Module: Critical Approaches to Law

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Critical Approaches to Law
Module Code	LAW1009 (ITS: LG137)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The module will introduce students to critical legal techniques grounded in critical, feminist and social theories. The module develops basic theoretical understanding of law and society, critical legal studies and feminist legal studies through the critical analysis of the legal system, including legal education and the legal profession, before examining the role of critical and cause lawyering in advocating for social political and legal change in an Irish, comparative and international context. Case studies illustrate the potential, the challenges and the risks in the use of law as a form of oppression, resistance, change and stability in these contexts. Guest speakers from practice and colleagues in the School of Law and Government engaged in legal advocacy and reform will inform the module’s topics and discussions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and principles in law and society, critical legal theory and feminist legal theory
2. Interrogate the relationship between normative and critical legal theories
3. Critically analyse legal concepts, practices, techniques, phenomena and events
4. Understand the political and ethical relationship between critique and justice, and the distinctive role of critical legal theory in relation to law legal practices, and contemporary political and legal problems
5. Undertake basic independent critical and analytical legal research.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the application of critical theory to public and private law in national legal systems and to international and regional legal systems.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Independent Study	228	Reading, research and assignment and exam preparation.
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20593	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	James Gallen	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	Case study assessment of law in action from a critical perspective.	50%	n/a
Formal Examination	n/a	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to Law & Society

Introduction to Critical Legal Studies

Introduction to Feminist Legal Studies

Critical Legal Education

The Legal Profession and Critical Lawyering

Cause Lawyering and Social Movements

Legal Change: Advocacy and Law Making

Critical Approaches to Private Law: Tort Law and Social Change

Critical Approaches to Comparative Law

Critical Approaches to European Human Rights: ECHR and EU

Critical Approaches to International Law & International Human Rights

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Bacik I and Rogan M: 2016, Legal Cases that Changed Ireland, Clarus,
Mansell, W: 0, Critical Introduction to Law, 2015, Routledge,
Mansell, W: 2014, International Law: A Critical Introduction, Hart,
Sarat, A. and Scheingold, S., (eds): 1998, Cause Lawyering: Political Commitments and Professional Responsibility, Oxford University Press,
Ward, I.: 2011, A Critical Approach to European Law, Cambridge University Press,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None