Specialist Family Law: Adoption, Mental Capacity and Cross-border issues

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Specialist Family Law: Adoption, Mental Capacity and Cross-border issues (LAW353)

Synopsis

LAW353 Specialist Family Law: Adoption, Mental Capacity and Cross-border issues is designed to provide the practitioner time to explore in detail the complex issues encountered in adoption, mental capacity and cross-border matters. While time will be devoted looking at the black letter of the laws in these complex areas, opportunity will be taken to look at the wider issues encountered in practice by frontline professionals such as social workers and counsellors.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY

Topics

Adoption: Who can adopt and be adopted; Consent and payments or rewards in adoption; Process, procedures and implications; Citizenship of adopted children and trafficking
Mental Capacity: Mental capacity and “best interests”; Lasting Powers of Attorney and Advanced Medical Directives; Court declarations for specific issues; Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act – mental disorder
Cross-border issues: Divorce proceedings; Parenthood, guardianship and custody; Abduction
Frontline experiences

Learning Outcome

Indicate the various sources of the relevant law, how it is made and developed; of the institutions within which that law is administered and the personnel who practice law
Demonstrate understanding of legal concepts, values, principles and procedures of Singapore law and explain the relationship between them in a number of subject areas, as well as to apply them
Analyse fact patterns to identify relevant issues of law, fact and procedure.
Interpret the relevant rule of substantive law, procedure or evidence relevant to the issues identified
Apply the relevant laws and principles to come to a conclusion on the issues
Formulate an opinion, provide a solution and advise based on the conclusions
Discuss critically, competing arguments in literature or in a group situation and make a reasoned choice between alternatives
Examine ideas, concepts and arguments in the English language and legal terminology with care and accuracy
Employ information technology in an office environment for the search for information, the preparation of documents and presentations