Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-Making

Programme structure and approach to learning

This diploma will provide participants with case-management leadership skills and practical training on how to run a case in any forum. It will also prepare participants for adjudicatory and tribunal roles, and will explore the skills needed to preside over various forums. 

Practical workshops on arriving at a determination and drafting judgments will be facilitated by means of case studies. An interactive online module on mediation will take a look at the challenges arising from integrating the mediation process with the legal system, examine key mediation skills and give students an insight into how the Mediation Act 2017 affects traditional court-based proceedings. The diploma also features a distinct module on awareness and sensitivity training and dealing with vulnerable witnesses and clients. 

Modules

The programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Module 1: The exercise of judicial skills and decision-making

• Ethical considerations; types of judicial roles/quasi-judicial bodies,
• Understanding and managing the trial process,
• Rules of evidence from the decision-maker’s perspective.

Module 2: Mediation, managing proceedings, and administering justice

• Mediation overview from a judicial perspective,
• The effect of the Mediation Act 2017.

Module 3: Written judgments and decision-making skills

• Drafting written judgments,
• Proceedings involving litigants-in-person,
• Assessing credibility; assessing expert evidence.

Module 4: The social context of law

• Examination of cultural diversity in Ireland,
• Independence and accountability,
• Equality legislation and inclusion,
• Consistency in sentencing,
• Dealing with vulnerable clients or witnesses.

Workshops

Workshops are designed to be interactive and involve working in groups on selected case-study problems and analysis, with an emphasis on the application of the law to common scenarios encountered in practice. 

*Selected workshops will form part of the continuous assessment for the course.