Employment Law Seminars - Legal-Island
About Us
Legal-Island
Employment Law Ireland Legal-Island is a multi-award winning employment law training and information company working in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We specialise in all matters relevant to today's work force in both jurisdictions. Each year we call on the services of more than 100 lawyers and HR experts to deliver large conferences, seminars and in-house training, addressing key developments relevant to the world of work. Our employment law email service is written by top law firms and is now relied on by hundreds of organisations throughout the Island of Ireland to keep abreast of important developments relating to labour law. | |
In January 2011, the company was awarded the (EFQM) Mark of Excellence Award at the prestigious Northern Ireland Quality Award Gala Ceremony. This award recognises organisations that have demonstrated excellence in their overall business performance. To find out more about Legal-Island visit our company blog. We'll keep you up to date on what's happening within the company, who we're meeting and networking with and any events that may be of interest to you. | |
In June 2010 we scooped three 'Highly Commended' Awards at the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards in the categories; 'Best Place To Work,' 'Innovative Employer' and 'Managing Talent.'
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Legal-Island is fully recognised as an Investors in People organisation.
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Employee Profiles
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Name:
Barry Phillips Position:
CEO Biography:
Barry qualified as a barrister in 1993 and worked first in criminal law in London. Later he specialised in employment law in Northern Ireland and Ireland. He has worked at the European Parliament, the European Court of Human Rights and the ILO in Geneva. He has a PhD from the University of Glasgow and an MBA from the University of Ulster. He's also a MII Certifed Mediator and a member of the Advanced Institute of Drivers.
Barry was born in St Helens Lancashire but ended up a badminton & tennis star at school rather than a rugby league man.
Barry was sacked from his first ever job as a paperboy for requesting a 20p increase in his weekly wage to £2.50p.
He can memorise a pack of playing cards in under 5 minutes. Ask him to do it next time you see him and be ready to donate £10 to our Malawi charity if he manages it...
In his spare time however he still dreams of his centre court clash with Bjorn Borg that never was.
To keep up with Barry why not access his personal blog or Twitter?
View Barry's training portfolio
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Name:
Jayne Finlay Position:
Managing Director Biography:
Jayne was born and brought up in Northern Ireland although she lived abroad in Scotland for a while. She graduated from The University of Edinburgh with a 2.1 MA (Hons) in Business Studies.
Jayne continued her studies after leaving University and qualified with a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
As an advanced driver you won't catch her driving the wrong way around a roundabout but you might catch her going the wrong way to Dublin!
Jayne's a gym bunny in her spare time although she likes to do her bit to counteract the credit crunch by shopping as much as she can.
View Jayne's training portfolio
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Name:
Scott Alexander Position:
Head of Training & Development Biography:
Scott is the writer of the weekly review of developments employment law email updates and designs and chairs most of Legal-Island’s employment law and HR events. He is a regular facilitator at workshops on discipline and performance in the workplace. He is also the organiser of the HR Network.
Before coming to Northern Ireland in 1990, he worked in Scotland in industrial relations. His duties included drafting and developing policies and procedures, negotiating with trade union representatives and advising departments on HR issues and council policies.
Before joining Legal-Island in 2006, Scott worked at the Labour Relations Agency for some 14 years. His duties over the period included individual and collective conciliation, advisory services, training officer, partnership working and managing the enquiry point team. As arbitration secretary he organised the majority of appeals, arbitrations and mediation hearings run under the auspices of the LRA. He was also a senior NIPSA trade union lay official and represented staff at management/union negotiating committees, disciplinary hearings etc. So, Scott has seen disputes from just about every angle and at every stage and values early resolution over litigation almost every time.
Scott is a member of the CIPD and the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland
View Scott's training portfolio
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Name:
Kerry Murphy Position:
Conference Manager NI Biography:
Kerry was born and brought up near Ballymena. She Graduated from the University of Ulster with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and Japanese and has recently became an accredited Mediator with the Mediation Institute of Ireland. As vice president of the Northern Ireland Mediation Best Practice Club and a member of the Association for Young Mediators she is currently developing strong mediation links throughout NI.
In her spare time she likes to read, watch films, travel or spend time with family and friends and is currently teaching herself to play the harmonica!
View Kerry's training portfolio
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Name:
Heather Stewart Position:
Conference Manager ROI Biography:
Heather received her 2.1 in BA (Hons) Hospitality Management along with a Diploma in Industrial Studies from the University of Ulster in June 2007. She has recently been promoted to Conference Manager for the Republic of Ireland.
She joined Legal-Island in October 2008 from the Hilton Group. Her claim to fame is that she once did room service for the Dali Lama.
Heather's favourite film is Top Gun though Officer and a Gentleman is a close second. She enjoys more leisurely past-times such as shopping and socialising with friends.
Since joining Legal-Island Heather has passed her Advanced Diploma in Management Practice with Parity
View Heather's training profile
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Name:
Peter Fitzpatrick Position:
Marketing Officer Biography:
Peter graduated from the University of Ulster, Jordanstown with a 2:1 BSc (Hons) in Business Studies in 2008. Brought up in Belfast, Peter enjoys almost every sport going, but mostly playing football (and supporting Leeds United). His idea of relaxation is watching football, travelling abroad and even the occassional visit to the gym.
View Peter's training portfolio
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Name:
Peter Gilpin Position:
Marketing Officer Biography:
Brought up just outside Coleraine, Peter graduated from the University of Northumbria with a BA (Hons) in International Business Management. Peter enjoys travelling, sports and playing golf on the local links courses.
His greatest moment was watching Ireland beat Wales at the Millennium Stadium in 2009 to win the rugby Grand Slam. What a day!
View Peter Gilpin's Training Portfolio.
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Name:
Pamela Park Position:
Marketing Officer Biography:
Pamela holds a first class honours degree in Communication Advertising and Marketing and Diploma in Professional Practice with commendation.
Pamela was brought up in Islandmagee, a peninsula on the east coast of County Antrim near Larne. She grew up with one sister, one brother and a black Labrador called Millie. In her teens she cut quite a figure driving a red convertible Citroen Diane and life she says has never been quite as good since. Stuck for a lift she once drove her husband's tractor to work. Now she arrives in style in her own VW.
View Pamela's training portfolio
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Name:
Allison Sutherland Position:
Customer Relationship Consultant Biography:
Allison was born and brought up in the North East of England but has lived in Northern Ireland since the mid 1990’s.
She previously worked as a business consultant to Councils, GP’s, sporting organisations, radio stations, Government bodies and publishers. Oh, and one of the “Dragons” but Allison isn't fierce, she’s a pussy cat.
Allison tells us that what she does here is work, however, it seems to us that she simply chats on the phone all day. She’s also implementing some new systems to help us communicate with our clients in the most effective way.
When she’s not working she likes to grow her own vegetables and promote rock bands. She also claims to have been given 2 Blue Peter badges. One as a runner up in a Keep Britain Tidy competition and the other for writing a grovelling letter - she was 36 at the time!
Click here to view my training portfolio.
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Name:
James Dyer Position:
Finance Manager Biography:
James has been with Legal-Island since August 2006. As a company accountant with many years' experience in the distribution industry, throughout Ireland, he has helped co-ordinate the successful growth of the company over recent years.
Aside from his keen interest in figures, James claims to have a talent for most racket sports, and many years ago was a bit of a crack shot with a rifle. These days though he prefers to go to the gym when he's not injured playing football.View James's training portfolio
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Name:
Jacqui McCaughan Position:
Credit Control Biography:
Jacqui comes to Legal-Island after spending numerous years with the Home Office. She is in charge of the company's credit control function (part-time).
Jacqui was brought up in County Tipperary but now lives in Randalstown with her husband Joe and two children.
She enjoys walking and listening to music especially the Mull of Kintyre by Wings which was her first record.
A former long jump champion Jacqui's greatest claim to fame is that she is a distant cousin of Boy George.
View Jacqui's training portfolio
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Name:
Julie McCloskey Position:
Email Service Manager & Finance Assistant Biography:
Julie manages our Email Service and also works in the company finance department. She's currently working towards her first qualification in finance under the watchful eye of the finance manager.
Julie glides around the office and remains calm and composed at all times. Nothing seems to make her flap except possibly the thought of a night in having to watch the football with her partner.
In 2010, Julie passed her IATI Accounts Technician Qualification with a distinction!
View Julie' training portfolio
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Name:
Donna Kirkpatrick Position:
Office Manager Biography:
Donna is the Office Manager at Legal-Island.
When she was young she knew she was destined for greatness when she won a writing competition at primary school to Bernie Winters and his dog Snorbitz.
Brought up in the blooming village of Broughshane, the “Garden village of Ulster” she now lives with her husband, two children Tom aged 4 and Emily 2 down on the farm.
A former Ballymena Hockey star Donna now likes to relax by socialising with friends, reading funny Irish novels and doing pilates! Currently reading War & Peace Donna's claim to fame is that she is related to the very man who introduced turnips into Peru! Strange but true!
Watch my recent appearance as a panel guest at the 2011 Business In The Community Workplace 20:20 Conference - View video
View Donna's training portfolio
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Name:
Vanessa Porter Position:
Senior Administrator Biography:
Vanessa currently has two men in her life. One her husband James. The other is Brady their golden retriever dog. It is said that both compete for her attention when she finishes work.
Vanessa currently holds the Northern Ireland record for plate spinning managing to keep an impressive 48 going for five whole minutes.
View Vanessa's training portfolio
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Name:
Debbie Wilson Position:
Administrator Biography:
Debbie is a member of the Admin/Conference team here on the 'Island' dealing with bookings and queries for all NI events. However, she also assists Scott and Julie with the Email Service as well as dabbling a bit in the Finance department.
She has an AVCE in Business Studies as well as a HND in Business Studies with Finance.
In Debbie's spare time, she enjoys days out with her husband Cliff and son Joshua, as well as cooking what she claims is the worlds best potato and leek soup!
Click here to view my training portfolio.
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Name:
Kerri Bradley Position:
AM: Receptionist & PA to CEO. PM: Assistant to Conference Executive Biography:
Kerri spends her mornings working as Barry’s PA and she also works as part of the admin team. Each afternoon, Kerri assists Scott with his conference executive work; helping prepare legal information & training by writing and editing employment law content for publication by e-mail.
Kerri was born in Northern Ireland and, in 2010, graduated from John Moores University in Liverpool with a 2:1 Law degree with Honours. She returned home and has worked in various different roles before securing a job on the 'Island'. Kerri has just become a Bradley (she married Niall in May) and has a little girl called Teighan Agnes.
Away from work, Kerri is undertaking a part-time hairdressing course to obtain a VRQ level 2. In her spare time, she also enjoys various types of sport and spending time with her family.
Click here to view my training portfolio.
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Name:
Arnold Majcher Position:
Careman & Conference Assistant Biography:
Arnold is the Careman and Conference Assistant for Legal-Island. He came to Northern Ireland in March 2005 and joined the company in September 2009. He has previous experience in conferences within hotels in Italy.
If Arnold had been in the film The Great Escape he would have played the role of The Fixer for there is nothing this man cannot fix - usually with a hair clip or coat hanger wire.
View Arnold's Training Portfolio
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Name:
Jenny Flanagan Position:
Housekeeper Biography:
Jenny was born and bred in Belfast but now lives in Greenisland. She has 2 grown-up children who’ve given her three wonderful grandsons – although when they come to visit it’s bedlam. She is a member of a local pub quiz team, who she says do ‘quite well’ every week – I wonder is it the Egg Heads?
Jenny enjoys exercise, and swimming one night per week is her favourite activity, although she also enjoys ‘pottering’ in her garden and reading. On cold and dark nights, nothing beats a good movie and a glass of wine for our experienced housekeeper!
click here to view my training portfolio.
