Benchers and the
School of Law. The primary focus of the school is the
training of barristers.
www.kingsinns.ie
The Honorable Society of King’s Inns comprises
benchers, barristers and students. The benchers
include all the judges of the Supreme and High Courts
and a number of elected barristers.
The School of Law at King’s Inns is the oldest
institution of legal education in Ireland. Its reputation
is international with a long list of eminent graduates
including former presidents of Ireland and of other
countries, taoisigh, politicians and, of course, judges
and barristers in practice throughout the English
speaking world.
01
BECOMING A BARRISTER
APPROVED LAW DEGREE/
APPROVED POSTGRADUATE
DIPLOMA
APPROVED
NON-LAW DEGREE
MATURE
APPLICANT
KING’S INNS DIPLOMA IN LEGAL STUDIES
(2 YEARS PART-TIME)
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
DEGREE COURSE (ONE YEAR FULL-TIME OR TWO YEAR MODULAR)
ADMISSION TO THE DEGREE OF BARRISTER-AT-LAW
CALL TO THE BAR BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE
THE WORK OF THE BARRISTER
SERVING JUSTICE
The nature of law is such that the majority of
people have contact with a barrister once or twice in
their lifetime, yet the issues requiring such contact
are nearly always life-changing. It may be that
a life-long relationship has ended, a business is
under threat, that liberty or reputation is at stake,
or that some personal right has been denied. It
is therefore vital that barristers are trained to
the highest standards and possess the skills and
knowledge to present the client’s case effectively
and persuasively. The core ethics of the profession
require independence and universal availability, with
barristers advocating for a client without regard
to their own interests or any consequences to
themselves or any other person.
WORK OF BARRISTERS
The main role of barristers lies in pleading cases
in the Supreme, High, Circuit and District Courts.
However, barristers also perform a number of other
important functions. They represent individuals and
organisations that appear before public enquiries
and tribunals. They give advice on legal matters,
draft legal documents and give expert legal opinions
on particular issues.
THE BAR IN IRELAND
There are several thousand qualified barristers in
Ireland, many of whom are employed in the public
service and in industry. Approximately 2200 are
members of the Law Library with more than 1850
working in Dublin, 200 based in Cork and 150 based
in Limerick and other circuits. There are about 1900
junior counsel and 300 senior counsel.
A junior counsel becomes a senior counsel by
applying “to take silk”, usually after at least 15 years
experience as a junior. If the application is approved
by the government, having already been considered
by the Chief Justice and the Attorney General who
liaise with the Chairman of the Bar Council, the
barrister is called to the Inner Bar by the Chief
Justice and becomes a senior counsel.
Senior counsel usually specialise in particular areas
of the law and give more time to the preparation
and presentation of cases in court and to providing
specialised legal opinions. Senior counsel generally
practise in the High Court and in the Supreme Court.
Some barristers specialise in specific areas of law
- Criminal, Commercial or Family Law, for example.
Others attach themselves to particular circuits
outside Dublin (a circuit is the area of one or more
counties in which a particular judge presides).
www.kingsinns.ie
03
DIPLOMA IN LEGAL STUDIES
The Diploma in Legal Studies is a two-year course
involving the study of substantive law. It is primarily
a course for people who do not hold a law degree
but who want to become barristers. However, the
diploma also attracts students who do not wish
to pursue the Barrister-at-Law qualification but
are interested in the law. Many graduates find the
course to be of benefit in their existing career.
Holders of the diploma are in the same position
as persons who have completed a law degree in
Ireland as far as entry to the Bar is concerned.
Students who enter the professional course via the
diploma route have traditionally done as well as
and frequently better than students with other law
qualifications in the entrance examination and on
the professional course. Diploma graduates report
that their experience on the diploma prepares them
well for the demands of the professional course.
Students attend lectures and tutorials in the evenings,
with classes beginning at 5.45pm on weeknights and
at 9.30am on Saturday mornings. Classes generally
run on Monday-Thursday and on alternate Saturday
mornings, with a limited number of classes taking
place on Fridays. These class times facilitate people
who are in employment, and most students continue
to work while taking the course.
Classes involve lectures and tutorials and are highly
interactive. Tutorials are small group sessions during
which students are required to undertake a range
of difficult tasks, including problem-solving in a
group or as an individual, mooting, advising fictitious
clients, conducting “consultations”, and presenting
and opposing legal arguments. The large proportion
of hours devoted to small group teaching makes the
course particularly demanding but rewarding, and
requires students to be able to participate regularly
and engage in active learning.
During the first year of the diploma course, students
take the following subjects: Introduction to the
Legal System, Criminal Law, Law of Contract, Law
of Torts, Family Law, Land Law (Property Law),
and Constitutional Law. In the second year of the
course, the subjects covered are Human Rights Law,
Administrative Law, Company Law, Law of Evidence,
European Union Law, Equity and the Law of Trusts,
and Jurisprudence. Students are also required to sit
classes in Legal Research and Writing. The course
provides a very broad legal education and covers the
core law subjects which are essential to the practice
of law in Ireland.
Attendance at class is compulsory.
Students must pass both an examination
and coursework in order to pass each subject.
Examinations are closed book whereas coursework
requires students to conduct research. Coursework
counts for 20% of the overall grade in each subject,
and requires the student to identify the legal issues
at stake in the question, conduct independent
research using legal databases and a law library, use
and reference appropriate legal sources, and write an
answer that summarises the relevant law in a clear,
complete and cogent manner before arriving at a
conclusion.
Students can also attend optional court visits to
sitting courts and take part in mooting and debating
competitions inside the School of Law and at national
and international level.
All tutors and lecturers on the course have impressive
qualifications (including many LLMs from colleges
including Harvard, Oxbridge and the London School
of Economics, as well as several PhDs from reputable
Irish and UK universities). Tutors and lecturers are
also qualified barristers, and therefore have a keen
understanding of how the law works in the real
world. All members of the team have extensive
teaching experience.
The Diploma in Legal Studies is a challenging but
enjoyable course and one which is intended to equip
students for study on the professional course and/or
for further study of law.
Many graduates of the diploma course have gone on
to further their study of law by undertaking taught or
research masters courses and/or PhDs.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
The following categories of applicants are eligible to apply for entrance to the diploma course:
GRADUATE APPLICANT – holder of an approved
degree (other than an approved degree in law)
from a third-level educational institution.
Degrees conferred by foreign educational institutions
may also suffice. The Education Committee, in each
case, determines whether a particular foreign degree
is acceptable.
MATURE APPLICANT – applicant who does not hold
an approved degree and is a least 23 years of age
on 1 May in the year in which he/she would sit the
examination for Diploma – part 1. Consideration is
given to (a) academic and professional qualifications
and (b) occupation and work experience. Places are
allocated by the Education Committee. An interview
may be required.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application forms for the Diploma in Legal Studies are available in the prospective student area of the King’s
inns website. The closing date for receipt of applications is 31 May.
The application form must be submitted electronically and payment must be made online.
“Students [on the Diploma in Legal
Studies] essentially undertake all the
elements of a three or four year course
offered in universities, and complete them
in a part-time two year course … the staff
were always very approachable, helpful
and understanding … Lectures and small
group tutorials were given by members
of the Bar who made the classes relevant,
practical and interesting.”
Peter McKenna,
Barrister-at-Law
www.kingsinns.ie
“The basic legal principles I first learned
on the Diploma in Legal Studies course
have proven to be valuable tools in
my day-to-day work as a media and
communications consultant. I would
highly recommend the Diploma course for
those with an interest in the law to either
enhance an existing career or as a starting
point in becoming a barrister.”
Brian Harmon, MPRII,
Media & Communications Consultant
05
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION AND
ADMISSION TO THE BARRISTER-AT-LAW
DEGREE COURSE
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Admission as a student to the degree course is by
an entrance examination. To be eligible to sit this
examination a candidate must have submitted a
satisfactory student admission declaration together
with a transcript of all degree/diploma results on or
before 1 July in the year in which an applicant intends
to take the examination. Moreover, an applicant
should hold either an approved law degree/approved
postgraduate diploma or the Society’s Diploma in
Legal Studies. The student admission declaration
together with the list of approved third level degrees
may be found in the prospective student area of
www.kingsinns.ie.
THE EXAMINATION
The subjects for the entrance examination are
as follows:
The applicant must show that, in the course leading
to the approved degree/postgraduate diploma, he/
she has passed the following core subjects as required
by the Society:
All candidates should be familiar with the rules
relating to the entrance examination. Information
regarding marks and standards, deferrals, eligibility
to re-sit, dates of examinations along with all the
education rules may be found in the prospective
student area of the website.
Ţ-BOE-BXJODMVEJOHUIF-BXPG4VDDFTTJPO
Ţ&RVJUZ
Ţ+VSJTQSVEFODF
Ţ$PNQBOZ-BX
Ţ-BXPGUIF&VSPQFBO6OJPO
Ţ"ENJOJTUSBUJWF-BX
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application forms for the entrance examination
together with the student admission declaration are
available on the website. The closing date for receipt
of application is 31 May. The application form must
be submitted electronically. The student admission
declaration must be signed and delivered to King’s
Inns along with transcripts of degree results on or
before 1 July in the year in which an applicant intends
to take the examination.
www.kingsinns.ie
Ţ$POUSBDU-BX
Ţ$SJNJOBM-BX
Ţ*SJTI$POTUJUVUJPOBMMBX
Ţ-BXPG5PSUT
Ţ-BXPG&WJEFODF
The entrance examination syllabus, reading list and
past examination papers are available on the King’s
Inns website.
ACCEPTANCE OF OFFERS
Offers of places on the degree course must be accepted
in accordance with the timeframe laid down by King’s
Inns. Candidates to whom places are allocated will
be notified as soon as is practicable. Such candidates
will be required to submit an acceptance form and the
appropriate fee within a specified period.
07
“My year on the King’s Inns course leading to the qualification of barrister-at-law was
one of my most enjoyable in education. What made it unique was the vocational nature
of the course, and the fact that classes were taught in small groups with a significant
emphasis on student participation. Those two aspects combined to create a great
atmosphere in class. It helped to foster a real sense of collegiality among the students something that is so important to life at the Bar.
Practising advocacy skills, negotiation, witness handling and client consultation was
different to anything I had experienced in my legal studies up to that point, and great
training for the Bar. The tutors were all practising barristers, which gave me a feel for the
profession before embarking on it.
King’s Inns also offered a varied range of extra-curricular activities, and students were
encouraged to participate in all of these, including mooting, debating, negotiation and
an exchange programme with students from the John Marshall Law School, Chicago.
There can be amazing opportunities. One of my abiding memories of King’s Inns was
participating in a moot court held at The Four Courts which was judged by the then
Chief Justice and the President of the High Court. Another was travelling to Australia
with a classmate to represent King’s Inns at the International Negotiation Competition.
The King’s Inns full-time degree is a busy year, with a lot going on, but it is spent with
a great group of people and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish”
Frank Kennedy,
Barrister-at-Law
”The varied and up- to- date professional course in King’s Inns is key to acquiring the
vital foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career as a barrister.
The course leading to the qualification of barrister-at-law is centered around small
tutorial classes, encouraging an enjoyable and involved collaborative learning experience
that fosters close links between the students and lecturers.
The course allowed me to use the academic knowledge gained during my undergraduate
degree and paired it to a practical working environment, covering all topics in a lively,
engaging and contemporary manner that proved invaluable”.
Laura Maunsell,
Barrister-at-Law
BARRISTER-AT-LAW DEGREE COURSE
The Barrister-at-Law degree is the professional stage
of training for the Bar of Ireland. It can be undertaken
either as a full-time one-year course or as a modular
two-year course.
The aim of the course is to enable students to acquire
and develop the skills, knowledge and values in order
to become an effective member of the Bar. It is
practical and interactive and is intended to bridge the
gap between the academic study of law and practice
at the Bar. The syllabus covers the following subjects
and activities:
1. Remedies and Quantum
2.
Practice and Procedure:
Ţ$JWJM1SBDUJDFBOE1SPDFEVSF
Ţ$SJNJOBM1SBDUJDFBOE1SPDFEVSF
Ţ&WJEFODF
3.
Legal Skills:
Ţ"EWPDBDZ
Ţ/FHPUJBUJPO
Ţ$POTVMUBUJPO
Ţ0QJOJPO8SJUJOH
Ţ%SBGUJOH
Ţ-FHBM3FTFBSDI
4. Ethics, professional responsibility
and practice management
5. Participation in mock trials
6. Attendance at courts, tribunals and other
specialist bodies
7. Advanced study of specialised areas of
practice (students have a choice of subjects
from which they must choose two)
Throughout the course, teaching and learning focus
on what happens in practice. The programme is
demanding with extensive preparation required in
www.kingsinns.ie
advance of each class. Classes are taught almost
exclusively in groups of sixteen with the emphasis on
student exercises and group work based on realistic
case papers. To prepare students fully for practice,
King’s Inns focus on providing high levels of face to
GBDF UVJUJPO /PUIJOH JT B TVCTUJUVUF GPS QFSTPOBM
guidance from professionals so we ensure that
students put the knowledge gained regularly into
practice under expert supervision. During the mock
trials all students take part in a civil and criminal
trial. These trials are heard in the Four Courts and in
the Criminal Courts of Justice with members of the
judiciary or senior counsel acting as judges. Students
are given numerous opportunities to practise and
receive feedback in the workshops and are expected
to participate in all classes. Attendance is compulsory
and is monitored strictly as it is considered part of the
students’ professional responsibility to their future
clients. In order to successfully complete the course
a student must have attended at least 90% of all
classes. The course is delivered solely by qualified
barristers from practice.
FULL-TIME ONE-YEAR COURSE
The full time course takes place over one academic
year beginning in early October and runs over three
terms ending in late May or early June. Classes
take place between 09.00 hours and 17.15 hours
every day from Monday to Friday during term time.
On occasion, speakers and other events may be
organised after classes. Assessments take place in
terms two and three.
MODULAR TWO-YEAR COURSE
This course takes place over two academic years,
each of which begins in October and runs over three
terms ending in late May or early June. Classes
take place between 09.00 hours and 17.15 hours on
approximately 11 weekends during the academic year
(on average every second weekend). With regard to
assessments, while the final assessments take place
in year two, the formative assessments (and these
are only in four subjects) are held in year one.
09
FURTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
ADMISSION TO THE DEGREE OF
BARRISTER-AT-LAW
Upon successful completion of the degree course, a
student may be admitted to the degree of Barristerat-Law. Usually, there are two admission ceremonies
during the year: mid-July and mid-October.
Both ceremonies take place in King’s Inns.
SPECIALLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS
Ţ 2VBMJGJFE-BXZFSTGSPNPUIFS&6
Member States,
Ţ /PSUIFSO*SFMBOE#BSSJTUFST
Ţ 4PMJDJUPSTRVBMJGJFEBOEJOQSBDUJDFJO*SFMBOE
Ţ 4UVEFOUTXIPIBWFVOEFSUBLFOMFHBM
education in other EU Member States
The above should direct queries on the application
process to [email protected].
CALL TO THE BAR
To be eligible to be called to the Bar, a person must
have
Ţ TVCNJUUFEBTBUJTGBDUPSZEFDMBSBUJPOUPUIF
benchers, (form available at the prospective
student area of the King’s Inns website)
Ţ CFFOBENJUUFEUPUIFEFHSFFPG
Barrister-at-Law
Ţ DPNQMJFEXJUIUIFQSPWJTJPOPGUIF-FHBM
Practitioners (Irish Language) Act 2008
by completing a compulsory, but nonexamined, course in Irish terminology and the
understanding of legal texts.
The call to the Bar by the Chief Justice usually takes
place in mid-July and mid-October in the Supreme
Court.
DISABILITY POLICY
King’s Inns is committed to a policy of equal opportunity
in education and to ensuring that students with a
disability have as complete and equitable access to all
facets of college life as can be reasonably provided.
www.kingsinns.ie
IRISH: LEGAL PRACTITIONERS
(IRISH LANGUAGE) ACT 2008
Under the provisions of the legal Practitioners (Irish
language) Act 2008, all students on the Barristerat-Law degree course must undertake a compulsory
course in Irish legal terminology and the understanding
of legal texts. There is no accompanying examination
or assessment to this course but attendance is
compulsory.
TUITION FEES
Information regarding fees for King’s Inns courses
and examinations may be found in the prospective
student area of the King’s Inns website. The degree
course is an approved course under the Higher
Education Grants Scheme; intending applicants
should contact the Student Universal Support Ireland
(SUSI) in order to establish their status vis-à-vis this
form of funding. In cases of exceptional hardship,
the Education Committee may remit fees payable
to the Society; applications for remission of fees
must be submitted before 1 September in any year
(see the prospective student area of the website for
application forms).
FACILITIES
The facilities at King’s Inns are top class with pleasant
lecture theatres, excellent computer connections to
relevant databases and the web, and small classrooms
equipped with TV screens and cameras. Wireless
facilities are provided for students’ laptops. The
library is open from 08.00 hours to 19.30 hours on
most weekdays during the academic year; Saturday
term opening is from 12.30 hours to 19.00 hours.
LINKS
If you go to the King’s Inns website and press “links”,
you will be able to access most of the Irish websites
that have a legal relevance.
Also available are
websites for Irish universities, legal publishers and
legal education links.
If you go to the prospective student area of the
website, you will be able to find
(a) background information and an application
form for the Diploma in Legal Studies
(b) background information and an application
form for the Entrance Examination
(c) Education Rules
11
THE WIDER APPLICATIONS
OF THE SKILLS ACQUIRED
The degree course is designed to equip students with
the necessary skills and knowledge for practice at the
Bar. However, the skills acquired on the course are
relevant to numerous other careers:
1 ADVOCACY
The skill of advocacy is readily transferable and
applicable to employment outside the Bar and
is invaluable for anyone whose work requires
communication and presentation skills (whether it
is making a speech at a conference, putting forward
proposals to prospective clients or presenting an
argument at a meeting).
Techniques taught on the advocacy course include
Ţ DPOTUSVDUJOHBMPHJDBMBSHVNFOU
Ţ QJUDIJOHBOBSHVNFOUBUBOBQQSPQSJBUFMFWFM
Ţ LOPXJOHIPXUPDPNCJOFXSJUUFOBSHVNFOU
with oral persuasion,
Ţ VTJOHWPJDFBOENBOOFSUPPOFśT
best advantage,
Ţ FGGFDUJWFRVFTUJPOJOH
Ţ EFBMJOHXJUIJOUFSSVQUJPOTBOERVFTUJPOT
2 CONSULTATION
A consultation is the term used by the Bar for a meeting
with clients. The purpose of such consultations is to
find out the necessary information, to advise clients
on their legal situation and on the decisions they will
have to make and then to further advise the clients
once they have made their decision as to how they
might wish to proceed. During consultations, the
skills part of the training comes into play by providing
techniques for dealing with diverse people in a range
of situations and:
Ţ CZFYUSBDUJOHJOGPSNBUJPORVJDLMZBOEMPHJDBMMZ
Ţ CZVOEFSTUBOEJOHUIFNFSJUTPGEJGGFSFOU
questioning techniques,
Ţ CZDIBMMFOHJOHQFPQMFXJUIPVUMPTJOH
their trust,
Ţ CZFYQMBJOJOHDPNQMJDBUFEDPODFQUTDMFBSMZ
simply and accurately.
www.kingsinns.ie
3 NEGOTIATION
During this module, students learn the techniques of
effective negotiation. They learn to build strategies
and to use methods that will further enhance the
client’s best interest while taking account of factors
such as financial constraints, procedural rules, the
future working relationship between the parties and
listening and of persuading by argument, all of which
are applicable to other areas of employment.
4 OPINION WRITING
Students are trained to present pertinent and succinct
analysis of a case, to extract and distil the core
issues, to research as necessary and to advise on the
best course of action and the most likely outcomes.
Both opinion writing (written analysis and advice)
and consultation (oral analysis and advice) enable
students to extract what is relevant from a mass of
unstructured information, to assess the situation, to
take responsibility for advising on the best course of
action and to explain that advice clearly, logically and
professionally.
5 DRAFTING
The skills acquired during the drafting part of the
course enable students to draft documents that are
clear, precise, accurate and succinct.
6 CASE PREPARATION
Case preparation and analysis is a skill that has
many applications. It involves the analysis of fact,
conclusions, assumptions, inferences or argument.
The quality, reliability and the source of information
must be identified, separated and deployed to achieve
the objective of the exercise. Students learn to cope
with volumes of information and to
Ţ FYUSBDUBOEEJTUJMUIFDPSFJTTVFT
Ţ GPSNVMBUFPCKFDUJWFT
Ţ CVJMETUSBUFHZBOEBSHVNFOU
13
INFORMAL ACTIVITIES
AT KING’S INNS
THE LAW STUDENTS’ DEBATING
SOCIETY OF IRELAND
The Law Students’ Debating Society of Ireland (LSDSI)
at King’s Inns is one of the oldest legal debating
societies in these islands. The students organise a
number of in-house debates and moots throughout
UIF BDBEFNJD ZFBS /BUJPOBM BOE JOUFSOBUJPOBM
competitions are also encouraged and supported.
Students at King’s Inns and barristers in their first
year of pupillage are permitted to play; matches are
played in Belfast, Cork, Dublin and elsewhere.
The Brian Walsh Memorial Moot is the leading
in-house moot and usually attracts a large number
of participants from among the student body. A
moot (Bréagchúirt Uí Dhálaigh) is held in the Irish
language, In recent times, Kings’ Inns students have
represented Ireland in the Philip C Jessup International
law Moot Court Competition (Washington DC) which is
considered to be the most challenging of all moots.
DINING
The custom of keeping “terms” in hall is one of
the oldest customs of the Society. The origin of
the custom stems from the fact that practitioners
and students of law needed to eat close to their
place of work; therefore, the Inns provided an eating
place convenient to where the courts were held.
/PXBEBZT UIF TUVEFOU LFFQJOH IJTIFS UFSNT GJOET
ample opportunity for conversation and discussion
but, more importantly, s/he meets and comes to
know the people who are to be colleagues in the
profession. In this way, a bond of trust and respect is
created which links the student with fellow students
and the barrister with whom, and the judges before
whom s/he will practise in the future.
Down through the years, teams from King’s Inns
have won or have been placed in well-established
debating competitions such as the Irish Times
Debating Competition, The World Universities Debating
Championship, the John Smith Memorial International
Mace and so on. Other competitions involving the
skills of the profession are the Telders International
Law Moot Court Competition (held in The Hague), and
the International Negotiation Competition. Teams
from King’s Inns have acquitted themselves very well
in these competitions over the last number of years.
King’s Inns students edit the recently established
King’s Inns Students’ Law Review. The predecessor
of this review, the Irish Students’ Law Review, has
been particularly well received by the law libraries in
north American universities.
The auditor of the LSDSI is elected at the beginning
of Michaelmas term each year. All King’s Inns
students are eligible to go forward for election to this
prestigious position.
Full-time students on the professional course must
dine on 10 occasions during the academic year.
Students on the modular course dine on five occasions
in Modular 1 and on five occasions in Modular 2. There
are evenings during the dining terms when diploma
students may also dine
Distinguished guests usually address the students
when they pay courtesy calls to King’s Inns.
On the non-academic side, the LSDSI organises a
number of social and sporting events. Highlights of
the year are usually the Christmas Ball (held in King’s
Inns itself) and various forms of rugby competitions
including tag rugby.
www.kingsinns.ie
15
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN
LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING
This diploma is a unique two semester part-time
evening programme offering legal practitioners,
law graduates and persons with relevant legislative
drafting experience the opportunity to obtain an
Advanced Diploma in Legislative Drafting. This
programme is expressly designed to train participants
in the skill of drafting legislation and regulations,
thereby fulfilling a very important role in the delivery
of legal education for a vital area of governance.
Programme Aims and Learning Outcomes
The programme exposes participants to all aspects
of the theory and practice of legislative drafting.
On completion of the programme the participants
should have the knowledge required to understand
a drafting project and will have practised and honed
the skills required for successful management of
drafting projects. A key aim is to integrate theory and
practice.
Course Content
The programme is comprised of nine key modules:
Ţ
3PMFPGMFHJTMBUJWFESBGUFST
Ţ
1VCMJD-BXDPOTJEFSBUJPOTJOESBGUJOH
Ţ
4UBUVUPSZ*OUFSQSFUBUJPOBOEJUTSFMFWBODF
to drafting
Ţ
,FZUPPMTGPSESBGUFST
Ţ
-FHJTMBUJWFQSPDFTT
Ţ
"VEJFODFDPOTJEFSBUJPOTBOE
language usage
Ţ
-FHBMXSJUJOH
Ţ
-FHJTMBUJWFESBGUJOH
Ţ
"ODJMMBSZTLJMMT
Course Delivery
Delivery is in part-time evening mode through
the medium of seminars, workshops and lectures
presented by leading experts in the area. Places
are strictly limited. Experiential learning forms a
significant part of the programme with participants
learning reflectively through exercises and
individualised feedback and consequently practical
workshops will remain the primary teaching method
in most areas. This consists of a variety of teaching
and learning interventions including individual and
group projects, practical skills development, case
studies etc. Formal presentations provide background
theory in the substantive law areas underpinning the
programme.
Duration
The programme runs over a period of approximately
20 weeks and is delivered in part-time evening mode
on two evenings per week, Tuesday and Thursday,
from 18.00 to 20.00 hours, in a small group setting.
Career Opportunities
The advanced diploma will add significant value to
participants desirous of pursuing careers in the field
of legislative drafting as well as to those currently
with careers in the area.
HOW TO APPLY
For further information on the course including
the application process, please visit the King’s Inns
website: www.kingsinns.ie
Application forms may be emailed to:
[email protected]
or printed and sent to:
Admissions,
The Honorable Society of King’s Inns,
Henrietta Street,
Dublin 1.
“Have you ever puzzled over squinting
modifiers and dangling participles, or
delighted in the debate as to whether ‘shall’
related to the future or imposed an obligation,
and wished that you had some like-minded
soul to ponder these vital matters with? Well,
if so, the Advanced Diploma in Legislative
Drafting offered by the Kings’ Inns may be just
the course for you.”
“In truth, legislative drafting is really a
quite specialised subject, and one that only a
relatively small number of people are likely to
be interested in. But for those that are, this
course does the business. And this is where
the fellow students came into their own. The
class was a mixed bunch – civil servants
from a range of Departments, and practising
barristers and solicitors and all displayed an
enthusiasm for the minutiae of legal drafting
that would make Lynne Truss, of “Eats, shoots
and leaves” fame, proud. Don’t hesitate, go for
it. You won’t be sorry.”
. JSF/J$IVJSD
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
www.kingsinns.ie
“I found the Advanced Diploma in
Legislative Drafting hugely interesting
and beneficial and I would recommend
the course for civil servants and practising
barristers alike. The workshop format of the
class provided an excellent environment
in which to learn the skills involved in
legislative drafting. The tutors provided an
invaluable insight into the drafting process,
which was of great assistance to me in
liaising with Parliamentary Counsel in my
role as legal researcher in the Department
of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
The course also gave me an understanding
as to why legislative provisions are drafted
in a certain way and I find this of great
assistance in interpreting legislation.
I would highly recommend the course to
anyone who is involved in the preparation
of legislation, whether bills or regulations,
or anyone who is interested in getting
involved in such work.”
Sonja O’Connor BL,
previously Legal Researcher with the
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation, now practising in the
Law Library
17
ARD-DIOPLÓMA SA
LÍTHEANGEOLAÍOCHT
AGUS SAN AISTRIÚCHÁN
DLÍTHIÚIL
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN
LAWYER-LINGUISTICS AND
LEGAL TRANSLATION
ARD-DIOPLÓMA SAN
AISTRIÚCHÁN DLÍTHIÚIL
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN
LEGAL TRANSLATION
Ag éirí stádas na Gaeilge mar cheann de 23 teanga
oifigiúil den Aontas Eorpach1 earcaíonn institiúidí
an Aontais dlítheangneolaithe agus aistritheoirí
dlíthiúla le hardleibhéal scileanna Gaeilge
I gcomhair postanna I bParlaimint na hEorpa,
sa Choimisiún Eorpach agus sa Chomhairle. Tá
éagsiúlacht teanga agus chultúir mar chroí-luach
ag an tionscnamh Eorpach.
Arising out of the status of Irish as one of
the European Union’s official languages2 EU
institutions recruit lawyer-linguists and legal
translators with high competence in Irish
to positions in the European Parliament, the
European Commission and the Council Linguistic
and cultural diversity is central to the European
project.
Is ag aistriú reachaíochta agus cáipéisí oifigiúla
eile a bhíon na haistritheoirí dlithiúla. Cinntíonn
slítheangeolaithe, a mbíonn céim sa dlí agus/
nó cáilíocht ghairmiúil dlí acu, go bhfuil na
leaganacha éagsúla sna teangacha éagsiúla de
reacht den éifeacht chéanna ar fud an Aontais.
Tá combhailíocht ag na leaganacha uile sa 23
teanga.
Legal translators translate legislation and other
official documents. Lawyer-linguists, who have law
degrees and/or professional legal qualifications,
ensure that the various language versions of
legislation are of the same effect throughout
the Union. All 23 languages version have equal
validity.
Ullmhaítear na mic léinn do phróiseas earcaíochta
agus scrúduithe an AE. Seasann na dioplómaí
seo chomh maith leis an té ar mian leis dul le
haistriúchán in Éirinn. Tá Óstaí an Rí an-sásta a
bheith rannpháirteach san obair seo a chuireann
na hÓstaí agus ár gcuid mac léinn ag croí na
hEorpa.
Cuireann an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus
Gaeltachta tacaíocht airgeadais ar fáil don dá
chúrsa seo.
Students are prepared for the EU’s recruitment
process and examinations. The diplomas are also
of immense benefit to people who wish to pursue
employment as translators in Ireland. King’s Inns
is very pleased to be part of this project as it
places King’s Inns and its students in a pivotal
position in these specialised areas.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the
Gaeltacht provides financial support for these
courses
1
Mar aon le Béarla, Bulgáiris, Danmhairgis, Eastóinis, Fionlainnis, Fraincis, Germáinis, Gréigis, Iodáilis, Laitvis, Liotuáinis, Máltais,
Ollainnis, Polainnis, Portaingéilis, Rómáinis, Seicis, Slóvaicis, Spáinnis, Sualainnis agus Ungáiris.
2
Along with Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian,
Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
ARD-DIOPLÓMA SA
DLÍCHLEACHTADH
TRÍ GHAEILGE
ADVANCED DIPLOMA
IN LEGAL PRACTICE
THROUGH IRISH
Cumasaíonn an cúrsa páirtaimseartha ard-dioplóma
seo, atá ar oscailt d’abhcóidí agus d’aturnaetha a
bhfuil líofacht Ghaeilge acu, cleachtóirí dlí le feighmiú
trí Ghaeilge. Cuimsítear cúrsaí sibhialta agus coiri
ula, dréachtú. Abhcóideacht, comhchomhairle agus
idirbheartaíocht.
This advanced part-time diploma course, which
is open to barristers and solicitors with fluency in
Irish, upskills legal practitioners to work through
Irish. The course covers both civil and criminal
matters, drafting, advocacy, consultation and
negotiation.
Áirítear na cleachtóirí a n-éiríonn leo ar an gcúrsa seo
mar dhaoine cáilithe ar Chlár Gaeilge Óstaí an Ríde
bhun Acht na nDlí-Chleachtóirí (An Ghaeilge) 2008.
Practitioners who successfully complete this
course are included as qualified persons on the
King’s Inns’ Irish language register pursuant to the
Legal Practitioners (Irish Language Act 2008).
Cuireann an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus
Gaeltachta tacaíocht airgeadais ar fail don chúrsa
seo.
www.kingsinns.ie
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
provides financial support for this course.
19
ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN CORPORATE,
WHITE-COLLAR AND REGULATORY CRIME
(KING’S INNS)
Over recent years discussion on crime has increasingly
focused on corporate, white-collar and regulatory
crime and has moved away from the more traditional
“street crimes” that once graced the front pages.
This shift is primarily due to the fallout from the
international financial crisis and the profound impact
this has had on the world economy and indeed, on the
Irish economy. There exists a heightened awareness
of the catastrophic effects that offences of this
nature can have on society.
Ţ4VCTUBOUJWFPGGFODFTTVDIBTJOUIFGJFMET
of company law and market abuse,
competition, revenue, corruption, fraud,
health & safety, cyber- crime, among
other areas
Ţ4FOUFODJOHBOEPUIFSBODJMMBSZDJWJMPSEFST
relevant to this area
Ţ&YBNJOBUJPOPGUIFSPMFTPGUIFWBSJPVT
bodies charged with tackling this subject
This Advanced Diploma in Corporate, White Collar and
Regulatory Crime addresses both the procedural and
the substantive law that applies to corporate, whitecollar and regulatory crime.
Ţ$POGJTDBUJPONFUIPETQSPDFFETPGDSJNF
and money laundering
Ţ$PNQBSBUJWFBOBMZTJT64BOE6,TZTUFNT
vs. Irish system
PROGRAMME AIMS
This unique diploma provides participants with a
comprehensive practical knowledge of the main
areas of corporate, white-collar and regulatory crime,
thereby enabling participants to be equipped to deal
with the main issues in practice in an area of law of
increasing significance for many sectors and interests
within the state. Participants will acquire a practical
in-depth knowledge of the issues facing prosecutors,
investigators, companies, sentencing bodies and law
reformers in this area.
Ţ3FGPSN
COURSE CONTENT
Ţ%FGJOJOHDPSQPSBUFXIJUFDPMMBSBOE
regulatory crime
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The diploma will appeal to legal practitioners,
academics and policy-makers with an interest in
corporate, white-collar and regulatory crime. It will also
appeal to suitably qualified non-legal professionals,
including company directors, financial and insurance
sectors, accounting bodies, regulatory bodies, HR
practitioners, IR practitioners and trade unions.
Ţ*TTVFTPGDPSQPSBUFBOEJOEJWJEVBM
criminal liability
Ţ*OWFTUJHBUJOHDPSQPSBUFXIJUFDPMMBSBOE
regulatory crime and the barriers involved
Ţ$SJNJOBMQSPDFEVSFŘJOQBSUJDVMBSQSPTFDVUJOH
companies and directors
Ţ8IJTUMFCMPXFSQSPUFDUJPO
www.kingsinns.ie
COURSE DELIVERY
Delivery is in part-time evening mode through the
medium of lectures and seminars presented primarily
by a published expert in the field, Shelley Horan
BL. The course takes place in two-hourly sessions
over 20 weeks on Thursdays 6-8pm. There will be
occasional guest lectures from individuals with
specialist knowledge and/or senior prosecuting or
defence lawyers.
HOW TO APPLY
For further information on the course including
the application process, please visit the King’s Inns
website: www.kingsinns.ie
20
T HE HON ORAB L E
SOC IE T Y OF
KING ’S IN N S
H E N R I E T T A S T.
DUBLIN 1
T: +353 1 874 4840
F: +353 1 872 6048
E : i n f o @ki n gsi n n s. i e
W: w w w. k i n g s i n n s. i e