Application information

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2024. To apply, please follow the instructions below.

Solicitors and Trainees

To pay online click on the 'Book Now' button. For all other methods of payment including, draft, cheque and EFT 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 €3,400. No fees are required prior to approval.

Download

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

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

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

Programme objectives

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

• Analyse the legal issues pertaining to intellectual property and how to protect IP rights including dealing with cases of infringement;
• Apply for registration of trademarks, patents, and designs and understand how to protect one’s copyright;
• Critically evaluate the legal issues relating to the latest developments  in technology, including AI;
• Advise on the data protection issues arising in the technology sphere – data security, CCTV, data breaches, cybersecurity;
• Draft essential clauses for a range of technology/IP contracts – software licensing agreements, website terms and conditions, outsourcing, cloud computing, apps;
• Assess the regulations and laws relating to social media – Coimisiún na Meán online safety, trolling, defamation, hosting, caching, internet usage. 

Programme structure and approach to learning

Ireland has a booming tech market and has become the digital hub for Europe. It is of vital importance that all organisations understand the law relating to technology and intellectual property and that all legal advisers have the requisite knowledge to advise on these matters. This advanced level programme is designed to give comprehensive coverage to the broad range of legal issues arising from technology and intellectual property in this digital age.

In this diploma, we will chart the latest trends in technology and will provide a wide-ranging analysis of issues relating to intellectual property rights, advising on data protection strategies, and managing transactional issues. Leading experts will consider the myriad of potential liabilities, including IP-infringements and defences, domain disputes, e-commerce and consumer regulations, software licensing, and data security breaches. The course will offer an insight into the world of cyber-crime and suggest possible corporate risk-management strategies that companies can implement. Separately, we will analyse applicable torts, such as defamation, and the rights and duties attached to social media, blogging, and internet usage. Recent regulatory and legislative changes relating to online safety will be examined. Finally, the course examines the law relating to emerging and key technology such as FinTech, Blockchain, LawTech, AI, the Cloud, nanotechnology, drones and driverless vehicles. 

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

Module 1: Intellectual property

• Trademarks – registration; infringement; non-conventional marks,
• Patents – registration; priority; patent dealings; patentability of software,
• Copyright – digital recordings; databases; software,
• Design law – registered and unregistered designs,
• Trade secrets – confidential information,
• Intellectual property rights management and IP contracts. 

Module 2: Data protection

• GDPR – Regulation 2016/679,
• Data processing, sharing and access requests,
• International data transfers,
• Data protection and new technologies – such as drones and biometrics,
• Data security and technology,
• Data breaches.

Module 3: Technology contracts

• Technology contract clauses,
• Software licensing agreements,
• E-commerce, online contracts, consumer protection,
• Website terms and conditions,
• Outsourcing and cloud computing, 
• Gaming law and online betting,
• Practical and legal issues for tech companies.

Module 4: Social media

• Managing legal risks,
• Defamation and blogging,
• Hosting, caching, conduits,
• Advertising standards online,
• Criminal and civil liability for online content,
• Social media and employment relationship,
• Regulation of social media and Coimisiún na Meán.

 Module 5: The law and technology

• AI, text and data mining, AI copyright infringement, machine learning, and AI ownership, the AI Act
• Cybersecurity and cybercrime,
• Cookies, apps, the Cloud,
• Fintech and Blockchain,
• LawTech.

Workshops

Workshops are a key feature of this course. 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. 

Assessments

Continuous assessment through online activities (10%); multiple-choice quiz (10%), and three-hour closed-book written examination (80%). 

Who should attend?

This course is suitable for the following:

• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees who wish to augment their knowledge in the area of IP and technology law to better advise their clients, 
• Solicitors, barristers, and trainees both in private practice and in-house roles (for example, in tech, and IT companies), 
• Industry professionals with an interest in IT, intellectual property, data protection, cybersecurity, social media, Research and Development, technology transfer, and innovation, 
• Professionals with an interest in IP and technology who aspire to work in the area. 

We welcome applications for this course from other professionals who are suitably qualified. 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

Lecturers and tutors consist of lawyers and industry professionals drawn from the leading law firms and intellectual property firms, together with technology experts working in industry. Previous lecturers have included: 

• Mark Adair, Primark,
• David Brophy, FR Kelly,
• Colette Brady, William Fry,
• Maureen Daly, Beauchamps,
• Fergal Crehan, Three,
• John Darby, Flynn O’Driscoll,
• Sam Holman, Irish Copyright Licensing Agency,
• Andrea Martin, MediaLawyer Solicitors,
• Sarah Kieran, MediaLawyer Solicitors
• Patricia McGovern, DFMG Solicitors
• Dr TJ McIntyre, lecturer UCD, Digital Rights Ireland,
• Barry Moore, Murgitroyd,
• Gemma Neylon, Diageo,
• Claire O’Mahony, Law Society of Ireland,
• Ruth O’Toole, Pinterest,
• Carol Plunkett,
• Brian McElligott, Altada,
• Conor McEneaney, DLA Piper,
• Aoife Sexton, Truata,
• Asim Sheikh BL,
• Marie Walsh, HGF Limited,
• Paula Fearon, McCann FitzGerald,
• Barry Scannell, William Fry.

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

Sara Van den Bergh, Solicitor, Course Leader: s.vandenbergh@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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