Student Handbook Part-Time Programmes 2017-18

Student Handbook – Part-time Programmes – 2017-18

RANNÓG AN DLÍ DEPARTMENT OF LAW

STUDENT HANDBOOK LÁMHLEABHAR DO MHIC LÉINN PART-TIME PROGRAMMES BACHELOR OF LAWS (LL.B.) DT592 BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LAW DT534

Welcome to DIT. We hope your time here will be happy, productive and rewarding.

This handbook is designed to provide students with relevant information on our part-time law programmes. It also offers general information on DIT, its academic processes and its facilities.

If you have a question about your programme, or about any aspect of student life at DIT, please contact or speak to:

 School Administrator, Emma Linnane, [email protected] 01-4027181  Programme Chair: DT534, Mr Niall Neligan, [email protected]  Programme Chair: DT592, Dr. Stephen Carruthers, [email protected]  Head of Law and Assistant Head of School, Dr. Deirdre McGowan, [email protected]  Tutor: Dr Brian Barry: [email protected] (for queries of a pastoral/welfare nature).

We may not always know the answer to a question, but we will be able to find out for you, or direct you to someone who does know.

In all correspondence with the Institute, please identify the programme on which you are enrolled Disclaimer: This document is for information only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy thereof, nothing in this document or any part thereof should be taken as giving rise to any legal duty, obligation or liability on the part of the DIT or any employee thereof.

1 Student Handbook – Part-time Programmes – 2017-18

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND FOR http://www.dit.ie/life/ REGULAR UPDATES CHECK OUT:

1. Your DIT e-mail account . 4. DIT Students’ Union website Additional information will be www.ditsu.ie supplied throughout the year by e- mail to students’ DIT e-mail accounts. 5. Webcourses Important information is also posted Please check your DIT e-mail account on Webcourses, an online student regularly. ‘blackboard’ where lecturers also post class notes and Go to: http://mydit.ie/ announcements.

Click on ‘student mail’. Information for specific modules (subjects) will also be issued on the Your username is your Student ID relevant webcourses page for each number (this will be on your library module. card). 6. The School website Your default password is your date of http://dit.ie/llss/ birth in the format DDMMYYY. 7. DIT Rules and Regulations General e-mails are sent to your DIT e-mail account only – we cannot add http://www.dit.ie/studentservices/ non-DIT e-mail addresses to the registration/rulesregulations/ mailing list.

2. The DIT website – www.dit.ie

3. DIT Campus Life website

I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Who we are DIT is a diverse third-level institution based in the centre of Dublin city. It was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of 6 long-established vocational colleges formerly operated by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, the oldest of which was founded 126 years ago in 1887.

DIT is a public body created by an Act of the Oireachtas, conferring all the same powers and privileges of a university. In particular, DIT has full independent degree- awarding authority, up to and including the right to award PhDs. It has over 20,000 students making it one of the largest third-level educational institutions in the State. It is currently spread over 6 major campuses (and many smaller sites) but plans are well under way to consolidate the DIT campus on one north city site at Grangegorman, close to Smithfield.

Advanced plans are also afoot to create a new Technological University for Dublin, which will, if implemented, bring together DIT IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght.

Law@DIT The Law department also runs a Law has been studied as a separate Postgraduate Diploma in Law, a law discipline at DIT since at least the mid conversion programme for graduates 1970s. in disciplines other than law, as well as an MA in Law follow-on from the PG Traditionally, DIT has specialised in Diploma in Law. DIT’s College of providing non-traditional law Business offers a Bachelor of Science programmes. Historically, our focus in Business and Law, the students on has been on part-time programmes which share law modules with the LLB. geared towards preparation for the Law is also taught as a subject on FE1 Law Society entrance exams, but various non-law programmes within over the years our provision has the Institute. expanded to include the popular part- time BA in Law and the part-time LLB Full-time Staff: (Bachelor of Laws) as well as a full- Dr Deirdre McGowan, Head of Law time LLB programme. and Assistant Head of School of Languages, Law and Social Science.

Dr Nicola Hughes Lecturers: Dr Brian Barry Administrator: Ms Ruth Cannon Ms Emma Linnane Dr Stephen Carruthers Mr Ger Hussey Part-time Staff: Ms Eavan Murphy Ms Leonie Macauley Mr Niall Neligan Mr David Perry Mr Gene Carolan

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 10 THINGS ALL STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW

1. Please check your DIT e-mail and webcourses accounts regularly. Students who fail to do so regularly miss out on crucial information such as when and how to register their choice of exam subjects, changes to timetables, arrangements for mid-term breaks, job and scholarship opportunities and so on. Please use your DIT email ONLY when corresponding with DIT staff and offices. (Note: we do not and cannot send group e-mails to non-DIT e-mail addresses. You must check your DIT e-mail).

2. Please pay attention to noticeboards and posted notices.

3. Where you have a choice of modules, please make sure to register your choice of modules. Failure to do so may result in delays and other potential complications in processing exam results.

4. Attend classes on a regular basis. Although some lecture notes may be available on webcourses they are not a substitute for personal attendance. Full details of everything discussed at a particular lecture will not be available online. If you must miss a lecture, get notes from a fellow student.

5. Submit essays on time. Missing the deadline for an essay is the equivalent of missing an exam. Students will be penalised for failing to meet essay deadlines.

6. Please make sure we have your correct address. If you change address during the year, please make sure the Registrations Office is informed of your new address. You can update your details at:

http://www.dit.ie/registration/updatedetails/

7. If you are experiencing health or other difficulties that mean you cannot sit an exam or submit an essay, please let us know. It is possible to seek a deferral of exams and assessments on the basis of health or other extenuating personal circumstances. Contact the Department of Law in writing as soon as possible before examinations or essay due dates. We will not grant deferrals after exams, except in the most exceptional cases.

8. In correspondence with the institute or Law Department, please make sure to identify the academic programme you are pursuing i.e, the LLB full-time. Incorrect information may be given if you fail to identify your programme and mode of study correctly.

9. Keep exam transcripts and other official documentation in a safe place. You may be asked at a future date to present transcripts or other proof of qualifications and will be charged for further copies.

10. If you’re having problems – personal or academic – let someone know! All students, part-time and full-time, have access to the counselling and chaplaincy services. If you’re stressed out, upset, depressed or finding it hard to cope, don’t be afraid to seek help.

II. STRUCTURE OF THE PART-TIME PROGRAMMES

BA ORD. IN LAW

Full title of programme: Bachelor of Arts (Ordinary) in Law Programme Code: DT534 Level: 7 Duration: 3 years part-time

Duration: The programme lasts three years part-time.

Hours per week: Class contact is 4.5 hours a week in each of three years, 7.5 hours in weeks in which tutorials take place. Independent study should occupy approximately 6-9 hours per week over and above time spent in class.

Subjects: The subjects you take as part of this programme are called ‘modules.’ In order to complete the programme, a student must complete and pass modules totalling 90 ECTS credits. An ECTS credit represents 20 hours of learning, including class contact and independent learning.

Each stage or year comprises 30 credits. All modules are year-long and attract 10 credits each.

In each year, there are 30 credits worth of modules that are compulsory and must be completed.

Year 1 Module ECTS credits Core Legal Skills 10 Contract Law 10 Criminal Law 10 Total: 30

Year 2 Module ECTS credits Constitutional Law 10 Property Law 10 Law of Torts 10 Total: 30

Year 3 Semester 1 ECTS credits Company Law 10 Equity 10 European Union Law 10 Total: 30

How do I progress from year 1 to year 2 and year 2 to year 3? In order to progress to year 2, you must pass all the modules in year 1. Similarly, in order to progress to year 3, you must pass all the modules in year 2

May I carry a module from year 1 into year 2? It is possible to carry no more than one incomplete module from one year to the next in very exceptional circumstances. It is not possible, however, to carry year 1 modules into year 3. Please consult the DIT General Assessment Regulations for guidance.

What if I fail a year? If you fail or do not complete 20 or more credits in any year, you will not be allowed to progress to the subsequent year. You will not be required to re-sit any modules you have passed.

Can I take the modules in a different order or take fewer or more modules in any year? Students must complete the programme in the set manner described above.

LLB BACHELOR OF LAWS PART-TIME

Full title of programme: LLB Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Programme Code: DT592 Level: 8 Duration: At least one year, part-time

Duration: The programme lasts at  Evidence least one year, though students may  Family Law take the programme over 2 or more  Intellectual Property and years. Media Law  Jurisprudence Hours per week: Class contact is 1.5  Prison Law hours a week per module.  Immigration/Refugee law Independent study should occupy at least 2 hours per week for every one Extra modules hour spent in class. If you have not already completed one of the following modules as part of a Subjects: The subjects you take as part previous law programme, you may of this programme are called take such a module as part of the LLB. ‘modules.’ In order to complete the The modules in question are Company programme, a student must complete Law, Constitutional Law, Contract and pass modules totalling 60 ECTS Law, Criminal Law, Equity, EU Law, credits. An ECTS credit represents 20 Property Law and Torts. In the vast hours of learning, including class majority of cases, students will have contact and independent learning. completed all of these modules as part of the BA, so this option will be of All modules are year-long and attract limited relevance. 10 credits each. Please note that if you take any of Please note: if you have already these specific modules, while you will completed a module as part of the BA be free, if you wish, to sit in on BA in in Law, PG Diploma in Law, Diploma Law (DT534) classes, you will be in Legal Studies or BSc Business and required to complete assessments Legal Studies, you may not sit the and examinations as assigned for that same module as part of the LLB. subject on the LLB (DT592).

The modules currently proposed in King’s Inns recognition 2017-18 are as follows: The DT592 LLB is recognised by the  Administrative Law King’s Inns as a qualifying law degree  Civil Procedure and Alternative BUT in order to gain King’s Inns Dispute Resolution recognition for your degree, you must  Criminology have completed (at some stage in your  Employment Law academic career) certain modules  European Human Rights Law

(please check with King’s Inns as this to ensure recognition by the King’s list may change): Inns.

If you have not completed these N.B. It is the sole responsibility of required modules as part of your BA or students to verify with King’s Inns other previous degree, King’s Inns will current requirements of King’s Inns not recognise your LLB. It is your which may vary from those set out responsibility to make sure that you above. have completed the modules required

III. TUITION

A. Lectures session. Tutorials focus on particular All lectures are held in DIT Aungier aspects of the curriculum. This may or Street. may not be material that has previously been covered in class. What texts do I need for class? Individual lecturers will recommend Tutorials are more interactive than set texts for each class. the average lecture. In particular, students are expected to have read If I cannot attend the scheduled law material in advance of the tutorial and classes, may I attend the equivalent will be expected to participate actively modules on other law programmes? by answering questions, discussing This is not something we encourage. cases and contributing generally to the While these modules may appear discussion. Typically, tutorials require ostensibly similar, the content and students to address problem-style standard often differ from what you questions where a hypothetical will be covering on your programme. scenario is posed. Students are In particular, exams and assessments expected to suggest answers to may differ significantly. problems, with reference to relevant case law and legislation. It is your responsibility to ensure you complete the requirements for your Tutorials are held on Saturdays. There programme. will be 6 tutorials over the full year; 3 in semester 1, 3 in semester 2. Full B. Tutorials details of tutorial dates and times will be circulated later in the semester. Tutorials are generally offered in select law subjects only. Tutorials are Are tutorials compulsory? Tutorials offered in all the BA subjects, except are not compulsory, though we Core Legal Skills, and in Jurisprudence, strongly recommend that you attend, Administrative Law and Evidence. where possible. These tutorials take place over a maximum of 6 Saturdays, These are small-group sessions, with one-quarter of the teaching year. approximately 10-15 students in each

IV. ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2017/2018

There are two semesters in each Most of your law modules run over academic year, each lasting 15 weeks. the full year, with exams at the end of 12 of these weeks comprise formal semester 2. A small number of law teaching. In each semester there will modules, however, as well as some be (in addition to the 12 weeks of non-law modules also have exams at tuition) a review week, which may be the end of semester 2. used for revision, research and other assigned exercises. Unless otherwise Here is a calendar with important informed, you can take it that there dates noted: are no classes in review week.

September 2017 October November December Monday 11th – 30th – Review 6th – Classes 8th – Christmas break BA Ord and LLB week begins (no recommence commences (part-time) year classes) one orientation 6- 7.30pm January 2018 March April May 22nd - Classes 26th – Easter 9th – classes 7th – Examination recommence for Break recommence. period commences Semester 2 commences (no 27th – classes end (two weeks duration) classes for two for Semester Two weeks) June August Exam results issued Repeat/ mid to late June supplemental with a period for exams feedback thereafter.

1. Unless otherwise instructed by are available, generally in April individual lecturers, there are for summer examinations. no classes during review weeks The academic calendar is available or during Easter break. here: 2. There are no classes on Bank http://www.dit.ie/media/academiccal Holidays, on which dates the endarpublic/19.%20-%20Academic DIT buildings are closed. %20Calendar%202017-18%20- 3. DIT buildings are also closed on %20Final%20per%20SLT Sundays. %2012.01.17.pdf 4. The Exams office will notify you when examination timetables

V. ACCESSING STUDY MATERIALS

LIBRARY If you do not register in a timely manner, you may miss out on The Aungier St. Library is located on important resources. the 1st and 2nd floors of the Aungier St. campus. It has a relatively PURCHASING TEXTBOOKS comprehensive range of law texts, (AS CHEAPLY AS POSSIBLE) journals and case reports. Texts are stored on the first floor, journals and Individual lecturers will recommend case reports on the 2nd. The law texts to students. As library resources librarian is Sarah Ann Kennedy who are limited, it is advisable that can be contacted at [email protected] students have regular access to at least one recommended textbook in each subject. While law texts are There is no guarantee that key texts relatively expensive, costs may be will be available to all students at all reduced by: times. As such, students are recommended to purchase at least  ‘ Pooling’ books: classmates one text in each examinable subject. may choose to share certain A small number of popular texts are texts, e.g. one person buys a kept in the short loan section, some contract book, someone else being reserved to part-time students. buys a torts book and they alternate use from week to Increasingly, much of the reading week. This may, of course, material that you will require is prove awkward approaching available on or through the DIT exam time! website, www.dit.ie/library. In particular, membership of the library  Some but not all law publishers allows access to a number of legal and may hold booksales in the other databases that may be accessed lobby of DIT Aungier St. early in online. You will need a library PIN to the academic year. Some of access some of these databases – for these publishers give a details, please contact the library. discount on certain books. Details of these booksales will Library cards are issued at registration: be made available in class and if you have not received a library card, by e-mail where possible. please contact the Students Services Office.

Library opening hours are listed at www.dit.ie/library.

VI. ASSESSMENT: ESSAYS/CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT BA AND LLB

Modules (subjects) are usually assessed by a combination of examination and continuous assessment. In order to pass a module you must obtain a cumulative mark of 40% or more for that module. The lecturer for your subject will inform you of the breakdown between exam and continuous assessment for subjects on the BA Ord in Law and LLB.

Is it possible to pass a module while failing an element of the module? In theory, it is possible to pass a module where you pass one element (essay or exam) but fail the other required element, if your overall cumulative mark for the module is 40% or higher. For instance, a student could fail or not submit an essay, but could theoretically pass a module where the exam is worth 80% of the final mark, but the student would have to score 50% in the exam:

 Essay 0, Exam 50 = 40% overall  Essay 60%, Exam 35% = 40% overall

It is not possible, even in theory, to pass a module if you do not sit an exam in that module. Additionally, failing the essay or exam greatly reduces your prospects of passing the module. ------

Assessment may be either:  Moot court exercises (testing  Formative – this is work that is advocacy skills) not counted towards the result  Poster presentations for the module. The purpose of  Presentations formative assessment is to  In-class exams allow for feedback to be offered to students. The Department liaises with lecturers OR so as to stagger the deadlines for law  Summative – this is work that CAs, so that all of the CAs are not due counts towards the result for at the same time. That said, there the module. Most continuous may be some overlap. assessment undertaken on the LLB is summative in character. You will be given plenty of notice of the deadlines for CA. We thus Continuous assessment may take recommend that you start work on various forms including: your essays as early as possible.  Completion of Essays  Problem-solving exercises For detailed guidance and for the  Groupwork including group Departmental policy on continuous projects assessments, please see Appendix 1

VII. ASSESSMENT: EXAMINATIONS BA AND LLB

A. Sitting Exams

When do exams take place? Are there compensation rules if I fail  For subjects/modules that are a subject? Certain compensation rules year-long, in May apply in limited cases – please refer to  For students repeating exams, the General Assessment Regulations in August for further details. http://www.dit.ie/qualityassurancean Where I have a choice, how do I dacademicprogrammerecords/student choose which subjects I will sit each -assessment-regulations/general/ year? Where you have options or Students are deemed to have notice of electives, you must register those everything in the General Assessment options online. You do not need to Regulations. register for compulsory modules. Is there a fee for exams? The fee for Registrations will e-mail students with examinations is built into the fee paid further details in the first term (please for the programme as a whole. A fee check your DIT e-mail account). may be charged for students taking Students will be given a username and repeat (Supplemental) exams as a PIN, which they can then use to second or subsequent attempt, or register for particular exams. The students who are taking examinations registration website is externally or ‘off books’, that is, modularisation.dit.ie. without registering for the year.

Where you have a choice of Exam Dates. The Exams Office, DIT modules it is imperative that you Aungier Street sets the dates for register that choice online. exams. The Department of Law does Significant complications arise not set exam dates. where students fail to do so. Precise dates for semester 1 are usually issued in November and for What is the pass mark for each semester 2 are usually issued in mid to module? To pass a module a student late March. must obtain 40% or more in that subject. If the module contains The Department of Law has no ‘inside continuous assessment (CA) and an track’ on the setting of precise exam exam, it is ordinarily possible to pass dates and will not be in a position to the module if your combined mark for give students details on these dates the exam and CA (with appropriate until the Examinations Office issues weighting for each element) is 40% or official timetables. higher.

While we appreciate that students Failure to sit an exam when required may need information on exam dates to do so has the same consequence as as early as possible, pending the sitting and failing an exam. publication of these dates, the Department is in a position only to Please note that if you pass a give very general guidance. module on the second or subsequent attempt, your result in Most examinations will take place at that module, if you pass it, will be the end of the second semester (May) capped at 40%. Additionally, if you with certain exceptions. pass an exam on the third or fourth attempt, you will be eligible only for Exam results are normally issued a pass degree, regardless of the online in mid to late June. results you attained in individual modules. NB: Where you have a choice of modules, you must select online the What if I am sick at exam time, and modules in which you plan to take can’t sit the exam? If you are ill or if exams. The Exams Office will send other circumstances prevent you from you an announcement by e-mail sitting an exam, you may seek a regarding exam selection during the deferral. Deferrals must be supported year. Failure to follow instructions by documentation and are not may result in your not being automatic. Please see the policy on allowed to sit exams in your chosen deferrals, below. subjects. PLEASE NOTE: Exam results will not be issued to How many times may I repeat a students with outstanding fees. subject? Students have up to four attempts at each exam. B. Repeating failed exams There are two sittings of examinations What if I fail an exam or do not sit an in each year, Summer (May) and exam when required to do so? Some Autumn (August or September). Each students who sit exams fail them, sitting (May is one sitting, though the number of failing grades is August/September another sitting) usually relatively low. A minority of counts as a separate attempt. students, for various reasons, do not sit examinations. In either case, a The Summer exam is sometimes called student is ‘referred’ in the exam that the ‘sessional’ exam, and the Autumn he or she has failed or has not taken. exam the ‘supplemental’ exam. A student who does not pass or does not In either case, it is possible for a sit an exam is ‘referred’ in that exam. student to take ‘supplemental exams’ A student is formally ‘failed’ and in the relevant subjects. These usually withdrawn from the programme if he take place in August. or she does not pass an exam on the fourth sitting.

What if I pass some subjects but fail REGULATIONS FOR others? Once you have passed a subject, you will not be required to INFORMATION ON EXAM resit that particular subject. For PROCEDURES. instance, if you sit three exams, passing one and failing two, you will What is the difference between only be required to resit the two that external and internal repeats? The you have failed and not the exam that Exam Board may require a student to you have passed. Essay results may retake a module completely as an also be carried forward. internal repeat. This is likely to be required when a student does not sit The good news is that you don’t have (DNS) or fails the module. The student to repeat the modules you’ve already has to pay the full fee but their result passed. in that module will be capped at 40%. Internal Repeat students are required Please note: There are no super- to return to DIT to attend classes and supplementals at DIT. Exams take repeat those components. place three times a year, in Deember/January, May and August External repeat students have been respectively. It is not possible to granted permission to repeat failed schedule special supplemental components from their previous year’s exams outside of the officially study without attending classes. As an scheduled exam periods. external repeat student you are not entitled to a student ID card and may C. Progression to years 2 & 3 (BA not avail of DIT’s student facilities. Only) D. Passing the programme To progress from year 1 to year 2 and year 2 to year 3 on the BA in Law, To pass the programme as a whole, ordinarily you must pass all modules you must pass approved modules for the relevant year. You have up to totalling 90 credits of learning for the two attempts at each module each BA in Law and 60 credits of learning year, so if you do not pass the first for the LLB. Ordinarily, you must pass time, you have another attempt to all required modules. Compensation pass the relevant subject in the same rules apply, though only in limited academic year. circumstances.

If, on the repeat attempt, you do not What grades are available? On pass a module, ordinarily you will have completion of the programme, to resit that module. In such cases, classifications are awarded as follows: ordinarily you won’t be able to progress to the following year. LLB: For a classified award on the LLB, a candidate must obtain at final examination, an aggregate mark (based on an average of the total PLEASE CONSULT THE marks available for the final year) as GENERAL ASSESSMENT follows:

are weighted according to the number  First class honour 70% plus of credits attached to each module.  Second class, upper division (2.1) For instance, the mark for a module 60 - 69% attracting 10 credits will be weighted  Second class, lower division (2.2) at twice the value of a module 50 - 59% attracting 5 credits.  Pass

40 - 49% Normally, grade classifications may not be awarded unless the BA: For a classified award on the BA, a candidate has passed all relevant candidate must obtain at final examinations at the first attempt. examination, an aggregate mark (based on an average of the total An exception applies where a marks available for the final year) as student resits and passes a subject(s) follows: at the second attempt. In such a case, a student will be eligible for a  Distinction 70% plus classification, though, for the  Merit, upper division (2.1) 60 - purpose of calculating the grade, the 69% subject(s) passed at the second  Merit, lower division (2.2) 50 - 59% attempt will be capped at a mark of  Pass 40% (regardless of the actual mark attained). 40 - 49%

How are grade classifications For further information on exam calculated? The grade classification a procedures see DIT “General student receives at the end of the Assessment Regulations” available on programme is based on the average the web at www.dit.ie result the student receives in all modules on the programme. For this purpose, grades in individual modules

LAW SOCIETY AND KING’S INNS EXAMINATIONS

Law Society (FE-1) Examinations. Questions about admission to the Law Society of Ireland should be directed to:

The Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 Phone: (01-6724802).

Students interested in becoming solicitors should consult the guide ‘How to Become a Solicitor’ on the Law Society website www.lawsociety.ie under ‘Education’.

The modules offered at DIT are broadly similar in content to the Blackhall Place syllabus. In many cases, the syllabi for DIT modules cover most if not all topics on the Blackhall Place syllabi. The syllabus for Blackhall Place FE-1 should be available on the Law Society website noted above.

Copies of past exam papers for the FE1s are available to purchase from the Law Society at Blackhall Place.

King’s Inns. Those interested in studying for the Bar should consult www.kingsinns.ie or www.barcouncil.ie. The King’s Inns has formally recognised the DIT’s LLB programmes (full-time and part-time) as accredited, recognised law degrees. This means that, provided a student meets the conditions laid down by King’s Inns, he or she should be able to proceed to take the entrance examinations for the BL degree without having to complete the King’s Inns Diploma in Legal Studies. As a pre- condition to recognising a graduate’s LLB, a student must have completed the subjects required by the King’s Inns. These are listed on the King’s Inns’ website and are all offered on DIT’s BA and LLB.

PAST EXAM PAPERS

Past exams papers are available for the following programmes:

 LLB Bachelor of Laws (part-time) DT592  BSc Business and Law DT321  BA Ord. in Law: DT534  Postgraduate Diploma in Law: DT547

Please bear in mind that the content and standard of similar modules on different programmes may vary.

Some hard copy past exam papers for DIT exams, Summer and Supplemental, are available in the reference/short loan section of the library.

Past exam papers 2002-2016 are now also published on the library website - please see www.dit.ie/library for further details. For access to online papers:

 Go to www.dit.ie/library  Under ‘Electronic Resources’ choose ‘Exam Papers’.  Then select ‘Quick Link to recent Exam Papers’.  Then click on ‘College of Arts and Tourism, Aungier Street: Examination Papers’

And then you will have access to all the papers by year.

If accessing the past papers from outside DIT, you may be prompted for a username, which is ‘Student’, and a password, which is ‘ThunderRoad’ (case sensitive).

Programme codes and names have changed over the years:

 Exams for the BA Ord. in Law pre-2006 may be listed under ‘Diploma in Legal Studies’, old code: A316

Some exam papers may not be listed. This may be because no one sat the relevant exam, in which case the exams are withdrawn from public circulation.

SOME POINTS TO NOTE REGARDING EXAMINATIONS

 Lecturers are not obliged to give tips on what is or is not coming up in unseen examinations. Lecturers who do so are acting entirely on their own discretion. Other lecturers are not obliged to follow the lead of their colleagues in this regard.  Students should not assume that Summer and Supplemental examinations will match in terms of content.  Students taking or who anticipate taking examinations in August/September should speak to/contact lecturers well in advance to confirm the format of the exam. Please do not leave it until August to contact lecturers as they may be on leave or otherwise out of contact.  There is no point in contacting the Department Office in advance of exams to discuss their format or content. Neither the Head of Department nor the Administrator is privy to such matters, nor would they be entitled to discuss such matters with students.

MATERIALS PERMITTED IN EXAMS

 In the absence of notification to the contrary, students are not permitted to bring any written or printed materials into examinations. In other words, the

default rule is that unless expressly permitted, no written or printed materials are permitted.  Students who bring materials into examinations that are not expressly permitted may be subject to disciplinary proceedings.  Students should not write on their hands or other parts of their body during or prior to exams.  Where a lecturer permits specific materials to be brought into an examination, this should be clearly stated on the examination paper.  Unless otherwise instructed, materials permitted in an examination should not contain any marks, (including words, symbols, highlighted or underlined words or passages), tabs or other materials (adhesive or otherwise) marking a page or passage in a document other than marks, tabs or other materials which have been included in the original text by the publisher of that text.  Unless otherwise instructed, where materials are permitted in exams they should be original and not copies or printed from the internet.  Where you are permitted to bring material into exams you must not write on that material in the exam. If you do so, the Exams Office staff may assume the markings were added before the exam commenced.

PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, APPEALS AND RECHECKS

PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES: If something happens before or during an exam that you believe has affected or may affect your performance in the exam, you may submit a personal circumstances form requesting that the Exam Board for Law take these circumstances into account. Supporting evidence (e.g. a medical certificate) will also be required, where relevant. A personal circumstances form should also be completed and submitted where circumstances beyond your control will prevent or has prevented you from attending an examination. A personal circumstances form must be submitted within 2 days of your final exam.

RECHECKS: You may seek a recheck if, having received your results, you believe that we have miscalculated or made a mistake inputting your exam results. A recheck does not involve a remarking or reassessment of the relevant paper. It simply requires that we check that the results that have been recorded have been correctly calculated and that all marks have been accounted for. A recheck must be sought in writing within three working days of the date set aside by the Department for the viewing of scripts (the feedback session).

RE-MARKS:

A candidate who has discussed his/her examination script with an examiner or a member of the Examinations Office may seek a remark of the examination paper. Candidates wishing to request a re-mark should do so on the form A/R 2 which may be obtained from the Examinations Office and online (see below). Such forms must be submitted within five working days of the date set aside by the Department for the viewing of scripts (the feedback session). The Head of School or nominee will make the necessary arrangements for the remark, where deemed necessary.

APPEALS: In certain circumstances specified by the General Assessment Regulations, an appeal may be sought in respect of examination results. The grounds for seeking an appeal are limited. All appeals must be sought in writing within seven working days of the date set aside by the Department for the viewing of scripts (the feedback session).

Please note that an appeal generally will only be entertained on grounds of a breach of due process and not on the ground that substantively, a mark allocated to an examination is considered insufficiently generous.

All of the above forms may be obtained from the Examinations Office, DIT Aungier Street and online at: http://dit.ie/qualityassuranceandacademicprogrammerecords/student- assessment-regulations/general/

There are fees associated with application for rechecks, remarks and appeals, though the fee is refundable if your application is successful.

Students should familiarise themselves with the Assessment Regulations and the rules pertaining to rechecks, remarks and appeals. These rules can change and it is the student’s responsibility to keep himself or herself informed.

VIII. DEFERRALS (ESSAYS AND EXAMS ONLY)

Please note carefully: There is a difference between: - Deferring your exams and - Deferring your place on a programme to the following year.

Although the same word is used in each case, the processes are different.

An exam deferral even from Autumn to the following year does not automatically allow you to roll over fees from the previous year, or exempt you from fees in the following year. If you get a deferral in respect of your examinations from Autumn to the following May you may still have to pay fees for the following year. If you wish to defer your studies and roll over fees, you must follow the process set out below in Part IX.

A. Examinations relevant examination takes place. A failed exam or a failure to sit an After the relevant examination takes exam will be counted as an ‘attempt’ place, the Examination Board for the such that the next attempt will be relevant programme may grant a deemed to be a ‘second attempt’, deferral. ‘third attempt’ or ‘fourth attempt’ as the case may be. However, an PLEASE NOTE: A deferral must attempt at an exam may not be formally be sought in writing using counted if a student has obtained a the correct form from the Head of deferral. Department or the Exam Board for Law. Students who choose ‘to defer What happens if I can’t sit an exam? themselves’ (without obtaining a Students who discover or think formal deferral) will lose exam that they will not be able to sit attempts. an exam (for instance because of Deferral form: illness, family events or https://www.dit.ie/media/examinati conflicting work requirements) ons/kevinstreet/Deferral should write to the Head of %20Applicaton%20Form.pdf Department at the earliest possible opportunity seeking a deferral. While we are happy to discuss problems with students, in confidence, PLEASE NOTE: If on the day of the formal requests for deferrals should exam you are unable to sit the exam not be made by e-mail or by phone due to illness, documentary but by signed letter. evidence of illness will be required. On what basis are deferrals granted? Who grants deferrals? The Head of Deferrals sought before the Department, at his or her discretion, commencement of exams may be may grant deferrals at the written granted, at the discretion of the Head request of the student before the

26 Student Handbook – Part-time Programmes – 2017-18 of Department on the following grounds only: In particular, unless extraordinary  Illness (supported by a medical circumstances apply, a deferral will note) not be granted to a whole-time  Bereavement or serious illness student in respect of conflicting work of a close family member1 or commitments. Additionally, deferrals close friend, necessitating will not be granted for the purpose of absence sitting exams on another programme  Pregnancy or recent childbirth or to sit professional exams. (father or mother or spouse, civil partner or partner of a A deferral is a privilege and not a pregnant parent) necessitating right. It increases administrative absence burdens and consumes scarce  An important family or resources to trace deferrals. Please personal event requiring the make sure you can commit yourself attendance of the student, to your programme before where such event cannot undertaking it or withdraw and re- feasibly be rearranged. enrol ‘from scratch’ if you cannot  Unavoidable circumstances keep up. requiring absence from exams  Excessive personal stress If I am granted a deferral, may I still where certified by a doctor or sit an Exam? Provided you counsellor have registered for exams,  Significant conflicting work you may sit any or all of those commitments (for part-time exams, notwithstanding the students only), where backed deferral. up by an employer’s letter  Other unavoidable factors If I sit an exam, and I’m sick during preventing the sitting of the exam, but I pass the exam, may I exams. resit it? No. It is not possible under any circumstances to resit an exam Deferrals will not be granted, in you have already passed. particular, in the following circumstances: PLEASE NOTE: A deferral in respect  Lack of preparedness for of Summer exams only counts for exams (without other that sitting. If you wish also to defer mitigating factors) Autumn exams, a separate deferral  Uncertified illness or stress is required and may entail more  Work commitments (full-time expense. In particular, if you defer students) your Autumn exams, you may be required to pay a repeat fee and 1 “Close family member” includes but is not may be required to pay tuition and limited to a spouse, civil partner, cohabitant, registration fees if you wish to partner (non-cohabiting), a child or grandchild, the child or grandchild of a spouse, civil attend classes and access online partner or cohabitant, a sibling, and a parent or materials in the subsequent year. grandparent, as well as a sibling, parent or grandparent of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. 27 Student Handbook – Part-time Programmes – 2017-18

B. Essays and Dissertations C. General points Can I get a deferral in respect of my essay? The principles set out above 1. Ordinarily a deferral of an exam or apply equally to essays and other dissertation will apply, unless forms of continuous assessment, as otherwise stated, until the next sitting well as to dissertations, subject to the of examinations or the next due date following modifications: for dissertations.

 In the case of an essay, a 2. It is important to note that a deferral may be granted by the deferral of examinations, of an essay relevant lecturer for the or a dissertation from one academic relevant module, provided that year to the next does not result in the the student requests the deferral of a place or the carrying deferral in writing. In either forward of fees from one academic case, a record of the deferral year to the next. In a case where a should be made and the student defers assessment from one deferral should be notified to academic year to the next, the student the Head of Department and to will only be registered in the the relevant lecturer, as subsequent year on payment of the appropriate. relevant registration and tuition fee for that year. The student, of course,  Supporting documentation may still register externally for exams, should be supplied. but may not have access to college facilities as an external repeat.  In the case of a dissertation, only the Head of Department In other words, even with a deferral may grant a deferral. of assessment, a student may have to pay the full or partial fees to register in the subsequent year.

IX. COMMUNICATION

With over 300 students on our programmes, over two-thirds being part-time, communicating information effectively and efficiently is a major priority for the Department. Given the numbers involved, we rely heavily on electronic methods of communications. As there are approximately 36 separate class sittings per week beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday and running until 9 p.m. most evenings, it is not always possible for one person to make announcements in every class. Lecturers will sometimes be asked to make announcements, but in most cases, we communicate with students by e-mail.

EVERY YEAR, A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT DEADLINES. ALMOST INVARIABLY, THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE RELEVANT STUDENTS FAILED TO ATTEND CLASSES, FAILED TO READ THEIR DIT E-MAIL MESSAGES AND/OR FAILED TO PAY ATTENTION TO POSTED NOTICES.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR DIT E-MAIL REGULARLY.

COMMUNICATING BY E-MAIL

E-mail is a very useful and efficient way of communicating with students. You should be allocated DIT e-mail addresses on registration (the address will be printed on your library card).

We only use DIT-assigned e-mail addresses to communicate with students. It is not possible to add non-DIT e-mail addresses to this list. You must use your DIT email address when communicating with the Department or with Lecturing staff. For data protection reasons you may not receive a response if you communicate using a non-DIT email address.

Please note that we are not generally permitted to give out our address list or any individual addresses to outside bodies. Students wishing to send messages to the class list may do so by mailing [email protected]. We will, (provided the message is appropriate) pass it on to those on the list.

Please check your DIT account regularly as important information is contained in e-mails sent to these addresses.

IF YOU DO NOT CHECK YOUR DIT E-MAIL REGULARLY, YOU WILL MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

WEBCOURSES

Individual lecturers place information on their modules on webcourses (also called ‘blackboard’. In order to access this, go to http://www.dit.ie/lttc/webcourseslinks/ Your default username is your student ID and your default password is your date of birth in the format DDMMYYYY.

DATA PROTECTION

Please note that we are generally not permitted to give out information concerning individual students to any person, including other students seeking such information. This includes parents and siblings of students. In particular, without your written consent we are not authorised to discuss details relating to your academic performance with your parents.

The Data Protection Acts prevent us from giving information about you to other persons, even relatives, without your consent.

We regret, in particular, that we cannot give out students’ contact details (e-mail addresses, phone numbers, home addresses) to other students, or supply home or personal contact details for staff members. In particular, if you have lent notes or a book to another student, please ask them for their e-mail address or phone number to facilitate return.

CONTACTING THE LAW OFFICE AND LAW LECTURERS

Administrator: Emma Linnane [email protected] 01-402-7181 Head of Law: Dr. Deirdre [email protected] 01-402-3225 McGowan Programme Chair Dr. Stephen [email protected] 01-4023085 DT592 carruthers Programme Chair Niall Neligan [email protected] 01-402-3010 DT534

When calling us please remember that we have seven law programmes so please identify what programme you are taking (i.e. full-time LLB). The Department office is located at Room 3002, DIT Aungier Street.

If you have a query about a specific module, the best person to talk to is the individual lecturer.

All full-time lecturers are based at the Aungier Street campus. It is advisable in all cases to arrange an appointment in advance to meet the lecturer. The best ways of contacting any full-time lecturer are:

 By phone (ring 4023000 and ask for the lecturer if you do not know the direct line or check out the staff listings on the DIT website at http://dit.ie/tools/contacts/) or  By e-mail (usually takes the form [email protected], all lower case)

Please do not ask lecturers to pass on messages to their fellow lecturers. If you wish to leave a message for a lecturer, please do so by phone or e-mail.

Most part-time lecturers will not have a DIT phone or e-mail address. All lecturers have been asked to supply students with an e-mail address or other means by which they can be contacted.

X. WITHDRAWAL /TRANSFER/DEFERRAL OF PROGRAMME

1. Deferral of programme entry

What is the difference between deferring an exam and deferring my place on the programme? It is important to note that there is an important distinction between deferring a place on a programme, for personal or medical reasons, and deferring an examination. If a student wishes to defer their place on an academic programme, they must complete a deferral form, and their request to defer must be approved by College Executive for the College of Arts and Tourism.

Please note carefully: an exam deferral even from Autumn to the following year does not automatically allow you to roll over fees paid (either by you or by the HEA on your behalf) from the previous year, or exempt you from fees in the following year. If you get a deferral in respect of your examinations from Autumn to the following May you may still have to pay both tuition and registration fees for the following year. If you wish to defer your studies and roll over fees, you must follow the process discussed below.

How do I defer my place on the programme? In some cases, students may wish to defer their place on the programme, which means that commencement or continuation on the programme will be deferred until the September next following the deferral. Before doing so, we strongly advise that you discuss this with the Programme Chair and/or Head of Department. Support services are also available to you if you wish to discuss the matter. In particular, DIT’s student Retention Office and Counselling Service are available to discuss your options with you.

Full details on deferring a place on a programme are available at the following link: http://www.dit.ie/studentservices/registration/deferwithdraw/

The important things to note are: a. If you wish to defer, you must take formal steps to do so at the earliest possible opportunity. By all means discuss it with relevant staff, but the deferral cannot be formally processed unless you take formal steps to obtain the deferral. b. In particular you must complete and submit an official DIT deferral form, which must be signed by you and an academic. c. If you are getting a grant, you must let the awarding authority know in writing of your decision to defer. d. It is only possible to defer for one year. e. It is in your interest to complete the formal process as failure to do so may risk your entitlement to free tuition fees, if you wish to recommence studies in future. Fee implications of a deferral:

The manner in which you defer can have significant fee implications, and may result in your having to pay full or partial fees in the year of re-entry.

Fees Office: 402 7500

The fee implications of a deferral are set out below under withdrawals. It is, however, your responsibility to inform yourself of the fee implications of deferring a place on the programme. For further details see: http://www.dit.ie/media/registrations/studentserviceswebsite/registrationservice/d eferwithdraw/Financial%20Implications%20of%20Deferring%20Withdrawing.pdf

PLEASE NOTE: The decision to defer a student’s place on a programme and to roll over fees to the subsequent year is entirely a matter for the College Executive of the College of Applied Arts and Tourism. The policy on fees only permits a deferral of a programme place on medical grounds, in respect of which adequate evidence must be presented.

2. Withdrawal /Transfer Occasionally, year 1 students decide that a particular programme is not suited to their interests or not what they expected. Students may decide to withdraw or transfer. If you wish to do so, please speak to the Programme Chair or Head of Department. It is important in such circumstances that you formally inform the College in writing of your withdrawal, as failure to do so may lead to complications.

 There is an official procedure that must be followed to withdraw or transfer from your DIT programme. Full details are available at http://www.dit.ie/studentservices/registration/deferwithdraw/  It is advisable that a student considering withdrawing or transferring from their programme seeks the advice of the programme chair, tutor or Head of Department, as well as a representative of DIT’s support services such as DIT’s student retention or counselling service.  It is in your interest to complete the formal process as it may risk your entitlement to free tuition fees, if you pursue an undergraduate wholetime programme in future.  For withdrawals, the student must complete a DIT withdrawal form, which is available at http://www.dit.ie/studentservices/registration/deferwithdraw/ The fully completed form must be signed by the student and an appropriate academic.  The student is responsible for submitting the completed form accompanied by their student ID card to DIT’s registration service. (Completed forms can be submitted at any of DIT’s Student Service Centres who will forward documents to the Registration Service).  The date on which the completed form is submitted to either the registration service or student service centre is the official date of withdrawal recorded on DIT’s student information system.

 If a student is in receipt of a grant, the student is responsible for informing the grant authority that they have withdrawn from their programme.

3. Fee implications of a deferral/withdrawal:

Refund? Fees on return? Before classes commence Full refund Full fees for programme

Before 31st October: Will be refunded any Full fees for programme student contribution charge and tuition fee paid in the year of withdrawal less an administration charge of €100

Between 1st November 50% refund of any tuition Full fees for programme and 31st January fees paid less an administration charge of €100. No refund of student contribution charge paid.

After 31st January No refund of any fees Full fees for programme paid.

Source: http://dit.ie/media/careers/pdf/Financial%20Implications%20of %20Deferring%20Withdrawing.pdf

Slightly different rules apply where a student seeks a programme withdrawal on serious certified medical grounds, where medical certification accompanies the application, in which case the amount refunded may be higher than stated above.

XI. CLASSROOM/LIBRARY ETIQUETTE

Out of respect for your colleagues and Commitment to Diversity lecturers we ask that you have regard The Department of Law is home to a to the following points of diversity of staff and students. This classroom/library etiquette: diversity, we believe, makes a vital contribution to the learning  Please switch off mobile experience of all students. phones, pagers and other electronic communication While respecting your freedom of devices in class and in the opinion and expression, we ask that library. (Subject to the you in turn respect the different lecturer’s consent, you may backgrounds, views and experiences use a laptop in class.) of your classmates and bear in mind this diversity in your dealings with  In class, fill up the front seats other staff and students. first. Leave seats at the back for latecomers We are committed to fostering a  Please do not answer or use positive environment for all students your phones, pagers and other and staff, regardless of gender, electronic communication religion, race, nationality or ethnicity, devices in lectures or in the sexual orientation and gender identity, library civil status or parental status, political  Please do not take photos or viewpoint, social background, recordings in class. disability, and membership of the  Please do not converse with travelling community. fellow students during lectures or in the library. Harassment and bullying of staff or  If you are not using a desk in students, by staff or by students, will the library, please do not ‘hog’ not be tolerated. the desk for future use (e.g. by leaving books or bags there) All staff (administrative and academic  Please do not deface, damage alike) and students are entitled to be or hide books in the library treated with respect.  If you wish to ask a question in class, please put up your hand. Online Etiquette  Please leave your workspace as In the past, students have set up social you would hope to find it – networking sites for DIT law students. recycle/dispose of rubbish in The Law Department accepts no the appropriate locations responsibility for the content of these  While waiting in corridors for a external sites. Students should be class to commence, please be mindful of the fact that such sites may conscious that other students be publicly accessible and that the may still be in class. Please contents may be viewed by members keep chatter to a minimum. of the public as well as by DIT staff members.

Policy on legal advice Law lecturers in their capacity as law lecturers should not be expected to give legal advice on real-life situations that you, a relative or friend are experiencing. If you have a legal problem that requires advice, please contact a solicitor. In particular, the Department of Law does not provide assistance or advice in relation to litigation.

Rules and Regulations When you register as a student, you are bound by the following rules, with which you should familiarise yourself:

XII. PRACTICAL MATTERS: TRANSPORT, SERVICES AND FACILITIES

TRAVELLING TO COLLEGE. permission from the College Public Transport. Given our location Administrator. in the city centre, the very best way to reach us is by public transport. Many There is no guarantee that permission buses, including the 9, 16, 65, 65B, 68, will be granted to any particular 83 and 122 pass down Aungier Street. disabled students. Even if granted The green line Luas light rail station at permission, there is no guarantee that St. Stephen’s Green is a five-minute car park spaces will be available at any walk away. Check out particular time. www.dublinbus.ie and www.luas.ie for timetables and fares. Discounted Please note that neither the fares are available using a leapcard – Department of Law nor the Head of see www.leapcard.ie which works on the Department have any say the Luas, buses and commuter rail whatsoever in the allocation of car lines. park spaces.

For commuter rail check out Evenings only: A special evening rate www.irishrail.ie. applies for DIT Students using the Royal College of Surgeons public car If at all possible, please use public park. In order to avail of this, students transport to get to DIT. Given that must validate their parking ticket in we are situated in a city centre the validation machine just beside the location, car park spaces are front desk at the entrance to DIT exceptionally limited, and the area Aungier Street. is generally quite congested. Statistics prove that, with QBCs, Lockers/Bike Parking. Talk to the most buses are faster than cars in porters at the front desk, 402-3061 getting you into and out of the city centre at peak times.

Car Parking. Car parking spaces at DIT Aungier Street are reserved solely for staff. Students are not granted access. Students who have disabilities that may prevent them from walking great distances and who seek access to car park spaces on this basis must first contact the College Administrator for the College of Business Ms. Lisa Dooley (402-3000). Disabled students should not attempt to secure a car park space without first getting

DIT AUNGIER STREET FACILITIES ATM machine. Located on the first floor beside the first floor canteen. Finding your way around. Room numbers in every case list the floor number first followed by the room STUDENT LAW SOCIETY number so that, for example, G-023 is room 23 on the ground floor, and 2- In the past, students have formed a 067 is room 67 on the second floor student law society. The Law Society and so on. has been instrumental in organising student debates and in gaining Computer facilities. Computer funding for student social events. facilities are available to students of Contact the Students’ Union for the Institute. There are several further details. computer rooms throughout the Aungier Street campus, particularly on the first and second floors.

Photocopying: Photocopying facilities are available in the library.

Canteens and shops. The main canteen is located on the first floor of the Aungier St. facility. Breakfast is served in the mornings with a full dinner service from 12-3 (these times may vary). There is also a cafeteria and coffee dock ‘Java City’ on the ground floor of the building, which is open throughout the day and in the evening, where you can get beverages, confectionery, soup and sandwiches. In addition there is a variety of shops and restaurants located locally on Bishop Street, Aungier Street, Wexford and Camden Streets and in Kevin Street, as well as adjoining streets.

Sports facilities and societies. DIT has an extensive range of sports facilities available including a swimming pool (at the Kevin Street facility) and several sports teams. In addition, the college facilitates several student societies and clubs. Details of these organisations are available on the web at www.dit.ie

SEEKING HELP perform to the best of their ability; they are not intended to give an unfair If you are having difficulties, please advantage to the candidate. don’t be shy about seeking help. Students who have specific needs in Counselling and Careers. DIT Aungier regard to examinations/assessments St. has several full time counsellors should contact the Disability Liaison and career advisors who are available Office to negotiate appropriate by appointment to assist all students, facilities. (This applies in particular to full time and part-time. In addition, students with dyslexia, for whom the chaplains are available to talk to special arrangements may be made, persons of all denominations and on request by the relevant student). none. The relevant phone numbers This should be done as early as for these services are listed below. In possible. While every effort will be addition further information is made to provide the necessary available on the DIT website at facilities, it may not be possible to www.dit.ie . meet all requirements in every case. Special arrangements for Medical Assistance. A medical centre examinations can only be made is located on site, in Room 2-053 on through the Disability Liaison Office. the second floor. Medical assistance is available free of charge to full-time Two texts are available for students only. Phone 402-3051 to consultation by students with make an appointment. disabilities or other interested persons. These are “A Guide to Policy Students with disabilities/special and Procedures for Students with needs. DIT strives to ensure that no Disabilities” and “Examination student will be denied access to Guidelines for Students with facilities on grounds of disability. Disabilities”. Students who anticipate difficulties in so doing should contact the Disability Accommodation: If you are having Liaison Officer 402-7656. Several difficulty obtaining accommodation, support facilities are available to assist talk to the Campus Life and the persons with disabilities both in the Students’ Union. Some off-campus classroom and outside. All lecture accommodation is available for DIT theatres and classrooms are students – for further information, wheelchair accessible. check out: www.dit.ie/campuslife/studentsuppo The Institute is committed to ensuring rt/accommodation/ that students with disabilities are in no way disadvantaged in examinations. For problems with rental Special examination and other accommodation, check out assessment arrangements may be www.threshold.ie and www.prtb.ie made for students because of their temporary or permanent disability. Students’ Union. The facilities of DIT The special arrangements are Students’ Union are available to all intended to enable candidates to students part-time and full-time. The

Union can help with all sorts of issues the basement of the DIT. See and problems including but not limited www.ditsu.ie to seeking accommodation, and making academic appeals. The students’ union is currently located in

Student Services Centre, Opposite Java City, Ground Floor Deals with registrations, fees, letters of registration, stamping forms and issuing ID cards. The opening hours are Monday – Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 4pm (excluding lunch 1-2 p.m)

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Law is one of three departments in the School of Languages, Law and Social Sciences.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

General Switch: 402-3000 Student Services Office: 402-4663 402-7000 Examinations Office: 402-7100 402-3099 Head of School, TBC 402-4164 Head of Law, Dr Deirdre McGowan [email protected] 402-3217 Department Administrator: [email protected] 402-7181 DT534 Tutor Brian Barry [email protected] 402-3225 DT592 Programme Chair, Dr Stephen Carruthers [email protected] 402 3085 DT534 Programme Chair, Mr Niall Neligan [email protected] 402-3010 Ms Ruth Cannon [email protected] 402-3037 Mr Ger Hussey [email protected] Ms Eavan Murphy [email protected] 402-3145

Counselling Service: 402-3052 402-3155 Chaplain: 402-3050 Careers 402-3109 Health Centre: 402-3051 Disability Liaison Officer 402-7656 Computer Support Centre: 402-3123 Library, Aungier Street 402-3068 For other numbers, check the ‘people finder’ at www.dit.ie

APPENDIX 1

GENERAL POLICY ON CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT (CA) 3RD EDITION (2013)

The following is a general policy on continuous assessment exercises submitted as part of the annual assessment for modules offered by the Department of Law. This includes essays and other forms of continuous assessment. It does not apply to examinations and dissertations. Separate requirements apply in respect of the submission of dissertations.

For ease of reference this policy generally refers to ‘essays’, which for the purpose of this policy are deemed to include all forms of continuous assessment.

This policy applies with effect from September 9, 2013. Unless otherwise indicated, this policy applies equally to full-time and part-time students.

While every effort has been made to ensure that this policy complies with the General Assessment Regulations, where there is a conflict between this policy and the General Assessment Regulations, the latter will prevail. It is the responsibility of students to familiarise themselves with the terms of the General Assessment Regulations.

A. General Context The general requirements for assessment in each module are set out in the module descriptors for each module. The relevant module lecturer should also provide students with written notice of these general requirements for assessment at the start of each module (for this purpose, electronic notice will suffice as written notice).

Where there is a requirement for continuous assessment as part of the assessment for a particular module, this requirement will usually be set out in the relevant module descriptor. The relevant module descriptor should also indicate the proportion of final marks available for continuous assessment.

Unless otherwise stated in the module descriptor or by the lecturer, all continuous assessments set out in the module descriptor are compulsory.

B. What is the default format for essays? In the absence of indication to the contrary from the relevant lecturer, all continuous assessment must meet the following requirements:

1. Unless otherwise permitted by the relevant lecturer, essays must be in the English language.

2. The essay must be typed or printed, and submitted in hard copy, on paper of a reasonable quality. Handwritten essays will not be accepted. 3. On the front of each essay submitted for consideration, students must include a completed Departmental cover sheet (see end of document), as formulated by the Department for this purpose. This completed cover sheet should include the name, student number, programme and module for which the essay is being submitted, the date of submission and a statement to the effect that the essay is the student’s own work. 4. All essays should be stapled. 5. For environmental and storage reasons, essays will not be accepted where bound or enclosed in plastic or metal (other than a staple). In particular, essays will not be accepted where enclosed in a plastic folder, envelope or sleeve, in a ring binder, or bound otherwise than by means of a staple. Without prejudice to the above requirements, students may, however, submit their essays in a paper envelope. 6. Essays should be printed on one side of each page only, in a legible font of at least 12 points in size. Lines of text should be double-spaced. Paper of any colour will be accepted, subject to the requirement that the essay should be legible. 7. The margins on each page should be at least half an inch in width on both sides, and on the top and bottom of each page. 8. Essays should be properly referenced, with all sources acknowledged in either footnotes, or endnotes as appropriate. For this purpose, students are required to follow the norms set out in the Departmental policy on referencing, incorporating the OSCOLA Ireland Citation Guide, available at www.legalcitation.ie 9. All essays should include, at the end, a bibliography identifying the materials used in the completion of the essay. 10. The relevant lecturers will set wordcounts for the essays. In default of a specified wordcount, the standard wordcount will be a maximum of 3,000 words for each essay. Unless otherwise instructed, students who exceed the wordcount by 10% or more may be penalised through loss of marks for the relevant essay. 11. Students should state the wordcount on the front of each essay. The wordcount includes all text, but excludes footnotes, endnotes and the bibliography. 12. Unless otherwise instructed, essays will not be marked anonymously.

The Department of Law reserves the right (subject to the principle of proportionality) not to accept essays for submission where they fail to comply with the above requirements. Students may also lose marks, at the relevant lecturer’s discretion, for failure to comply with the above requirements.

C. Essay deadlines 1. Where possible, essay deadlines will be set as early as possible each academic year.

2. All essays must be submitted in hard copy to the relevant lecturer or (where the lecturer so requires)_submitted online using webcourses using SafeAssign.

D. Penalties for late submission of essays (in absence of a deferral) 1. In all cases essays will be treated as having been submitted only when the lecturer receives the essay.

2. In the absence of a deferral granted in compliance with the Departmental policy on deferrals, students who submit an essay after the stipulated deadlines may be subject to the following penalties.

3. Essays submitted on or before the same weekday one week following the relevant deadline, but no later, will be accepted subject to the following penalty: 10% of the final mark allotted to the essay will be deducted: e.g. 70% - 7% = 63%

4. Essays submitted on or before the same weekday two weeks following this deadline, but no later, will be accepted subject to the following penalty: 20% of the final mark allotted to the essay will be deducted: e.g. 70% - 14% = 56%

5. Unless extraordinary circumstances apply, essays will not be accepted beyond the same weekday two weeks after the relevant deadline. This will result in a mark of zero being allocated in respect of the essay. It will not be possible to compensate in respect of this mark, e.g. by answering additional exam questions.

5. Where a deferral has been granted in respect of an essay, the above penalties will not apply, except where the relevant student fails (without further deferral being granted) to submit an essay by the deferred deadline. In such a case, the term ‘deadline’, where used above, will be read as if it referred to the deferred deadline for the relevant essay.

5. The foregoing rules are subject to the academic freedom of a lecturer to make an independent determination.

E. Consequences of a failure to submit an essay 1. Unless a deferral has been granted, a student who fails to submit a required essay for a subject within two weeks of the set deadline will not be permitted to submit an essay.

2. Students who have failed to submit an essay will not be entitled to have any remaining assessments or examinations marked out of a percentage that exceeds the proportion of marks normally available for the relevant remaining assessment(s). E.g. if 20% of final marks are available for an essay, and 80% for the exam, a student who fails to submit an essay will still only be entitled (in this case) to a maximum of 80% for the examination.

3. Failure to submit an essay, or the receipt of a failing mark for the essay, will not in itself result in failure in the overall assessment for a module. In other words, it is not strictly necessary to pass the essay in order to pass the assessment as whole for each subject, though failing the essay clearly will put the relevant student at a disadvantage.

4. In the case of a failing grade in the essay or essays, it will not normally be possible to resubmit an essay. The sole exception arises where a student has failed in the overall annual assessment for a module, having failed in the essay component or failed to submit an essay. In such a case, a student will be entitled to resubmit an essay for the module, (known as a ‘repeat’ essay) subject to the following stipulations: (a) The maximum mark available on reassessment of the essay component will be 40% of the marks available for the essay component. (b) The essay must be on a topic different from that originally assigned for completion.

5. Where a student completes a repeat essay, and the aggregate mark for the repeat essay and the examination in the same subject taken prior to the completion of the repeat essay, is 40% or higher, the student will be awarded a pass mark for the module as a whole, subject to the following stipulation: (a) The maximum mark available on reassessment of the essay component will be 40% of the marks available for the essay component. (b) The maximum mark available for the module as a whole will be 40% of the marks available for the module as a whole.

F. Feedback on essays. Lecturers will attempt to give timely feedback on essays, but this is not always possible due to heavy work commitments. Students who submit late may not receive a mark until final grades are calculated.

RANNÓG AN DLÍ DEPARTMENT OF LAW

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT COVERING SHEET 2017/18

Please staple this sheet to your essay.

For environmental and storage reasons we ask that you do not use plastic folders, binders or pockets – please staple your essay instead.

Name:______Student I.D. No.:______Programme (Course):______Module (Subject):______Name of Lecturer:______Date of Submission:______Word Count:______

Author’s Declaration: I hereby acknowledge that this essay is my own original work. All quotes, references and assistance received are acknowledged.

Signed:______Date: ______

Appendix 2

DEPARTMENT OF LAW ANTI-PLAGIARISM POLICY

A primary purpose of education at third level is to enable students to think for themselves and to express their personal opinions and perspectives in an articulate and effective manner. Originality and personal creativity are greatly prized. An educational environment in which all students are encouraged to think alike and express like views and perspectives in an identical manner poses a unique danger to the vibrancy of our democracy and the health of our society and economy.

A cardinal principle of the assessment process is that work completed by a student should be the student’s own work and not someone else’s. Plagiarism is a serious breach of academic discipline and is subject to potentially serious penalties. It may also constitute a breach of the law in the form of copyright breach.

Plagiarism arises where a student attempts to pass off all or a substantial proportion of the written work of another person as their own written work. This may include but is not limited to:

 Replicating the written work of another person or persons without citing or acknowledging the source  Quoting a person verbatim without acknowledging that person or citing the source from which the quote is derived  Quoting another person without clearly indicating that the extract is a quote from an external source (e.g. by using quote marks or indenting the quote)  Copying another student’s essay  Downloading essays from internet sources

Copying from multiple sources is no less plagiarism than copying from one single source.

Plagiarism is often easily identified:  Where a student or students have copied from a key textbook recommended by a lecturer (including textbooks written by the lecturer!)  Where students use terms with which they obviously appear to be unfamiliar  Where the style in which an essay is written changes abruptly in the course of the essay  Complicated formulations that appear out of place in the context of the essay as a whole  Use of jargon or ‘spin’ with which the student appears to be uncomfortable or unfamiliar

Please bear in mind that where a student copies from an online source, a google search can and frequently does identify the source very easily.

Combatting plagiarism:  It’s much easier to avoid plagiarism if you understand what you are writing about and have a personal interest in the subject matter.  Use your brain – think for yourself! Do not accept other people’s opinions and perspectives as gospel.  Develop your own personal style of writing. Read regularly. Write regularly.  Edit what you write rigorously – read back your work carefully and review it  When quoting from another person, use quote marks (“”) or indent the quote so it is clear that it is a quote, and acknowledge the sources using a footnote or endnote.

The consequences of plagiarism are serious and may include, in the most serious cases, dismissal from the programme, a failing grade for the relevant subject or the imposition of a requirement to resubmit work for assessment. Other consequences include diminished marks for written work.

Please note that even where only a small amount of plagiarism is detected, lecturers are automatically put on notice that other parts of the same work may be plagiarised, even if this is not the case.