Law LLM (Children's Rights & Family Law) (LLM)

1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Law - LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law)

About This Course

Explore This Section

Fact File

• Title

  Law LLM (Children's Rights & Family Law)

• Code

  PDLCRF

• College

  Business and Law

• Duration

  1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time

• Teaching Mode

  Full-time, Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.

• Qualifications

  LLM

• EU Fees

  Full-time €7,130; Part-time €3,630 (Year 1), €3,630 (Year 2)
  See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Non-EU Fees

  €17,900

• Entry Requirements

  See Requirements for full details.

• Closing Date

  Open for EU applications, check rounds closing under How to Apply

• Non-EU Closing Date

  30 June 2023

• Start Date

  11 September 2023

Course Outline

On the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law), you will be exposed to the law and theory on child and family law in Ireland and internationally. At the same time you will get a rare insight into various aspects of the law in action by engaging with social workers, legal professionals and others.

You will work with scholars who have a track record of outstanding scholarship on legal issues relating to children and the family.

You will have the opportunity to become involved in UCC’s innovative Child Law Clinic where you can provide research assistance to lawyers on real cases, helping to make a contribution to the quality of advocacy on children’s issues, and lobbying for the reform of child law and children’s rights. 

Applicants for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Children's Rights and Family Law). Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. 

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 15,000-word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).    

Full-time:

Students take 90 credits.

Part-time:

Students take 90 credits over two years. In Year 2, students take LW6569 and any core modules not already taken in Year 1.

Core Modules Students take core modules to the value of 80 credits as follows:

LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)

LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

LW6549 International Children's Rights (10 credits)

LW6563 Children's Rights Law in Practice (10 credits)

LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)

LW6569 LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Dissertation (30 credits) and either

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

or LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

Note: The other clinic module not chosen here may be taken as an elective.

Elective Modules Student take modules to the value of 10 credits from the list of elective modules set out below. (The Clinic module chosen as a core module may not be chosen again).

LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)

LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered in any particular session and/or other options may become available.

Note: In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 5 credits from the list available for the LLM Degree (see here) (other than those listed above) in substitution for 5 credits of the elective modules listed above.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Full details may be found in the College Calendar.  Please see the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of modules.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Course Practicalities

LLM classes are in seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. You will receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar. Seminars take place in two-hour blocks between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 10 credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5 credit modules run for 6 weeks. Arrangements are made for courtroom observation in the family courts.

Assessment

You will be examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and your dissertation must be submitted in September. To view individual module assessments in the Book of Modules

Who teaches this course

The School of Law has many committed lecturers with expertise across a wide range of areas, and has particular strengths in the area of child and family law. For a full list of School members, including details of research interests, publications and postgraduate supervision, see link  http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/about/people/

Why Choose This Course

The LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) is the first course of its kind in Ireland and it builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in the area of child and family law. From this course, you will gain a unique specialisation in legal issues relating to children and the family, including family property, children’s rights and juvenile justice. You will also have the opportunity to work on real cases and to lobby for reform through the Child Law Clinic, which allows you to make contacts and gain practical experience. You can follow the work of the Child Law Clinic on Facebook  and Twitter.

Top 100 ranking

UCC School of Law has been ranked among the world's best Law Schools in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, climbing 25 places to 75th in the world and to 1st in Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

As the only qualification of its kind in Ireland, graduates are uniquely qualified in the areas of child law and family law. As well as allowing legal professionals to specialise in these areas of legal practice, graduates of this degree are well equipped to work anywhere in the children’s sector – with government departments and agencies (in education, child protection, youth justice etc.), with non-governmental organisations (both nationally and internationally), or other bodies who work with children. Few statutory or children’s organisations have staff with legal expertise in the child and family law area and this is a significant gap in the sector.

Requirements

To be accepted on this course, you must be approved by the School of Law.

You will also normally have: 

(a) A Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8)

Or

(b) Have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree.

If you are an overseas candidate, you are welcome to apply and your qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis as above. Non-EU applicants should contact the International Education Office by email at [email protected] for application details.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is Full-time €7,130; Part-time €3,630 (Year 1), €3,630 (Year 2).

The Non-EU fee for this course is €17,900.

How Do I Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

• Please enter the names and email addresses of 2 referees. 

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

On the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law), you will be exposed to the law and theory on child and family law in Ireland and internationally. At the same time you will get a rare insight into various aspects of the law in action by engaging with social workers, legal professionals and others.

You will work with scholars who have a track record of outstanding scholarship on legal issues relating to children and the family.

You will have the opportunity to become involved in UCC’s innovative Child Law Clinic where you can provide research assistance to lawyers on real cases, helping to make a contribution to the quality of advocacy on children’s issues, and lobbying for the reform of child law and children’s rights. 

Applicants for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Children's Rights and Family Law). Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. 

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 15,000-word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).    

Full-time:

Students take 90 credits.

Part-time:

Students take 90 credits over two years. In Year 2, students take LW6569 and any core modules not already taken in Year 1.

Core Modules Students take core modules to the value of 80 credits as follows:

LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)

LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

LW6549 International Children's Rights (10 credits)

LW6563 Children's Rights Law in Practice (10 credits)

LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)

LW6569 LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Dissertation (30 credits) and either

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

or LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

Note: The other clinic module not chosen here may be taken as an elective.

Elective Modules Student take modules to the value of 10 credits from the list of elective modules set out below. (The Clinic module chosen as a core module may not be chosen again).

LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)

LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered in any particular session and/or other options may become available.

Note: In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 5 credits from the list available for the LLM Degree (see here) (other than those listed above) in substitution for 5 credits of the elective modules listed above.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Full details may be found in the College Calendar.  Please see the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of modules.

1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Law - LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law)

About This Course

Explore This Section

Fact File

• Title

  Law LLM (Children's Rights & Family Law)

• Code

  PDLCRF

• College

  Business and Law

• Duration

  1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time

• Teaching Mode

  Full-time, Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.

• Qualifications

  LLM

• EU Fees

  Full-time €7,130; Part-time €3,630 (Year 1), €3,630 (Year 2)
  See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Non-EU Fees

  €17,900

• Entry Requirements

  See Requirements for full details.

• Closing Date

  Open for EU applications, check rounds closing under How to Apply

• Non-EU Closing Date

  30 June 2023

• Start Date

  11 September 2023

Course Outline

On the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law), you will be exposed to the law and theory on child and family law in Ireland and internationally. At the same time you will get a rare insight into various aspects of the law in action by engaging with social workers, legal professionals and others.

You will work with scholars who have a track record of outstanding scholarship on legal issues relating to children and the family.

You will have the opportunity to become involved in UCC’s innovative Child Law Clinic where you can provide research assistance to lawyers on real cases, helping to make a contribution to the quality of advocacy on children’s issues, and lobbying for the reform of child law and children’s rights. 

Applicants for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree also have the option of registering for a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Children's Rights and Family Law). Students take 60 credits of taught masters’ modules from those on offer for the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law). The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed over 9 months full-time or 18 months part-time. 

This shorter programme may be attractive to legal professionals and others who may prefer not to make an initial commitment to a full master’s programme. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma may further progress their studies by completing a 15,000-word research dissertation and graduating with a Masters in Law (LLM).    

Full-time:

Students take 90 credits.

Part-time:

Students take 90 credits over two years. In Year 2, students take LW6569 and any core modules not already taken in Year 1.

Core Modules Students take core modules to the value of 80 credits as follows:

LW6507 Comparative Family Property Law (5 credits)

LW6546 Juvenile Justice (10 credits)

LW6549 International Children's Rights (10 credits)

LW6563 Children's Rights Law in Practice (10 credits)

LW6568 The Family and the Law (10 credits)

LW6569 LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Dissertation (30 credits) and either

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

or LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

Note: The other clinic module not chosen here may be taken as an elective.

Elective Modules Student take modules to the value of 10 credits from the list of elective modules set out below. (The Clinic module chosen as a core module may not be chosen again).

LW6592 Mental Capacity Law (5 credits)

LW6614 Family Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6615 Child Law Clinic (5 credits)

LW6619 Alternative Dispute Resolution: Processes and Practice (5 credits)

LW6634 Refugee and Forced Displacement Law (10 credits)

It may be that not all modules listed above will be offered in any particular session and/or other options may become available.

Note: In certain cases, with the permission of the Programme Director, students may elect to take 5 credits from the list available for the LLM Degree (see here) (other than those listed above) in substitution for 5 credits of the elective modules listed above.

In order to ensure a reasonable distribution of workload, when choosing modules for all programmes, students should take a balance of credits between Semester 1 and Semester 2. Students who wish to deviate from this rule must seek permission from their Programme Director.

Full details may be found in the College Calendar.  Please see the Book of Modules for a more detailed description of modules.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Course Practicalities

LLM classes are in seminar format. This participative and interactive format of teaching is suitable for postgraduate level. You will receive advance reading lists and/or materials for each seminar. Seminars take place in two-hour blocks between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 10 credit modules run for 12 weeks and 5 credit modules run for 6 weeks. Arrangements are made for courtroom observation in the family courts.

Assessment

You will be examined by continuous assessment throughout the year and your dissertation must be submitted in September. To view individual module assessments in the Book of Modules

Who teaches this course

The School of Law has many committed lecturers with expertise across a wide range of areas, and has particular strengths in the area of child and family law. For a full list of School members, including details of research interests, publications and postgraduate supervision, see link  http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/about/people/

Why Choose This Course

The LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) is the first course of its kind in Ireland and it builds on the School’s wide range of expertise and knowledge in the area of child and family law. From this course, you will gain a unique specialisation in legal issues relating to children and the family, including family property, children’s rights and juvenile justice. You will also have the opportunity to work on real cases and to lobby for reform through the Child Law Clinic, which allows you to make contacts and gain practical experience. You can follow the work of the Child Law Clinic on Facebook  and Twitter.

Top 100 ranking

UCC School of Law has been ranked among the world's best Law Schools in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, climbing 25 places to 75th in the world and to 1st in Ireland.

Skills and Careers Information

As the only qualification of its kind in Ireland, graduates are uniquely qualified in the areas of child law and family law. As well as allowing legal professionals to specialise in these areas of legal practice, graduates of this degree are well equipped to work anywhere in the children’s sector – with government departments and agencies (in education, child protection, youth justice etc.), with non-governmental organisations (both nationally and internationally), or other bodies who work with children. Few statutory or children’s organisations have staff with legal expertise in the child and family law area and this is a significant gap in the sector.

Requirements

To be accepted on this course, you must be approved by the School of Law.

You will also normally have: 

(a) A Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours Law degree (NFQ, Level 8)

Or

(b) Have such other relevant third level educational qualifications and/or professional experience as, in the opinion of the School of Law, qualifies the candidate under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to undertake the LLM (Children's Rights and Family Law) Degree.

If you are an overseas candidate, you are welcome to apply and your qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis as above. Non-EU applicants should contact the International Education Office by email at [email protected] for application details.

Fees and Costs

The EU fee for this course is Full-time €7,130; Part-time €3,630 (Year 1), €3,630 (Year 2).

The Non-EU fee for this course is €17,900.

How Do I Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

• Please enter the names and email addresses of 2 referees. 

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.