Diploma in Employment Law

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will have:

• an excellent understanding of the legislative and structural framework governing our system of employment rights and industrial relations;
• familiarity with legal considerations to be aware during the recruitment process;
• an understanding of key standard employee related policies and procedures;
• a thorough knowledge of applicable codes of practice;
• a knowledge of the legal issues relating to equality matters that permeate the employment relationship, from recruitment through to termination;
• a thorough knowledge of legal issues relevant at the point of termination;
• familiarity with key considerations regarding applicable dispute resolution procedures.

Programme structure and approach to learning

Framed by the Workplace Relations Reform Act 2015, this well-established and highly regarded postgraduate diploma provides a comprehensive understanding of employment law, covering all aspects of the employer/employee relationship from recruitment through to termination. Relying on contributions from leading practitioners, stakeholders, and decision makers in the area, we highlight how new developments are likely to affect your practice. For example, we will focus on recent practice and procedural developments arising out of the Workplace Relations Reform Programme.
The ultimate aim of the diploma is to provide practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of employment law and practice in this jurisdiction. The employment law programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Modules

The programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Module 1: Introduction to employment law

• WRA 2015
• Forums and redress
• Recruitment and status of workers
• Data protection in the workplace
• The HR perspective

Module 2: Workers and allowances

• Pay and benefits
• Pensions
• Working Time Act 1997
• Statutory leave

Module 3: Rights of the worker

• Equality in the workplace
• Age discrimination
• Bullying and harassment
• Health and safety
• Mediation
• Social media in the workplace

Module 4: Resolutions

• Trade disputes and industrial relations
• Notice and dismissal
• Grievance and disciplinary procedure
• Whistleblowing
• Injunctions

Module 5: Issues when leaving work

• Transfer of Undertaking Regulations
• Severance packages
• Redundancy
• Practical advice when using the WRA

Session dates

• Friday 15 February 2019 (lectures)
• Saturday 16 February 2019 (lectures)
• Friday 8 March 2019 (lectures)
• Saturday 9 March 2019 (lectures & workshop)
• Friday 29 March 2019 (lectures)
• Saturday 30 March 2019 (lectures & workshops)
• Friday 12 April 2019 (lectures)
• Saturday 13 April 2019 (lectures & workshops)
• Friday 10 May 2019 (lectures)
• Saturday 11 May 2019 (lectures & workshops)

Workshops are a key feature of this course. These are designed to be interactive and involve working in groups on selected case study problems and analysis with an emphasis on the application of education law to common scenarios encountered in practice.

Assessment

Three-hour closed-book written examination on 6 July 2019

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for the following:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees who advise or wish to advise on employment law matters.
• Key stakeholders and decision-makers within the employment sector that are involved in hiring and managing staff, including:
• human resources professionals;
• training managers;
• union officials;
• those working for recruitment agencies; and
• line-managers dealing with significant volumes of employees.

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified non-members. Please explain your interest and set out any relevant experience in a cover letter and a brief CV. Such applications are subject to a supplemental fee of €200.

Hear from our graduates

“I found the course extremely engaging and interesting, and really enjoyed my experience doing it. I found the tutorials extremely helpful and would highly recommend that people attend them. It allowed for discussion among the group, and especially within our course there was a combination of solicitors and professionals from the public and private sectors, so it was really interesting to see the perspectives that other students would bring. I also found that the lectures being online meant that, when it came to preparing for the exams, you could refer back to the lecture videos and see how the lecturer was explaining the material, which was easier than reading the notes.”

Rachel McCarthy
Diploma in Employment Law, Spring 2015

Faculty

Lecturers and tutors will be drawn from experienced employment law practitioners. Previous lecturers have included:

• Ciaran Ahern, Associate, A&L Goodbody
• Claire Bruton BL
• Clare Cashin, Philip Lee
• Maura Connolly, Eugene F Collins
• Melanie Crowley, Mason Hayes & Curran
• Maryrose Dillon, UCC Academy
• Julie Galbraith, Eversheds-Sutherland
• Mary Gavin, Hayes Solicitors
• Louise Harrison, William Fry
• Caoimhe Heery, Ronan Daly Jermyn
• Joanne Hyde, Eversheds
• Geraldine Hynes, Solicitor & Mediator
• Duncan Inverarity, Partner, A&L Goodbody
• Edel Kennedy, Mason Hayes Curran
• Sarah Lawn, Arthur Cox
• Lydia Leonard, The Pensions Authority
• Deirdre Lynch, Byrne Wallace
• Cathy Maguire BL
• Cathal McGreal BL
• Ronnie Neville, Mason Hayes & Curran
• Anne O’Connell, AOC Solicitors
• John O’Connor, O’Connor Solicitors
• Maeve Regan, Solicitor
• Barry Reynolds, DACBeachcroft
• Des Ryan BL
• Elizabeth Ryan, Mason Hayes & Curran
• Boyce Shubotham, William Fry
• Philip Smith, Arthur Cox
• Triona Sugrue, Eugene F Collins
• Barry Walsh, McDowell Purcell Solicitors
• Patrick Walshe, Partner, Philip Lee
• Emmet Whelan, Byrne Wallace

New: LLM Employment Law in Practice

Those who have completed the Diploma Centre’s Diploma in Employment Law are eligible to apply for the LLM Employment Law in Practice. Uniquely the LLM provides you with the opportunity of using the Diploma in Employment Law as a building block to achieve a further recognised academic qualification.
For further information visit: www.lawsociety.ie/diplomacentre

CPD

The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to this course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For further information and the booklet, see CPD scheme.