DIPLOMA IN LEGAL EXECUTIVE STUDIES
Prices Starting At €895
Classroom
Study in a classroom environment one evening a week.
Price from €995
(Instalment Price: €1095)
Live Online
Live online training with real-time instructor-student interaction.
Price from €895
(Instalment Price: €995)
The Diploma in Legal Executive Studies is a course designed for professionals who are either working as a legal executive, secretary or paralegal and persons who want to gain professional qualification in legal practice. The Diploma will equip learners with the skills required to work as a legal executive and/ or paralegal and will provide learners with a solid understanding of the practice of law in Ireland.
The Diploma will equip learners with the skills required to work as a legal executive and/ or paralegal and will provide learners with a solid understanding of the practice of law in Ireland.
City Colleges currently provides professional legal training to persons seeking to pursue professional practice as either solicitor or barrister in their provision of King’s Inns courses and FE-1 courses. With this Diploma, City Colleges will be in a position whereby they provide professional legal training for all areas of legal practice.
Week 1 Introduction to the Course and Irish Legal System
- The Legal Profession
- The Court System
- The first instance jurisdiction of the Courts
- Introduction to Civil and Criminal Procedure
- The Appellate jurisdiction of the Courts
- Precedent
- Legislation
Week 2 Legal Skills
- Legal writing
- Finding and reading case law and legislation
- Professional communication
- Ethics, professional standards and codes of conduct
- How to prepare attendances
Week 3 IT skills
- MS Word
- MS Excel
- MS Teams
- Presentation
Week 4 Conveyancing
- Ownership of land
- The Family home, the shared home and the acquisition of property rights
- Incumbrances
- Licences and leases
- Title
- Overview of steps in conveyancing
Week 5 Civil Litigation I
- Statute of Limitations
- Initiating proceedings
- Parties to actions
- Costs
- Initiating letters
- Service
Week 6 Civil Litigation II
- Pleadings
- Affidavits
- Privilege
- Discovery
Week 7 Criminal Litigation
- Instituting proceedings
- Taking instructions
- First Court appearance
- Bail
- Trials in the District Court
- Arraignment and pleas
- Circuit Court practice and procedure
Week 8 Personal Injuries Litigation
- The Personal Injuries Assessment Board
- The Personal Injuries Guidelines
- Application for assessment
- Recovery of certain benefits and assistance scheme
- Pleadings in Personal Injuries cases
- Mediation
Week 9 Family Law
- Introduction to family law
- Family law practice and procedure
- Judicial separation
- Divorce
- Ancillary reliefs
- Domestic violence
Week 10 Employment law
- Introduction to employment law
- Adjudication of employment disputes
- Workplace Relations Commission practice and procedure
- The Labour Court
Preparing written submissions
Assessment will be through 100% continuous assessment comrpised of a take home exam and written assignment

Lecturer
Áine Smyth
Áine is a barrister with a mixed general practice. Prior to commencing practice at the Bar, Áine worked as a legal executive in both private practice and the public sector. For her undergraduate degree, Áine studied economics and political science in Trinity College Dublin and Science Po, Paris before undertaking an LL.M in International Human Rights Law at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway. Thereafter, Áine undertook the Diploma in Legal Studies in the Honorable Society of King’s Inns, followed by the Barrister-at-Law degree course. In addition to her work in the Courts, Áine is a volunteer with the Free Legal Advice Clinic.
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.
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