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LAW30240

Academic Year 2026/2027

Administrative Law: Grounds of Review (LAW30240)

Subject:
Law
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Law
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Kevin Costello
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Judicial review is the individual's remedy for the correction of llegal action by public agencies or officers. Judicial review is also one of the most common legal processes in the superior courts. The remedy by way of judicial review is available only where the agency commits one from a catalogue of recognised varieties of legal mal-administration. Breach of one of these doctrines renders administrative action unlawful (or ultra vires). There are nine principal categories: (i) bias, (ii) disregard of fair procedures, (iii) breach of legitimate expectations, (iv) unlawful delegation, (v) error of fact, (vi) lack of proportionality, (vii) fettering of the decision making function, (viii) error of law, and (ix) abuse of public power (acting for an improper purpose, bad faith, inequaliy). This module is concerned with the study of these nine doctrines. The module will also cover the theoretical basis of administrative law, political versus legal controls on the administration, general principles of judicial review, jurisdiction and the ultra vires doctrine.

The course of lectures is supplemented by two seminar cycles.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this course students should be able: (i) to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the law of Ireland and England relating to legitimate expectations, factual error, proportionality, bias, fair procedures, unlawful delegation, bias, and abuse of public power; and (ii) to apply the law relating to the grounds of review to a complex hypothetical problem.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

105
Lectures

24
Seminar (or Webinar)

8
Total

137

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The approach to this module is doctrinal with a stress on the analysis of case law. The resources for the module include presentations and texts of the lecture contents. The lectures will be supplemented by two cycles of (voluntary) seminars.

Students on this module are expected to have read and understood the UCD Academic Integrity Policy and the School Protocol on Academic Integrity. Students must ensure that they comply with all requirements laid down therein and avoid academic misconduct. Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence, or other machine learning technology, in their learning on this module. Because this module is assessed by an unseen, invigilated examination, no formal citation methodology is prescribed.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

No exclusions


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
LAW41810 - Advanced Administrative Law 1

Equivalents:
Administrative Law Doctrine (LAW37240)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Exam (In-person): 2 hour written closed book examination End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
100
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is offered in the form of a general account of the expected responses to each of the examination questions. This statement will also identify commonly occurring errors.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 7, 10 Mon 13:00 - 13:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 2 Week(s) - 6, 10 Tues 18:00 - 18:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 3 Week(s) - 6, 10 Wed 18:00 - 18:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 4 Week(s) - 6, 10 Fri 12:00 - 12:50
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