AIMS & OUTCOMES

This course primarily focuses on knowledge, know-how and skill and competence (context) sub-strands. On completion of the Diploma, participants should be better able to:

Knowledge – breadth / Knowledge - kind

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the core principles of fair and impartial decision-making and how these can be adapted to meet situational need.

Knowledge - kind

Know-How and Skill – range

Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the decision-maker/judge’s powers and jurisdictional limits to those powers.

Know-How and Skill – range / Know-How and Skill - selectivity

Display a high level of analytical and written and oral communication skills to effectively manage hearings in order to deliver robust, adequately reasoned decisions.

Evaluate evidence to make reasoned decisions.

Know-How and Skill – range

Competence – context

Display a range of appropriate skills to bolster the decision-maker’s actual and perceived independence and to ensure the integrity of the process over which they preside, in different legal and social contexts.

Evaluate the appropriateness of procedural requests, such as adjournments or admission of further evidence.

Who is the course for?

This programme is suitable for people with a legal and non-legal background who have relevant experience, appealing to people now seeking judicial appointment, those who are responsible for making quasi–judicial decisions, who are involved in the administrative structures around such decisions, or who are seeking training to enhance their applications for quasi–judicial or judicial roles in the future. The course is also suitable for lawyers and people working in a regulatory context with familiarity with a rule–based approach to rights and entitlements.

Having a diverse group of professionals studying this course together allows participants to learn from each other, especially during tutorials and Q&A sessions. The merger of judicial and quasi-judicial experiences is particularly apt post-Zalewski: the Courts’ processes are a necessary yardstick.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Places on this course are limited, and it is often oversubscribed. We have a selection criterion in place, and you are required to submit certain documentation to support your application.

• Personal Statement addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and/or previous or current work experience are relevant to the course OR setting out some evidence that the candidate intends to work in the field of quasi–judicial decision–making e.g. applicant may specify which quasi–judicial decision–making body and which role is of interest to the applicant.

• Optional: A certified copy of your academic and professional achievements. If you are a barrister, it is not necessary to supply this information.

• Optional: Additional Supporting Information – formal verification from your employer / appointing body of current or previous appointment(s), where applicable.

• Documents may be submitted in the following formats: pdf, png, gif, jpg, jpeg. The maximum allowed size for each document is 20MB.

Download the Personal Statement template

COURSE DESIGNER AND LEAD LECTURER

The designer and lead lecturer of the course is barrister Tricia Sheehy Skeffington BL. 

An accredited mediator, Tricia is an experienced decision–maker, having sat on Tenancy Tribunals, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and Mental Health Tribunals among others. Tricia’s practice at the Bar spans administrative law, landlord and tenant, intellectual property and environmental law.

COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Friday 10, to Saturday, October 11, 2025

Principles of due process:

• Course overview and introduction (live session, recorded)

• Overview of quasi–judicial landscape in Ireland (live session, recorded)

• Ensuring Due Process pre–hearing (live session, recorded)

• Ensuring Due Process during the hearing (live session, recorded)

• Source of decision–maker’s powers (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Presenting and critiquing procedural rules of a variety of quasi–judicial bodies (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Workshop on creating fair procedural rules (live session, not recorded)

Module 2: Friday 7, to Saturday, November 8, 2025 

The Decision Maker–impartiality, ethics and independence from appointing body:

• Ensuring decision–maker’s impartiality (live session, not recorded)

• Decision–maker’s independence from and relationship with appointing body (live session, recorded)

• Addressing unconscious bias (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Ethics – Acting judiciously inside and outside the decision–making process (live session, not recorded)

Module 3: Friday 5, to Saturday, December 6, 2025 

Evidence–its purpose, admissibility and weight:

• Evidence: burden and standard of proof (live session, recorded)

• Admissibility and status of evidence (live session, recorded)

• Tutorial: Making decisions on evidence before and at the hearing (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Preparing for a hearing (live session, not recorded)

Module 4: Friday 16, to Saturday, January 17, 2026 

Managing the dynamic of the hearing:

• Moderated panel discussion on managing vulnerable and challenging witnesses (live session, not recorded)

• Working with interpreters (live session, recorded)

• Tutorial: Opening hearing and setting the tone (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Reacting to unforeseen circumstances (live session, not recorded)

Module 5. Friday 13, to Saturday, February 14, 2026 

Hearing Dynamics II and Mock hearings:

• Online and paper–based decision–making processes (live session, recorded)

• Adjournments and due process (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial / small group work: Mock hearings (live session, not recorded)

Module 6. Friday 20th & Saturday 21st of March

Making and recording the decision:

• Analysis and decision–making (live session, recorded)

• The anatomy of a good written decision (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: The decision–making process (live session, not recorded)

• Tutorial: Analysis and feedback on written decisions (live session, not recorded)

Assignment:(Date TBC)

Please note the course content is subject to change in accordance with new developments in this area.  

Previous Speakers

• The Hon. Justice Mary Irvine, Former President of the High Court

• The Hon. Justice Aileen Donnelly, Judge of the Court of Appeal

• The Hon. Justice Mary Faherty, Judge of the Court of Appeal

• The Hon. Justice Niamh Hyland, Judge of the High Court

• The Hon. Justice Mary Rose Gearty, Judge of the High Court

• The Hon. Justice Siobhán Phelan, Judge of the High Court

• Frank Clarke SC, former Chief Justice of Ireland

• Judge Ann Ryan, Judge of the District Court

• Kevin Duffy BL, former Chair of the Labour Court

• Niall Nolan BL

• Bindi Dholakia, Psychologist, Fairway Group

• Sunniva McDonagh SC

• Barry Magee, Legal Costs Adjudicator and former Chair of IPAT

• Gary Lee, Solicitor, Ballymun Community Law Centre

• Hilkka Becker, Chair, IPAT

• Dr Mary Phelan, Dublin City University

ASSESSMENT & ACCREDITATION

This is a professional development course, and it is accredited independently by The Honorable Society of King’s Inns. The skills and competence gained in studying at King’s Inns are transferable, portable and recognised internationally. It is a valuable qualification delivered by distinguished lawyers, members of the judiciary, legal and other practitioners specialising in legal education.

The assessment methodology for this course there are three individual take-home assignments all of which require extensive research and problem-solving. Two of the assignments are written and one is an audio-visual recorded assignment.

COURSE DELIVERY

Mode of Delivery:

Primarily online (via Zoom) synchronous delivery, with a number of in-person face-to-face delivery sessions included.

Most Lectures are recorded using eLearning software and made available to students for streaming via our Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle). This means that, while all students are welcome to attend class online live via Zoom, most of the sessions will be recorded so that students who are unable to attend can catch up on the material by streaming the video in their own time. Interactive elements such as class discussions / tutorials will not be recorded. A small number of these interactive sessions may take place at King’s Inns.

Tutorials, workshops and some lectures delivered by the judiciary will not be recorded and thus attendance online will be required for these sessions. 

Volume of Learning:

• Direct contact hours:  49 hours

• Self-directed learning:   263 hours

• Assessment (preparation and assessment task/s):  150 hours

Total number of hours = 462 hours

The course takes place over six weekends from October to March, with live tutorials and lectures on Friday evenings (5.45pm to 9.00pm) and on Saturdays (9.00am to approx. 5.00pm). 

Provisional start date: Friday, 9 October 2026

• Weekend 1: Friday 9th & Saturday 10th of October

• Weekend 2: Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of November

• Weekend 3: Friday 11th & Saturday 12th of December

• Weekend 4: Friday 15th & Saturday 16th of January

• Weekend 5: Friday 12th & Saturday 13th of February

• Weekend 6: Friday 19th & Saturday 20th of March

Lectures from high calibre experts in judicial and quasi–judicial decision–making will be complemented by tutorials which will enable participants’ close focus and honing of skills most relevant to their own decision–making context. A panel event on managing challenging or vulnerable witnesses will be held also.

All class notes are available to read through our Virtual Learning Environment. Online tutorials and IT support are available to help students navigate their way through our library and legal resource databases.

King’s Inns is built on networking and engagement. Over the year, we invite students to attend and participate in various social events, fireside chats and talks. Events take place either online or in–person. All of this contributes to the learning experience that is King’s Inns.

Places on this course are limited, and it is often over–subscribed. We have a selection criterion in place, and you are required to submit certain documentation to support your application.

• Personal Statement addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and/or previous or current work experience are relevant to the course OR setting out some evidence that the candidate intends to work in the field of quasi–judicial decision–making e.g. applicant may specify which quasi–judicial decision–making body and which role is of interest to the applicant.

• Optional: A certified copy of your academic and professional achievements. If you are a barrister it is not necessary to supply this information.

• Optional: Additional Supporting Information – formal verification from your employer / appointing body of current or previous appointment(s), where applicable.

• Documents may be submitted in the following formats: pdf, png, gif, jpg, jpeg. The maximum allowed size for each document is 20MB.

Download the Personal Statement template

HOW TO APPLY?

• In order to verify your personal details, you must first create an account on the Application Portal through the ‘register and apply here’ button below. Once you verify your email address in the Portal, you can then proceed with your application.

• Acceptance on this course will be notified on an ongoing basis. If you have been accepted, your place on the course will not be secured until payment is received in full. It is advised to pay as soon as you get accepted.

• Payment can be made through the Application Portal using your credit or debit card (please make sure your bank allows you to process the full payment in one go), or

• If your employer is paying for your studies, you will require a valid PO number in advance of making the application, the name and email address for the person responsible for payment in your organisation.

• The invoice will issue directly to the person whose details you enter. The participant will also be able to download a copy of the invoice through the Application Portal. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their employer has paid in full within the timeframe required in order to secure a place. King’s Inns cannot contact your employer for payment, we can only liaise with the applicant.

• An automated payment receipt will be generated confirming your place on the course.

• Subscribing members: You must apply your discount code upon application. It cannot be applied after the application is made.

• You should view the fee structure, payment terms, and other charges here

Barrister–at–Law graduates who are subscribing members to King’s Inns receive a 10% discount on this course.You must receive your discount code before applying. View more information here