What is a MOOC?

A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a free online course that is open to all and specifically designed for large numbers to participate. The annual Law Society of Ireland MOOC presented by the Diploma Centre embraces the Law Society’s access to legal education and the legal profession approach.

2025 Course

Our next MOOC will be announced in spring 2025. If you'd like to be alerted when the topic has been announced and registration opens, subscribe to our 'interested list' email' and a member of the team will be in touch. 

To date, the Diploma Centre’s MOOCs have attracted over 27,000 participants from over 88 countries since they first launched in 2014.

• Learn about our MOOCs

Course structure

• Free online course

• Open to everyone

• Five weeks duration

• Contributions from leading lawyers and industry experts

• Short video interviews and presentations

• Quizzes and online activities

• CPD hours available

Previous topics covered

2023: Social Media and the Law

The 2023 MOOC provided participants with a comprehensive guide to the key social media issues arising in the context of changing Irish and EU regulations, together with an examination of other key social media developments and trends. Expert speakers, media lawyers and academics examined topics including online safety legislation (Online Safety and Media Regulations Act 2022), online harassment and trolling, disinformation/fake news and child safety online.

2022: Employment Law and Remote Working: A Changing Landscape (MOOC)

The 2022 MOOC provided participants with a comprehensive guide to the key legal and ethical issues relating to the complex areas surrounding employment law and remote working. Topics included the right to request remote working, flexible working practices, health and safety considerations, equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and much more.

2021: Environmental Law & Climate Change: Shaping a Greener Future (MOOC)

The 2021 MOOC provided participants with a short but incisive overview of legal and ethical considerations for those involved in environmental law and the environmental and conservation spheres, either in a professional or voluntary capacity.

2019: Arts, Entertainment and Media Law: Issues that take centre stage (MOOC)

The 2019 MOOC provided a short yet incisive overview of law, business practices and commercial realities for those working and contributing to the arts, entertainment and media industries.

2018: Sports Law - the challenges on and off the field of play (MOOC)

The 2018 MOOC in Sports Law gave the inside track on the most topical areas across the sporting world. The course explored areas such as administration of sports clubs, sports as a business, challenges facing professional athletes, offences on and off the pitch, and e-sports.

2017: Employment Law: Brexit borders and offices without walls (MOOC)

In 2017 the topic of 'Employment Law in the digital era: Brexit, borders and offices without walls; challenges and impacts in uncertain times' was explored. The course explored contemporary employment issues including social media in the workplace, equality and the law, dispute resolution mechanisms and hiring post-Brexit: why Ireland works as an alternative. 

2016: Privacy, a human right for the Digital Age (MOOC)

The 2016 MOOC ‘Privacy, a human right for the digital age’, was delivered online over five weeks and comprised presentations from experts in data protection and digital privacy, live online discussions and assessments, and the balance between an individual’s right to privacy and the efficient use of data by companies and other organisations. Specific content such as cyber security threats, the EU-US Privacy Shield – or the ‘Safe Harbour’ agreement as it is known – and the impact of emerging technology, including drones and ‘the internet of things’, are extremely topical and of interest to a wide range of people. 

2015: Understanding the Law in a Digital Age (MOOC)

In 2015 the topic was the growing area of Technology Law. Technology has brought exponential change not only in our personal lives but also in professional practice, in terms of how legal practice is managed, the software used and the legal issues confronting clients in business. The MOOC, ‘Understanding the law in a digital age’, explored emerging issues of relevance to entrepreneurs who seek to exploit opportunities in this digital age and to existing organisations who must engage online to prosper. It also examined the importance of regulation, data protection, online privacy and the legal implications of rapidly-growing use of social media. 

2014: An Introduction to Aviation Leasing and Finance in Ireland (MOOC)

In 2014 the Diploma Centre launched the Law Society's first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). This course ran for six weeks and covered an introduction to aviation leasing and finance and its beginnings in Ireland, technical basics, legal, financial and commercial.