PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN LEGAL STUDIES
Prices Starting At €795
Classroom
- City Centre Location
- Fully Interactive Limited Class Size
- 10 Weeks, 1 evening per week
- Starts 22nd January 2024
- 6.30 to 9.30pm
Live Online
- Live & fully online
- Archived for review
- 10 Weeks, 1 evening per week
- Starts 22nd January 2024
- 6.30 to 9.30pm
On Demand
- Fully online
- Pre Recorded
- Start Anytime
- Suit your own Schedule
- Access for 15 weeks
- 12 -13 weeks to send in the assignment
Know your rights and use the law as a sword and a shield.
- What can I do about neighbours trespassing, blocking my light, or making too much noise?
- What’s my comeback against a dodgy-builder, sneaky bank charges, or the travel agent who sold me a holiday from hell?
- My wife thought nothing of a fall she had in a shop, but her ankle never healed right and now it’s a year later.
- Can we do anything?
- Can’t I repost any gossip I like online about a foreign celebrity?
- How do I go about copyrighting/patenting my work?
- Litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and compliance will all be covered, as will access to legal advice and aid and how to consult legal resources.
The rich stories behind the headlines and the gossip.
- What’s going on with the Quinn case and just what is “contempt of court”?
- Why don’t convicts receive “tougher” sentences and why doesn’t “life” mean life?
- What does all that legal Latin actually mean?
- When the news says an accused cannot be named “for legal reasons”, what are those legal reasons?
- Is an oral contract legally binding?
- What’s going on behind closed doors in the family courts?
- Students will never again be stuck for a story at a dinner party.
The law is both fascinating and useful. After this Diploma in Legal Studies Course, you will have a firm grasp of its anecdotes, its uses, and how to learn more about it.
Week 1: Introduction to the Irish Legal System
- Where do laws come from?
- How does the court structure work?
- What is a tribunal and how are they different from a Court?
- What is the difference between a Solicitor and a Barrister?
- How long do I have to take my case and what are my remedies?
- How can I enforce a judgment?
Week 2: Employment law
- Who is an employee?
- What is the difference between unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal?
- Discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace – what redress is available?
- What are zero hour contracts?
- Where and how can I make an employment law complaint?
Week 3: Criminal law
- What are the rules of evidence?
- What is hearsay evidence?
- How do the criminal courts work?
- What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?
- How does criminal legal aid work?
- What is bail?
- What is the Special Criminal Court?
Week 4: Family Law
- What is the difference between Judicial Separation and Divorce?
- What are Cohabitants and what are their rights?
- How is the voice of the child heard in family law proceedings?
- What rights do unmarried fathers have?
- What is the in-camera rule and why do we have it?
Week 5: Consumer Protection and Contract law
- What are consumer’s rights?
- Who can complain to if there has been a breach of consumer rights?
- What is an unfair or misleading commercial practice?
- How is a contract formed?
- What are the essential elements of a contract?
- Who cannot make a contract?
- What happens if a contract is breached?
Week 6: Driving Offences
- What is a fixed-term penalty notice?
- What is the effect of a conviction for a drink driving offence?
- How does random breath testing work?
- What is the difference between careless driving and dangerous driving?
- What are the penalties for a driving offence and how long do penalty points last?
Week 7: Tort Law
- Negligence, Nuisance, Trespass
- What is the duty of care and what is a statutory duty of care?
- Causation and remoteness
- Manufacturers’ and Producers’ liability for defective products
- Personal injury actions
Week 8: Business Law
- What are the main types of business organisations?
- What are the different types of companies?
- Intellectual Property Rights in Ireland
- What changes did the Companies Act 2014 make?
- What is limited liability and what is the corporate veil?
- The difference between receivership, examinership and liquidation
Week 9: Media Law
- Free media expression, the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights
- Media Plurality
- Censorship and Public Morality
- Media and Privacy
- Defamation
Week 10: Constitutional Law & Miscarriage of Justice Cases in Ireland
- What are constitutional rights and how do they work?
- What happens if my constitutional rights are breached?
- Has there been miscarriage of justice cases in Ireland?
- What are socio-economic rights?
Week 1: Introduction to the Irish Legal System
- Where do laws come from?
- How does the court structure work?
- What is a tribunal and how are they different from a Court?
- What is the difference between a Solicitor and a Barrister?
- How long do I have to take my case and what are my remedies?
- How can I enforce a judgment?
Week 2: Employment law
- Who is an employee?
- What is the difference between unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal?
- Discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace – what redress is available?
- What are zero hour contracts?
- Where and how can I make an employment law complaint?
Week 3: Criminal law
- What are the rules of evidence?
- What is hearsay evidence?
- How do the criminal courts work?
- What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?
- How does criminal legal aid work?
- What is bail?
- What is the Special Criminal Court?
Week 4: Family Law
- What is the difference between Judicial Separation and Divorce?
- What are Cohabitants and what are their rights?
- How is the voice of the child heard in family law proceedings?
- What rights do unmarried fathers have?
- What is the in-camera rule and why do we have it?
Week 5: Consumer Protection and Contract law
- What are consumer’s rights?
- Who can complain to if there has been a breach of consumer rights?
- What is an unfair or misleading commercial practice?
- How is a contract formed?
- What are the essential elements of a contract?
- Who cannot make a contract?
- What happens if a contract is breached?
Week 6: Driving Offences
- What is a fixed-term penalty notice?
- What is the effect of a conviction for a drink driving offence?
- How does random breath testing work?
- What is the difference between careless driving and dangerous driving?
- What are the penalties for a driving offence and how long do penalty points last?
Week 7: Tort Law
- Negligence, Nuisance, Trespass
- What is the duty of care and what is a statutory duty of care?
- Causation and remoteness
- Manufacturers’ and Producers’ liability for defective products
- Personal injury actions
Week 8: Business Law
- What are the main types of business organisations?
- What are the different types of companies?
- Intellectual Property Rights in Ireland
- What changes did the Companies Act 2014 make?
- What is limited liability and what is the corporate veil?
- The difference between receivership, examinership and liquidation
Week 9: Media Law
- Free media expression, the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights
- Media Plurality
- Censorship and Public Morality
- Media and Privacy
- Defamation
Week 10: Constitutional Law & Miscarriage of Justice Cases in Ireland
- What are constitutional rights and how do they work?
- What happens if my constitutional rights are breached?
- Has there been miscarriage of justice cases in Ireland?
- What are socio-economic rights?

Chloë Cass
BL
Chloë is a barrister with a mixed general practice that has a special focus on personal injuries law, judicial review, and language rights. Chloë graduated with a BCL in Law and Irish from Maynooth University and a Barrister at Law Degree from King’s Inns.
In addition to her work in the Courts, Chloë is a tutor in Maynooth University Law’s department. She has acted as Investigatory Aide in employment investigations with CA Compliance. Chloë has been a Moot Judge for Maynooth University, and Foras na Gaeilge.
Course Award
A City College’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.
City College Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.
Corporate Training
In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City Colleges can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact Kevin.Coyne@citygroup.ie for further details.
Related Courses
Why City Colleges?
Study options that Suit your Schedule
Study where you want when you want. On Campus, Live Online, and On Demand.
Industry Expert-Led Courses
100+ courses, across subject areas in Business, IT, Psychology, Criminology, Law, Media, Arts & Science with over 16,000 graduates
World Class Teaching
City Colleges Lecturers are industry leaders in their chosen fields
Our commitment to student experience
Our Programme Teams engage, support, and guide our students throughout their programme to ensure that their learning experience is a positive one and prepares them to use their new skills in the workplace.
Cutting Edge Programme Content
Our students enjoy some of the most contemporary and industry-relevant course content, developed by our industry-based practitioners to close skills gaps in the global workforce
Premium courses at affordable prices
City Colleges is committed to ensuring that our education and training programmes are accessible and affordable.