Law - Immigration Law & Practice

Programme structure and approach to learning:

This certificate will offer an in-depth analysis of immigration law and its application in Ireland. The central pieces of legislation covered by the course include the Aliens Acts, the Immigration Acts, the Refugee Act 1996, the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, the International Protection Act 2015, and the numerous statutory instruments covering immigration and citizenship. The course also scrutinises the manner in which this legislation has been interpreted over the years by the courts, the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and by Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) together with the impact of Brexit.



The course examines:

- The legal, social and political context of immigration to Ireland,

- The various visa and stamp categories that permit entry to and residence in the State, including employment and business visas,

- Issues associated with asylum, subsidiary protection, and forced migration,

- Issues relating to deportation, removal, and repatriation.



Participants will be guided through the practical aspects of the law by experienced legal practitioners, members of the public sector, and high-ranking representatives of international bodies, non-governmental organisations, and large multinationals.

Module 1: Legal, social and political context

Theories of migration and overview of the history of migration,

International migration and social justice issues,

International legal framework (UN, ECHR, EU, other conventions),

Legal framework in Ireland (effecting provisions and other laws),

Social welfare and domestic violence.



Module 2: Entering, residing and remaining in the State

Responsible state institutions and departments,

Entering: non-visa-required nationals and visa-required nationals; visa application process, including visas for students, workers, family members; preclearance application scheme,

Residing: registering permission; applications to reside; permanent residence,

Permission to remain: change of status application; humanitarian leave to remain; de facto partner application; Irish-born child application,

Citizenship: by birth (including foreign birth); by naturalisation.



Module 3: Asylum, subsidiary protection, and forced migration (including victims of trafficking)

International protection and ‘subsidiary protection’ in Irish and EU law,

Credibility assessment in international protection claims,

Relocation and resettlement; direct provision entitlements; treatment of unaccompanied minors; family reunification,

The Dublin Regulation.



Module 4: Corporate immigration

Employment permits system,

Immigrant investor schemes,

Business visas and atypical working scheme.



Module 5: Courts and litigation

Judicial review and injunctions in asylum and immigration matters,

Procedure, relevant documents, stamp duty, time limits, and practice directions,

Deportation, removal, and repatriation,

Trafficking, people smuggling, and immigration fraud,

The perspective of the Garda National Immigration Bureau.



Workshops

Workshops are a key feature of this course. These 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.



Workshop Title Date Time

1 Taking instructions from a client for a family reunification application

Putting together an application for asylum

The perspective of the International Protections Appeal Tribunal

18 January 2025 10am-3pm

2 Corporate immigration

Current debates in immigration law including discussion on how external factors can affect Irish immigration law and practice

25 January 2025 10am-3pm

3 Final questions and answers panel session with experts

6 February 2025 6-8.30pm

Who should attend?

The Certificate in Immigration Law and Practice is primarily aimed at lawyers working in the area; however, it will also appeal to the following:

- Professionals working in non-governmental organisations, international bodies, and statutory bodies with an immigration remit,

- Human resource professionals working in multinational companies,

- Professionals working in corporate migration,

- Public service employees who work in the area of asylum and immigration, and

- Individuals who have an interest in Irish immigration law.



We welcome applications from others who are suitably qualified. Please explain your interest and set out any relevant experience in a cover letter and a brief CV. Such applications are subject to a supplemental fee of €175.

Application information:

The closing date for applications for this course is 24 October 2024. To apply please follow the instructions below.



Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Register Now' button. For all other methods of payment including, draft, cheque and EFT please see our methods of payment .



Other Professionals

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. Your application must be approved before you can formally register on the course. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :



A completed application form (see below):

Your Curriculum Vitae

A short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

Please note, for non-members this course is subject to a supplemental fee of €175 bringing the total course fee to €1,900. No fees are required prior to approval.

Delivery Method:

Live online lectures Thursdays 6pm to 9pm, with live workshops on occasional Saturdays. Also available to view on demand



CPD Hours:

The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to this course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For further information and the booklet, see CPD scheme.

Start Date: Thursday 7th November 2024 at 6:00 PM.