Application information

Application for this course are now closed. 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, otherwise please complete one of the application forms, containing our bank details, in the Download section below and send it to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie , indicating in your cover email should you need an invoice to pay by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) or if you wish to pay by card over the phone.

Other Professionals

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. This application will need to be approved before you can book online. 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. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :

1. Completed application form (see below)
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

Download

• Application form  (word)
• Application form (pdf)
• 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 aims to provide students with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the law in relation to this changing sector, which has seen numerous changes since the introduction of The Companies Act 2014 and the recent commencement of The Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021.

The diploma focuses on typical events during the lifetime of a corporate entity that solicitors advise on, as well as practical aspects of corporate governance. We have introduced an innovative boardroom simulation module and students will gain an interactive insight into boardroom meetings and effective board behaviour. 

Programme objectives

On completion of this training programme, participants will have:

• A comprehensive understanding of corporate law & governance;
• Up-to-date knowledge of recent judicial decisions and legislative and procedural developments;
• An insight into the importance of the necessary skills and negotiating tactics used in a boardroom environment;
• An ability to analyse the essential transactional documentation in practice;
• Developed their capacity for independent learning.

Modules

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

Module 1: Introduction to corporate law and governance in Ireland

• Overview of the Companies Act 2014,
• Company life-cycle,
• Funding a start-up,
• Advising shareholders.

Module 2: Corporate governance

• Share capital and company status management,
• Corporate governance of regulated entities,
• Transactions involving directors,
• Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

Module 3: Boardroom simulation

• Practitioner’s perspective of corporate governance,
• Advising directors,
• Boardroom simulation workshop.

Module 4: Corporate transactions

• Tax issues,
• Financing a transaction,
• Sectoral regulation,
• Share options.

Module 5: Mergers and acquisitions

• Share purchase agreements,
• Asset purchase agreements,
• Acting for the investor.

Module 6: Insolvency and corporate restructuring

• Insolvency and restructuring,
• Advising during receivership process,
• Winding-up process,
• Formal and informal restructuring.

Workshops

Workshops are interactive sessions that focus on group problem-solving. 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 the law to common scenarios encountered in practice.

Workshop	Title	Date	Time
1	Interactive Problem-Solving Workshop (online)	Tuesday 9 April 2024	18:00 - 20:15
2	Boardroom Simulation 1 (onsite)	Saturday 13 April 2024	10:00 - 16:00
3	Boardroom Simulation 2 (onsite)	Saturday 18 May 2024	10:00 - 14:00
4	Questions & Discussion: Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring Module (onsite)	Saturday 8 June 2024	10:00 - 14:00

Assessments

20% continuous assessment and 80% 2,500 word written assignment.

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for the following:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees who work in the area of corporate law and governance,
• Company directors seeking to broaden their understanding of the corporate law,
• Legal executives and those involved in improving their knowledge of company law and documentation,
• Other suitable professionals who are interested in the area of corporate law and governance.

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, which amounts to €335 in respect of a diploma application.
 

Faculty

Lecturers and tutors will be drawn from solicitors, barristers, accountants, and others with expertise in the field of corporate law and governance. 

Previous lecturers have included:

• Patrick Ambrose, DLL,
• Gerard Ryan, Eversheds Sutherland,
• Daibhi O’Leary, Arthur Cox,
• Deirdre McBennett, ByrneWallace,
• Enda Cullivan, Eversheds Sutherland,
• John Darby, Flynn O’Driscoll,
• Paul Egan SC, Mason Hayes & Curran,
• Peppe Santoro, Venture Legal Services,
• Bob Semple, Consultant,
• Michael Moran, Michael M Moran, Notary Public,
• Ray Hunt, McCann Fitzgerald,
• Suzanne Gunn BL, CEA. 

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 2024. This complimentary event is a dedicated professional development and solicitor wellbeing and client care and professional standards session. We will post an invitation on your Diploma Hub page later in the year. 

Contact

Suzanne Crilly, Solicitor, Course Leader: S.Crilly@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.