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 here  for our Interested List.

To apply, please follow the instructions below. 

Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Register 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 €335 bringing the total course fee to €2,995. No fees are required prior to approval.

Download

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

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
• Workshops
• Assessments
• Who should attend?
• Faculty
• CPD

Programme structure and approach to learning

This diploma, which will run over six months from spring 2023, is open to solicitors, barristers, and suitably qualified professionals who work in regulatory affairs, compliance functions or those who wish to transition to such roles. It provides participants with an overview of the rationale for regulation, the various types of frameworks, and will introduce participants to key theories and concepts guiding regulation. It will demonstrate the cross-sectoral impact of regulation as well as introduce a number of the main regulatory sectors, including financial, health, energy, telecoms and professions. Additionally, some of the key aspects in providing legal advice to a regulatory body will be examined, as will the mechanism for enforcing regulation both in the courts and at quasi-judicial level including professional conduct committees, High Court challenges and judicial review actions. 

Practical skills workshops are an integral part of this diploma and will provide advocacy training relevant to oral hearings and inquiries. This course will include a mock oral hearing and role-play sessions which will deepen the learning experience and provide an opportunity for participants to put their learning into practice. In the context of decision-making skills, there will be a session on ethics and the social context of law addressing unconscious bias, sensitivity training awareness, and dealing with vulnerable individuals.

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will be able to:

• Explain the rationale, theories and types of regulation;
• Describe the main regulatory sectors, as well as the various mechanisms for regulatory enforcement;
• Explain the procedures relating to regulatory prosecutions and judicial review actions;
• Advise regulatory bodies with respect to their duties and obligations, powers and compliance;
• Apply their advocacy skills in relation to litigation matters and oral hearings.

Modules

The Diploma in Regulation Law and Practice programme is based on the following module scheme and covers key themes as listed below:

Module 1: Introduction to regulation law

• Rationale for regulation and context; current trends and future reforms,
• Regulation in the context of economics, corporate governance, risk management, competition,
• Overview of the various types of regulation and sectors,
• Function of regulation and various forms of regulation,
• Private v. public regulation,
• Compliance v complaints regulation, 
• Regulatory accountability and independence.

Module 2: Industry regulation

• Financial services regulation,
• Competition and Consumer Protection Commission,
• Energy; environmental,
• Health products,
• Role of the Ombudsman.

Module 3: Regulation of the professions

• Overview of the professions,
• Teachers, solicitors, doctors, health and social care, veterinary practitioners, architects (statutory bodies),
• Accountants, engineers (membership bodies),
• Professional codes of conduct and ethics,
• Professional disciplinary and fitness to practice hearings,
• Fair procedures, role of experts, standards of proof,
• Guidelines and evidential rules at oral hearing.

Module 4: Advising on regulation issues

• Data protection, confidentiality, Freedom of Information,
• Common issues encountered,
• Delegation of authority, statutory interpretation, transparency,
• Advising on use of power,
• Correct procedure for dealing with whistleblowers.

Module 5: Enforcing Regulation

• Audits and investigations,
• Overview of phases in regulatory cycle,
• Role of mediation,
• Grievance, pre-inquiry phase, settlement negotiations, hearings and decision,
• Prosecutions,
• Appeals/review.

Module 6: Challenges to decisions of regulatory bodies, litigation

• Challenges to processes and procedures,
• Case preparation and management,
• Emergency applications, injunctions,
• Judicial review/appeals,
• Misfeasance in public office.

Module 7: Oral hearings, inquiries

• Independence and accountability; ethics,
• Dealing with vulnerable individuals,
• Conflict of interest/bias,
• Investigations,
• Sanction, prior disciplinary history,
• Publication of decisions,
• Suspensions,
• The role of the legal assessor. 

Workshops

Workshops are designed to be interactive and involve working on selected case-study problems and analysis, with an emphasis on the application of regulation law scenarios encountered in practice. The final workshop will cover pre-exam preparation. Workshop Dates are as follows:

• Saturday 4 March 2023
• Saturday 15 April 2023
• Saturday 6 May 2023

Assessments

Continuous assessment (20%) and three-hour closed-book written examination (80%)

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for the following:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees who advise clients on regulatory matters;
• Suitably qualified professionals such as legal assessors;
• Members of complaints and disciplinary committees;
• Regulatory compliance professionals;
• Professionals who aspire to work in the area of regulation. 

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 €335.

Faculty

The teaching faculty for this diploma will be drawn from experienced legal practitioners and experts in the field of regulation, both from this jurisdiction and internationally. 

Previous lecturers have included: 

• JP McDowell, Fieldfisher Ireland,
• Julie Austin, Fieldfisher Ireland,
• Michael Finn, Pinsent Masons,
• Chris Martin, A&L Goodbody,
• Barry Magee, Fieldfisher Ireland,
• Brian Ormond, DAC Beachcroft,
• Louise Beirne BL,
• Eadaoin Rock, General Counsel of the Central Bank,
• Dr Stephen Weir, Institute of Public Administration.

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. 

The Diploma Centre team will host our annual CPD conference in November 2023. This complimentary event is a dedicated management and professional development skills and regulatory matters session. We will post an invitation on your Diploma Hub page later in the year. 

Contact

Patricia Harvey BL, course leader: p.harvey@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.

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