Law assignment - college (please help!)

jenz

Hey!
I'm in my final yr in Applied social studies in social care, & i got a law assignment to do, which I'm completely lost in! It's our first law assignment, so they not expecting too much from us...(I hope!!)
Does anyone knows of a suitable topic/area of the law that i could base it on?....

'Identify an area of Irish law with respect to the liability of social carers or with respect to children, or any vulnerable group, that you feel is not or not satistactorily governed my the law.'

Thanks.

Victor

First address it purely from a lay mans / social worker's point of view. What do you think is unsatisfactory?

For example, you might think corporal punishment is a good thing and argue that the ban on corporal punishment inhibits scoial workers and others in their work. Then argue from there.

Of course, I hope you don't think corporal punishment is a good thing.

We won't do your homework for you, but I think the "with respect to children" bit is possibly easier.

jenz

Do you think I could make a argument (relevant to the assignment!) against the issue of the risk of suicide as not being acceptable grounds for an abortion???

"It shall be unlawful to terminate the life of an unborn unless such termination is necessary to save the life, as distinct from the health, of the mother where there is an illness or disorder of the mother giving rise to a real and substantial risk to her life, not being a risk of self-destruction."
(1992 (Nov) The Travel and Information Referenda)

Thanks for your help!

dats_right

I suppose you could well attempt to make such an argument. But, I certainly wouldn't recommend that you do. For a number of reasons, viz:

1)Abortion is still a very socially emotive and divisive issue. In attempting to discuss the law relating to same you run the danger of engaging in a moral argument and not a legal one, which is not what the assignment calls for.
2)It could well be argued that the whole area is satifactorily governed by law. Indeed it has been subject to numerous Constitutional Referendums and Acts of the Oireachtas. So at the very least is has got significant attention from the executive, the courts and legislature. You do not necessarily have to agree with the law as it stands but the Irish People have twice accepted the current Constitutional and legal framework. Therefore, I think you might well be fighting an up hill battle in attempting to argue that the law regarding abortion is not satisfactorily covered by law.

I really think you would be better served focusing on another issue or area where there are clear deficiencies or failings and perhaps no or very little statutory or constitutional law. A good example might be the recent Barnardos campaign about the lack of Constitutional protection afforded children, etc. http://www.barnardos.ie/campaignwithus.htm

Anyway, good luck with the assignment whatever you choose.