Master in Family and Childhood Law
Program director:
Doña Delia María Rodríguez Rodríguez
Campus:
Madrid
Date:
September 2026
LANGUAGE:
Spanish
The legal specialty where every decision impacts a real life.
Learning Family Law isn’t just about studying articles of the Civil Code.
It’s about knowing how to act when a client comes with a personal conflict, a child is involved, and a legal decision leaves no room for improvisation.
This Master’s Degree in Family, Child, and Inheritance Law is designed so that your first family case isn’t the first time you face the real responsibility of this practice.
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Introduction and objectives
Many legal professionals choose a specialization based on academic affinity. Family Law does not work that way.
Here, it is not enough to know the law. You must know how to apply it in situations involving personal relationships, family assets, minors, and irreversible consequences.
The objective of ISDE’s Master’s in Family Law, Child Law and Succession is to prepare you for the real practice of the specialty.
Throughout the programme, you will learn:
- How to structure family law proceedings
- How to provide legal guidance to a client from the very first consultation
- How to design a procedural strategy
- How to prepare your appearance before the court
The aim is that the first case you handle is not the first one you have ever seen.
Sponsor
Structure, location and calendar
CAMPUS: Madrid
DURATION: One academic year
STRUCTURE
Two phases:
- Phase 1: Classroom-based training
- During the first semester, students attend classes Monday to Thursday, in the afternoon.
- On some mornings each week, students attend conferences and practical sessions at ISDE’s partner law firms and institutions, with offices in the city of Madrid.
- Fridays are dedicated to independent study, group work, and skills workshops.
- During this first phase of the programme, students also complete the Digital Business course.
- Phase 2: Internship placement
- Mandatory phase. Between 3 and 6 months in the Family and Child Law practice area, at one of ISDE’s partner firms.
The Master’s in Family Law is delivered following the real working logic of a law firm.
You do not work on abstract hypotheticals, but on situations that are common in day-to-day practice:
- Marital breakdown and divorce proceedings
- Child custody and visitation arrangements
- Interim (provisional) measures
- Family-related asset and property disputes
- Succession and inheritance matters
Throughout the programme, you will:
- Analyse real cases
- Draft legal submissions
- Organise evidence
- Design procedural strategy
- Simulate court appearances
The objective is for you to understand how this specialty is practised before you have to practise it.
Career Opportunities
The Master’s in Family Law, Child Law and Succession prepares you to practise in:
- Family law specialist firms
- Legal departments handling civil and succession matters
- Family wealth and asset advisory
- Civil litigation practice
- Further specialisation in related areas
You will not start by simply observing how others handle family matters. You will start ready to take part in them.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The content is taught through real-life situations from law firm practice and the courtroom:
Start of the Master’s Core Block
- Key concepts and basic legal mechanisms in family proceedings.
- The evolution of family and cohabitation models.
- Analysis of the main Family and Child Law proceedings under Spanish legislation. Practical legal drafting workshops.
- Procedural and substantive law in family proceedings. Practical workshops on litigation skills and courtroom techniques.
- Evidence in family proceedings. Questioning and cross-examination techniques.
- Appeals in family proceedings (first and second instance and cassation). Practical workshops.
Expert Block in Child Law (30 h)
- Protective interim measures for children and adolescents (civil jurisdiction).
- Juvenile offenders.
- 360° child protection in the digital world.
- Other protective measures and the role of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- Assisted human reproduction and genetic manipulation.
- Child protection in cases of neglect and lack of guardianship.
- Practical workshops.
Expert Block in Gender-Based and Intra-Family Violence (30 h)
- Introduction to criminal proceedings in gender-based violence. Core procedural and substantive issues.
- Legal representation for victims of gender-based violence and for accused parties.
- Complaint/Criminal action. Investigation stage.
- Applications for protection orders for victims of gender-based violence. Hearings.
- Key issues at trial.
- Intra-family violence.
- Jury trial cases.
- Practical workshops.
Block on Financial and Tax Matters in Family Law and Succession (18 h)
- Marital agreements.
- Matrimonial property regimes.
- Division of matrimonial community property: by agreement and contested proceedings.
- Key tax matters in division and succession proceedings.
- Introduction to succession law.
- Practical workshops.
Block on Cross-Disciplinary Skills for Family Lawyers (24 h)
- 360 marketing.
- Communication: public speaking, negotiation, mediation.
- Coaching and wellbeing.
- Artificial intelligence applied to family law.
- Trial role-plays (4).
Block on International Family and Succession Law (60 h)
GENERAL PART
- International marriage
- Marital breakdown
- European maintenance law
- Child abduction
- International mediation
- International succession
SPECIAL PART
- International terminology issues
- Matrimonial property regime in England and Wales
- Matrimonial property regimes in Germany
- International child abduction Spain–Germany
- International child abduction Spain–England
- Specificities of international abduction cases outside Europe
- International mediation
- International parentage. Surrogacy
- Surrogacy from the perspective of different countries
- International adoption
- Practical workshops.
The regulations are not studied as isolated theory. They are continuously applied to concrete legal decisions.
FACULTY
The faculty is made up of practising lawyers specialised in Family Law, Child Law and Succession.
Professionals who:
- Handle real cases and proceedings
- Make procedural decisions
- Negotiate settlements
- Appear before the courts
- Deal directly with clients and the Public Prosecutor’s Office
- Bring this practical approach into the classroom
You learn how a family lawyer thinks when facing a real case.
Academic Direction and Faculty – Master’s in Family and Child Law
- Programme Director: Ms Delia María Rodríguez Rodríguez. CEO, Vestalia Asociados.
Renowned practising lawyers in the field of Family Law:
- Ms Paloma Abad Tejerina. Managing Partner, Abad Saez Abogados.
- Ms Adriana de Ruiter. Lawyer, TULP Abogados.
- Ms Paloma Zabalgo. Managing Partner, Paloma Zabalgo Abogados.
- Vicente Tovar. Judge (on leave of absence). Managing Partner, Vicente Tovar Abogados.
- Ms Carmen Varela Álvarez. Managing Partner, Carmen Varela Abogados.
- Ms Delia Rodríguez. Managing Partner, Vestalia Asociados.
- Ms Diana Carrillo. Family Lawyer.
- Ms Adriana Rodríguez. Family Lawyer, Vestalia.
- Ms Mariola H. Quesada. Lawyer and Coaching Specialist.
- Ms Cristina Díaz-Malnero. Family Lawyer and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB).
- Ms Julia Clavero. Family Lawyer, Partner at ABA Abogadas.
- Ms Flora Calvo Babío. Family Lawyer, Winkels Abogados.
- Ms Ana Criado Inchauspé. Lawyer and Mediator.
- Ms Ana Piernas López. Lawyer & Rechtsanwältin, Cross-Border Mediator.
- Álvaro Escudero. Criminal Lawyer.
- Ángel Alcázar. Family Lawyer.
- Ms Beatriz Waucquec. Family Lawyer, Vestalia.
- Ms Carolina Quintana. Family Lawyer.
- Ms Cristina Fernández Herrero. Family Lawyer.
- Eduardo Chaperón. Lawyer, Berenguela (Tax Law Firm).
- Enrique Sainz Rodríguez. Lawyer, Fuster-Fabra Abogados.
- Jaime Sanz Fernández-Soto. Family Lawyer, Safe Abogados.
- Jorge Martínez Martínez. Lawyer, Superbia Jurídico.
- José Aurelio García Mateos. Court-Appointed Expert, IT Audit and Forensic Analysis.
- Ms Laura Arranz Lago. Consultant, Lawyer, Mediator and Coach.
- Ms Laura Ortega Almodóvar. Family Lawyer, Vestalia.
- Ms Lola Calderón. Family Lawyer.
- Ms María Giráldez de Luis. Family Lawyer, SGS.
- Ms María Sonsoles Vidal Herrero-Vior. PhD in Criminal Law, UCM.
- Ms Natalia Tejera Beamud. Family Lawyer.
- Ms Patricia Orejudo Prieto de los Mozos. PhD in Law.
- Ms Pilar Fernández-Dengra. Family Lawyer.
- Raúl Herrera García. Lawyer.
- Ms Rosa López. Family Lawyer, ABA Abogadas.
- Ms Rosa Pérez Villar. Family Lawyer.
- Ms Silvia Varela Modroño. Family Lawyer, Vestalia.
- Ms Susana Villalba Álvarez. Mediator and Family Lawyer.
- Ms Zayda Mª Sierra Sánchez. Civil and Mixed Courts Lawyer.
- Ms Sara Garrido. GARRIDO Law Firm.
Specialised Judges and Prosecutors:
- Ángel Luis Campo Izquierdo. Judge, Provincial Court.
- Ms Natalia Velilla. Judge assigned to the Provincial Court of Madrid (Family Section).
- Ms Escarlata Gutiérrez. Prosecutor, Territorial Section of Manzanares, Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Ciudad Real.
- Juan Pablo González del Pozo. Judge attached to Family Court No. 24, Madrid.
- Ms María Gavilán Rubio. Judge, Court of First Instance No. 56, Madrid.
- Ms Emelina Santana Páez. Judge, Family Court No. 79; currently President of the Family Reinforcement Section (24th), on special assignment.
- Carlos Viader Castro. Judge.
- Luis Aurelio González. Judge.
- Ms Elena Valdivieso Barrera. Prosecutor.
- Luis Sanz Acosta. Judge.
Other Professionals:
- Ms Ana Isabel Salegui Gutiérrez. Forensic Psychologist (Court Expert).
- Ms Lola Murias. Private Investigator.
- Juan Martín Gravina. Actor.
*The faculty is subject to change.
ACCREDITED DEGREE
Once the relevant Program has concluded and ISDE has verified that the STUDENT has completed their work satisfactorily, the STUDENT will receive the corresponding Degree certificate for each PROGRAM.
In compliance with current legality and, specifically, as set forth in article 4.4 of decree 84/2004, it is noted that ISDE’s programs are professionally oriented and therefore, unless explicitly stated otherwise, they are courses that do not lead to the acquisition of a title with official value, but to that of a proprietary title from ISDE.