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LAW30720

Academic Year 2026/2027

Theory of Court Practice (LAW30720)

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

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module examines the practice and procedures of the litigation process from a conceptual and critical perspective. The traditional model of court practice is characterised by its oral and adversarial nature. This module considers what these characteristic mean for litigants, for judicial decision-making, and for the place of courts in government. It considers the extent to which court decisions may be shaped by the bilateral and adjudicative framework within which judicial-decision-making occurs. The implications of this for court reform and for the court�s role in public governance are also discussed.

The module is delivered primarily by way of lectures, although there will also be opportunities for practical and critical assessment of various decision-making processes. This may include a field trip assignment to observe and assess how the court process operates in practice.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Students completing this module should be able to:
-Demonstrate a knowledge of the core characteristics of court practice.
- Critically assess the merits of a decision-making process.
- Understand how the choice of problem-solving technique can influence the solution adopted.
- Appreciate how institutional outcomes are shaped by institutional form.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Competent

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Competent

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

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.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Reduce inequality within and among countries 2

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 4
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

12
Autonomous Student Learning

72
Total

108

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This course will be delivered using a mixture of approaches that will include:
* Delivery of material in lectures;
* Directed reading of materials from reading lists.
* Fieldwork involving visits by students to court.
* Self-reflective learning on these visits;
* Peer review and mutual learning via collaborative in-class exercises, including mock jury deliberations and group presentations.
* Self-directed research and learning.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Group Work Assignment: Students will be assessed on a group-organised presentation. This will be based on an agreed theme identified by the group from their fieldwork. Week 8 Graded No
15
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): This component comprises an individual essay, reflecting on the student's experience of their visit to the courts and the broader implications of this for the administration of justice. Week 10 Graded No
25
 No
Exam (In-person): This is a closed book exam which will be based on the material covered during lectures in the module, and associated reading (which can include additional individual research). End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded Yes
60
 Yes

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
No
 

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
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

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 09:00 - 10:50
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