A training course for defence solicitors is running this spring at the Law Society.

This masterclass builds on the European Commission-funded SUPRALAT aimed at strengthening suspects' rights in pre-trial proceedings through practice-oriented training for lawyers.

The course is being run by Law Society Finuas Skillnet in conjunction with Dublin City University (DCU).

Police station lawyers

Professor Ed Cape of the University of Bristol, author of Defending Suspects in Police Stations, said: "The SUPRALAT training programme is the best training for police-station lawyers that I have seen anywhere in the world."

All applicants for the SUPRALAT training must be practising criminal defence solicitors who currently attend garda stations with clients.

Those planning to attend must be available for three days of face-to-face training in the Law Society, as well as eight hours of eLearning prior to 1 March.

Those interested should apply to: finuasskillnet@lawsociety.ie before 1 February.