Application information

We are no longer accepting applications for this course. If you are interested in applying for a future offering of the course please register for our Interested List . 

Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Book Now' button. For all other methods of payment please see our methods of payment .

Other Professionals

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. Your application must be approved before you can formally register on the course. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :

1. A completed application form (see below)
2. Your Curriculum Vitae
3. A short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

Please note, for non-members this course is subject to a supplemental fee of €100 bringing the total course fee to €1,750. No fees are required prior to approval.

Download

• Application form (word - for PC use)
• Application form (pdf - for handwritten use)
• Timetable
• Faculty booklet

Click the icon above to view the course brochure.

If you are interested in applying for a future offering of the course please register for our Interested List . 

Further information on this course including course structure, module scheme, faculty and workshop dates are set out below. Clicking on the links will bring you directly to that section or simply scroll through to read all the content. 

• Programme structure
• Modules  
• Assessments
• Who should attend?
• Faculty

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will: 

• Understand the rationale for regulation and the regulation landscape
• Be aware of the phases in the regulatory cycle
• Improve drafting skills when crafting letters of instruction/enforcement notices
• Draft and critically evaluate enforcement notices
• Analyse the importance of providing detailed reasons for enforcement action
• Develop an understanding of the consequences that flow from poorly drafted notices
• Examine challenges to decisions of regulatory bodies
• Demonstrate a specialist knowledge on issues relating to their sector
• Show an understanding of data protection and freedom of information issues
• Apply the knowledge learned in practice.

Programme structure and approach to learning

This certificate provides participants with an overview of the rationale for regulation and the various methods of enforcement – civil and criminal enforcement as well as investigations and hearings. This certificate is open to solicitors, barristers and trainees, and suitably qualified professionals who work in in the area of enforcement or those who wish to transition to such roles. Additionally, the important area of challenges to decisions of a regulatory body is examined. There is focus on enforcement notices, pitfalls to avoid and the key issues that affect the ability to enforce. Participants will critically evaluate sample enforcement notices and understand the consequences arising from a poorly drafted notice. 

The course will also see experts examining discrete areas of enforcement and the particular concerns relating to each sector. Data protection and freedom of information and data sharing between public bodies will also be addressed. 

Practical skills workshops are an integral part of this certificate and will assist participants with honing their drafting skills, particularly when drafting letters of instruction and enforcement notices. There is a bonus module for non-lawyers to assist them with legal literacy skills.

Modules

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

Module 1: Introduction to Regulation Law 

• Why regulate – rationale for regulation, overview of sectors and public bodies,
• The function of regulation, its various form,
• Current issues in regulation.

Module 2: Methods of enforcement 

• Overview of phases in the regulatory cycle,
• Civil enforcement overview, enforcement in the Courts, challenges to processes,
• Enforcement/ the inquiry process, investigations, hearings, decision-making,
• Criminal enforcement, regulatory criminal law enforcement, vicarious liability. 

Module 3: Challenges to decision of regulatory bodies 

• Judicial review/appeals, categories of statutory appeal,
• Oversight of regulatory decisions,
• Emergency applications and injunctions.

Module 4: Enforcement and enforcement notices 

• Pitfalls to avoid in the enforcement process,
• Key issues that affect the ability to enforce,
• Duty to give reasons and adequacy of reasons,
• Components of an effective enforcement notice,
• Consequences arising from a poorly drafted enforcement notice,
• Use of precedents.

Module 5: Writing and drafting skills 

• Writing and drafting skills,
• Use of precedents,
• Writing a letter of instruction – key features,
• Drafting an effective enforcement notice,
• Sample notices.

Module 6: Legal and literacy skills

• Legal writing,
• Legal citations,
• Online sources, law reports.

Module 7: Enforcement by sector

• Social care and healthcare,
• Environmental and food safety,
• Justice, mental health,
• Financial services,
• Childcare.

Module 8: Data protection and Freedom of Information

• Data protection principles,
• Government data and public sector bodies, 
• Sharing data between public bodies,
• Data protection v Freedom of Information,
• Managing subject access requests. 

Workshops

Workshops are interactive sessions that focus on group problem-solving and are designed to consolidate the knowledge learned and apply it in practice. One workshop will focus on drafting an enforcement notice. 

• Workshop 1: Saturday 21 May 2022  (10am - 3pm)
• Workshop 2: Saturday 11 June 2022 (10am - 3pm)

Assessments

2,500-word written assignment including case-study scenario; due date for submission 8 July 2022.

Who should attend?

The course is suitable for:

• Regulatory compliance professionals who work in the area of enforcement in public and regulated bodies,
• Solicitors, barristers, trainees and non-legal professionals working in the area of enforcement,
• Professionals who aspire to work in this area. 

Faculty

The teaching faculty for this diploma will be drawn from experienced legal practitioners and experts in the field of regulation and enforcement working in both law firms and public/regulatory bodies. 

CPD

We have designed our courses to enable you to satisfy as much of your CPD requirement as possible. Time spent attending lectures and workshops in person or completing these via e-learning as part of your course can be claimed towards your annual CPD requirement. The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to your diploma/certificate course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For further information, visit the CPD scheme and download the CPD booklet.

Contact

Deirdre Flynn, Solicitor, Course Leader: D.Flynn@LawSociety.ie .

*Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in these pages is accurate and up to date. However timetables and course content are subject to change and date and time changes may occur due to factors beyond our control.