Master in Family and Childhood Law
Program director:
Campus:
Madrid
Date:
September
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.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
K
A global alumni community specialized in Law
In rankings for legal education and for faculty
%
Employability at the top firms and law offices
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.
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.
- Adrián Gómez Linacero / Clerk of the Administration of Justice at the Ministry of Justice, civil servant
- Adriana Rodríguez / Family Lawyer and Partner at «Vestalia Abogados»
- Alba Rodríguez Gimenez / Lawyer specialized in National and International Family Law at ABA Abogadas
- Álvaro Barranco Yagüe / Lawyer and Managing Partner at Barranco Yagüe Abogados
- Álvaro Escudero Moyano / Director of the boutique law firm “Álvaro Escudero Defensa Penal”
- Ámparo Quintana García / Mediator, collaborative lawyer and lecturer
- Ana Criado Inchauspé / Mediator, family lawyer, personal coach, director and trainer in mediation courses
- Ana Isabel Salegui Gutiérrez / Forensic psychologist expert
- Ana Piernas López / Lawyer (Rechtsanwältin) registered in Munich (Germany) and as a Spanish lawyer in Madrid
- Barbara Bande López / Senior Prosecutor at the Móstoles Area Prosecutor’s Office
- Beatriz Waucquez Jiménez / Family Lawyer at Vestalia
- Carlos Viader Castro / Judge. Legal Counsel at the Technical Cabinet of the Supreme Court, Criminal Chamber
- Carlota Bravo-Ferrer Álvarez-Sala / Lawyer in the data protection and digital law department at CECA MAGÁN Abogados
- Carmen Varela Álvarez / Managing Partner at Carmen Varela Abogados
- Cristina Díaz-Malnero Fernández / Partner in the Family Law Department at RCD
- Cristina Fernández Herrero / Partner at Estudio Legal Vallehermoso
- Diana Carrillo / Founding partner of the Madrid Association of Family and Childhood Lawyers (AMAFI). Specialist in litigation and legal advisory
- Elena de la Plaza Moreno / Lawyer specialized in inheritance law, commercial and corporate law, and banking law
- Elena Valdivieso Barrera / Prosecutor. Coordinator of the civil section in Alcalá de Henares
- Elisa Alonso Peinado / Lawyer and tax advisor at Eduardo Luque Abogados
- Emelina Santana Páez / Judge at Family Court No. 79 and president of the 24th family reinforcement section, serving on special assignment
- Enrique Sainz Rodríguez / Associate at «Vestalia Abogados» and Head of the Annulments Department
- Escarlata Gutiérrez Mayo / Prosecutor at the Territorial Section of Manzanares in the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Ciudad Real
- Eva María Calderón Palomar / Family and inheritance lawyer
- Fernando Eraus Saiz / Eraus & Asociados Legal Practice
- Flora Calvo Babío / Professor of Private International Law at Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid and academic advisor at Winkels Abogados
- Isabel del Castillo Santaella / Director of the Madrid Centro office at Vilches Abogados
- Jorge Martínez Martínez / Managing Partner at Superbia Jurídico
- José María de Pablo Hermida / Partner at Mas y Calvet Law Firm
- Juan Martín Gravina / Director and lecturer in Performing Arts Applied to Professional Life and certified lecturer by E.O.I. (School of Industrial Organization)
- Juan Pablo González del Pozo / Judge assigned to Family Court No. 24 in Madrid
- Julia María Clavero Navarro / Family lawyer and partner at ABA Abogadas
- Juliana Rodríguez Rodrigo / Full Professor (accredited for Full Professorship) of Private International Law
- Lola Calderón González / Managing Partner at Lola Calderón Abogados
- Lola Murias García / Private investigator and court expert witness
- Luis Aurelio González / Judge
- Luis Sanz Acosta / Judge
- Manuel Díaz Martínez / University Professor and Director of the Department of Procedural Law
- María Gavilán Rubio / Judge at the Court of First Instance and Investigation No. 3 of Arganda del Rey
- María Giráldez de Luis / Family Lawyer at SGS
- María Rubio Sánchez / Presiding Judge at the Court of First Instance and Investigation No. 5 of Arganda del Rey
- María Sonsoles Vidal Herrero-Vior / PhD in Criminal Law from UCM
- Mariola Hernández Quesada / Family lawyer, expert in neurohappiness applied to the legal profession, executive & team coach, and leadership and communication trainer
- Natalia Tejera Beamud / Associate at «Vestalia Abogados» and Director of the Criminal-Family Department of the firm
- Natalia Velilla / Judge serving on special assignment at the Provincial Court of Madrid (Family Section)
- Pilar Fernández-Dengra / Managing Partner at Fernández Dengra Abogados
- Rafael Alejandro Ferreira Pardiñas / Family lawyer at «Vestalia Abogados»
- Raúl Herrera García / Lawyer, professor and writer. Practicing for over 20 years, specialized in commercial, procedural and insolvency law
- Rodrigo Prellezo de Prada / Lawyer at Carmen Varela Abogados
- Rosa López González / Partner at ABA Abogadas since 2008
- Rosa Pérez-Villar Aparicio / Practicing lawyer with a law firm exclusively dedicated to Family Law
- Sara Segovia Del Moral / Family lawyer at Garrido Abogados in the Litigation and Arbitration Department
- Susana Jiménez Bautista / Judge and Legal Counsel at the Technical Cabinet of the Supreme Court, Civil Chamber
- Susana Perales Margüelles / Director of the Litigation and Arbitration Department at CECA MAGÁN Abogados
- Sara Santos Ugarte / Founding partner at Venize Comunicación
- Silvia Calzón Arias / Lawyer at ABA Abogadas
- Susana Villalba Álvarez / Mediator and family lawyer
- Vicente Tovar Sabio / Judge on leave of absence and Managing Partner at Vicente Tovar Abogados
- Zayda Mª Sierra Sánchez / Legal Counsel at the Inspection Service of the General Council of the Judiciary, specialized in the inspection of family courts and courts for persons with disabilities
*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.