A  joint Trinity College and Mason, Hayes & Curran (MHC) LLP online course has been developed in response to increased demand for specialised training in the area of child protection and domestic violence.

The course is aimed at legal practitioners to help them understand the impact of domestic violence on children and the required action when there are child-protection concerns.

This is a collaborative project between Dr Stephanie Holt of Trinity College and Sonya Bruen, health and prosecutions partner at MHC LLP. 

Associate professor Dr Holt will present on the research evidence on domestic violence and abuse, as it relates to child protection and welfare work, with a focus on the impact of domestic violence on children’s overall welfare.

Managing contact between parents and children where there has been domestic violence will also be discussed.

Sonya Bruen will bring to bear her experience as a child protection legal practitioner.

Sonya utilises a wide range of court experience to provide practical guidance on the key legislation and how parental rights and children’s rights can be balanced in this complex area.

MHC LLP is one of the firms acting for TUSLA in child-care court proceedings.

Sonya Bruen has first-hand experience of the increased impact of domestic violence on children, particularly over the past year as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

Socio-legal model

This collaborative project is the second online course run by MHC LLP with Trinity using the socio-legal model.

The course starts on 12 April, with the closing date for applications on 29 March.