Starting on 20 October, this course offers students in-depth exposure to and practical insight into key practice areas of criminal law in Ireland from both the prosecution and defence perspectives. A core component of the course is the goal of developing the advocacy skills of those attending, through interactive workshop sessions that mirror situations faced in the criminal justice process. The ethical and professional considerations of advising an arrested person in custody, dealing with vulnerable witnesses, and victims’ rights in a criminal trial process will be considered in detail. 

2023/2024 course modules

• Module 1: Arrest and detention
• Module 2: Evidence and criminal law updates
• Module 3: The District Court and advocacy skills
• Module 4: Dealing with victims and vulnerable witnesses
• Module 5: Judicial review
• Module 6: The Role of An Garda Síochána in the Criminal Justice System
• Module 7: Road traffic offences
• Module 8: Sentencing Law and Practice
• Module 9: Regulatory crime

Workshops

There will be four workshops held during the course which are designed to be interactive and involve working in groups on selected case-study problems and analysis, with an emphasis on the application of criminal law to common scenarios encountered in practice.

Who should apply?

As well as being suitable for solicitors, trainees, and barristers, this course will also appeal to members of An Garda Síochána, employees of statutory agencies and offices that have a criminal justice function, and other suitably qualified professionals.

• Apply for the Diploma in Criminal Law and Practice

For further information visit: www.lawsociety.ie/diplomacentre or contact course leader, Patricia Harvey, by emailing p.harvey@LawSociety.ie.