Starting Thursday 3 February Full list of dates now available
This course is a practical, interactive course and in–person attendance at class is required.
€5,550
Full Course Fee · No Entry Requirements
Apply NowDeadline 21 May 2026 (Date TBC) · Starts 25 May 2026 (Date TBC)
10% Member Discount for subscribing Barrister Members — request your code before applying.
This course is a practical, interactive course and in–person attendance at class is required.
Students are expected to attend all sessions on the course. Most sessions will take the form of in–person delivery at King’s Inns, but some sessions will take place online.
This diploma is a unique part–time evening programme offering legal practitioners, civil servants, local government officials, regulators, law graduates or persons with relevant legislative experience the opportunity to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Legislative Drafting.
There is a significant shortage in legislative drafters worldwide. This programme is expressly designed to train participants in the skill of drafting legislation and regulations, heads of Bills, rules and bye–laws thereby fulfilling a very important role in the delivery of legal education for a vital area of governance.
Application Deadline: Thursday, 21 May 2026.
Provisional Start Date: Monday, 25 May 2026.
The programme will expose participants to all aspects of the theory and practice of legislative drafting.
With this advanced diploma, you will have gained a unique qualification that will give you a solid foundation in drafting legislation, identifying loopholes and translating policy into law.
On successful completion of the programme, the participants will have the knowledge required to understand a drafting project and will have practised and honed the skills required for successful management of drafting projects. A key aim is to integrate theory and practice.
The course will be suitable for legal practitioners, civil and public servants, consultants, agencies and regulators who require the skill of drafting legislation and regulations.
Places on this course are strictly limited in order to preserve the small group, interactive nature of the learning experience for the course. This course is invariably over–subscribed. King’s Inns has selection criteria in place and applicants are required to submit certain documentation to support an application.
Personal Statement addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and/or previous or current work experience are relevant to the course.
Certified Copy of your academic and professional achievements. If you are a barrister, it is not necessary to supply this information.
Any relevant documents supporting your application.
Documents may be submitted in the following formats: pdf, png, gif, jpg, jpeg. The maximum allowed size for each document is 20MB.
The programme is comprised of 8 key modules:
What drafters do
Statutory interpretation and its relevance to drafting
Key sources of Legislation
Public law considerations
Cabinet processes, legislative processes and private members’ Bills
Writing skills
Legal writing
Statutory Instruments
Implementing EU measures
Practical workshops
Please note the course content is subject to change in accordance with new developments in this area.
Experiential learning forms a significant part of the programme with participants learning reflectively through exercises and individualised feedback and consequently practical workshops will be one of the teaching methods used in most areas. This will consist of a variety of teaching and learning interventions including practical skills development. Formal presentations provide background theory in the substantive knowledge areas underpinning the programme.
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.
To be awarded the Advanced Diploma, learners will be required to undertake an in–person examination at King’s Inns in addition to a number of take home assessments.
The final assessment for the course will take place in person at King’s Inns.
Delivery is in part–time evening mode through the medium of seminars, workshops and lectures presented by leading experts in the area.
Classes will commence on 25th May 2026. There will be 14 weeks of classes, most of which will take place in person on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5.30pm-7.30pm at King’s Inns (with some sessions taking place online). There will be no classes from 23rd July to 6th September 2026. Assessment is by way of continuous assessment plus an in person assessment (provisional date: Monday 2 November 2026).
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.
Places on this course are strictly limited in order to preserve the small group, interactive nature of the learning experience for the course. This course is invariably over–subscribed. King’s Inns has selection criteria in place and applicants are required to submit certain documentation to support an application.
Personal Statement addressing how the candidate’s qualifications and/or previous or current work experience are relevant to the course.
Certified Copy of your academic and professional achievements. If you are a barrister, it is not necessary to supply this information.
Any relevant documents supporting your application.
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
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis for Spring 2026.
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.
Closing date for applications: Midnight (Irish time) on 21 May 2026 (Date TBC).
We encourage early application to secure your place.
Yes. Most of our courses are designed to accommodate working professionals.
Our Advanced Diploma programmes are flexible, part-time courses delivered either online or in person, with classes available in the mornings, evenings, or at weekends.
The Diploma in Legal Studies is a programme completed over two years. Students have the option of attending all lectures and tutorials online as well as in–person
For the Degree of Barrister-at-Law, you can choose the study option that best suits your schedule, with both full-time (1 year) or two-year modular pathways available.
The Diploma in Legal Studies and many of our Advanced Diploma programmes welcome professionals from all industries who wish to develop their knowledge or gain a better understanding of the law relevant to their work. No legal background or previous formal education is required.
The Degree of Barrister-at-Law requires applicants to hold a recognised legal qualification from an approved institution or course. Please refer to the Entrance Examination page for the full list of approved qualifications.
Please refer to our Fees & Charges page for detailed information on the fees for each course.
An entrance exam is required only for the Degree of Barrister-at-Law.
Applications open throughout the year. Check individual course pages for intake dates and closing deadlines.
Attend an open day, meet the team, tour the building and ask questions before you commit.
