Law – Equity & Trust Law

The aim of this module is to provide students with a sound knowledge and critical understanding of the fundamental principles of the law of equity and trusts in Ireland.

This programme is an ECTS 15 credit module of the Law Degree.

On completion of this programme, students should be able to:
Discuss the origins and historical development of Equity and the trust;

Comprehend and explain the principal equitable maxims and doctrines and their application in modern jurisprudence;

Demonstrate a strong knowledge of the principal equitable remedies and the role of judicial discretion and critically evaluate the consequent availability of these remedies in the courts;

Identify and explain the different types of private trust and the circumstances in which each will arise and be enforced;

Differentiate public charitable trusts from private trusts and explain the circumstances in which they will be recognised and enforced by the courts including under the doctrine of cypres;

Identify the circumstances in which trusts will be unenforceable;

Critically evaluate the law in this area and employ knowledge and critical understanding in solving relevant legal problems;

Research aspects of the law of equity and trusts either independently or as part of a group and communicate findings and proposals in written and/ or verbal form.