Schools’ Legal Update 2024
Legal Island, alongside the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), bring together the top lawyers working in education and experts in employment law to update school leaders in Ireland on the most important developments you need to understand before 2024.
The teaching profession is becoming a more difficult job year on year. Problems with the behaviour of pupils, rising expectations of parents and increased class sizes and budget cuts have all combined to often produce a marked deterioration in the working life experience of a school leader.
From recent case law to emerging data protection and technology requirements, our comprehensive and topical programme ensures Principals and other school leaders are equipped with knowledge and tools to mitigate risks and avoid costly mistakes.
Get involved in dynamic discussions, connect with like-minded leaders, and leave equipped with actionable insights to safeguard your school's future during these challenging times.
Who is this event for?
This practical seminar will be particularly valuable to school Principals, Vice Principals and other school leaders, including teaching unions.
Why should you attend?
In the rapidly evolving field of employment law, it's crucial to grasp how recent legislation and case law impact school policies. Our programme provides you with the opportunity to delve into complex issues alongside experts and peers, ensuring you're informed about the latest in data protection, technology, and other current topics affecting schools.
In association with:
Programme
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Schools’ Legal Update in Ireland 2024 |
Time |
Session |
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9:15 |
Get to Know UsFamiliarise yourself with the functions of our online event to ensure you maximise return on your investment. Julie Holmes, Legal Island, welcomes delegates to our 2024 event. |
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9:20 |
Welcome and IntroductionPaul Crone, Director, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) NOTE: all the following sessions are being recorded and delegates will be sent links after the event for all recordings, which can be viewed until the end of the academic year and used for revision or staff training purposes. |
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9:30 |
School Employment Law Update 2024Join us as we dive into the latest developments in employment law. We'll break down recent case law with real-life examples, giving you the scoop on what's changed and how to tackle the latest twists. Antoinette Vahey, Partner and Employment Lead for the Education team at RDJ LLP explains what these developments mean for schools as employers in Ireland:
This session includes 15 minutes for Q&A NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments in employment law relevant to school leaders in December 2024 and may differ from the above topics. |
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10:25 |
Q&A |
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10:40 |
Comfort Break |
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11:10 |
Rights, Rules, and GDPRAs school leaders, the safety of students and staff is a top priority, and this includes their personal data. As the government finalises new guidelines in Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations, Duncan Inverarity from A&L Goodbody LLP looks at the interplay between the rights of individual students and your duty of care to the entire school community from a GDPR perspective:
This session includes 10 minutes for Q&A. NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments in data protection law relevant to school leaders in December 2024 and may differ from the above topics. |
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11:50 |
Q&A |
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12.00 |
Comfort Break |
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12.10 |
Latest Education Legal Trends and DevelopmentsDr Claire O’Connor BL is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading barristers in education law. In this session, Claire runs through key education law issues that impact on most schools in Ireland, including:
This session includes 15 minutes for Q&A. NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments relevant to school leaders in December 2024 and may differ from the above topics. |
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12:55 |
Q&A |
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13:10 |
Lunch |
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14:10
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From Schoolyard to Staffroom: Bullies in the WorkplaceBullies don't just disappear after school ends—they can surface in surprising places, even in the workplace. Join us for an insightful session where we examine the nuances of workplace bullying, specifically tailored for the education sector in Ireland. Michelle Halloran, MD of Halloran HR Resolutions Ltd, discusses:
This session includes 15 minutes for Q&A. |
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14:45 |
Q&A |
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15:00 |
From Classroom to CourtroomAs school leaders and educators, managing students with challenging and disruptive behaviours is a significant part of your daily responsibilities.Elizabeth-Ann Kirwan BL, an expert with a unique blend of experience as both an educator and a legal professional, is here to provide invaluable guidance. Elizabeth-Ann brings her extensive knowledge on Section 29 hearings and subsequent appeals to the High Court regarding suspensions and expulsions.Elizabeth-Ann focuses on how you can create a safe and effective learning environment by discussing:
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15:45 – 16:00 |
Closing remarks from Paul Crone |
Testimonials
"Very informative, practical and reassuring... I enjoyed the online venue for this as I I could really concentrate on the information"
Jenny Costello, Principal, St. Tiernan's Community School, Dublin
"Well structured, excellent format, had each of my questions answered through the chair. Each session excellent and practical. Just keep doing what you are doing. Looking forward to next year."
Marian Flynn, Deputy Principal, DDLETB
"Detailed and informative course which answered practical questions. I would highly recommend this event. Well done all."
Tracey Groome, Deputy Principal, Midleton CBS
"Without a doubt the best in-service I have attended in years. A well structured day and excellent speakers."
Frances Kerry - La Rosa, Deputy Principal, Mountmellick Community School
Presenters
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Antoinette Vahey Partner
RDJ LLP
Antoinette is a Partner, practicing as part of the Employment law team. She brings practical and strategic legal advice to clients in a range of areas such as wrongful and unfair dismissal; discrimination; absenteeism and work related stress; performance management; temporary and contingent workers; collective redundancies; restrictive covenants and severance agreements.
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Duncan Inverarity Partner, Head of Employment Law Practice Group
A&L Goodbody
Duncan is Head of A&L Goodbody's Employment Law Group and has practiced exclusively in the area of employment law and industrial relations in multiple jurisdictions. Duncan advises public and private sector employers on both contentious and non-contentious matters. He advises Boardrooms across Ireland and abroad on strategic and complex employment and industrial relations matters. Duncan also specialises in crisis management for clients and has advised on some of the most high profile corporate issues in Ireland. Duncan regularly appears for clients in the Workplace Relations Commission, the Circuit Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Duncan also acts for partnerships in mediated settlements and in proceedings in the High Court.
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Claire O'Connor BL BEd. (DCU), MEd. (UCD), ARIAM, DipLS, Barrister at Law, PhD (DCU)
Claire O’Connor is a practising barrister for twelve years and specialises in the area of Law and Education. Additionally, she lectures in the Honorable Society of Kings Inns on the Barrister-at-Law Degree Programme where she is also one of the course co-ordinators for the Advanced Diploma in Law and Education. Claire also serves as an elected member of Dublin City Council for the Pembroke area.
In 2012 Claire completed her Ph.D. in the area of Constitutional Law for which she was awarded a Government of Ireland Scholarship. Her thesis is entitled 'An examination of the constitutional, legal and policy position of parents as partners in primary education in Ireland'. She holds the degree of Masters in Education from University College Dublin. Claire has guest lectured in NUI Maynooth, Trinity College, Dublin City University, the Law Society and Griffith College. She began her career as a primary teacher and taught for seven years in Ireland, Spain and Australia.
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Michelle Halloran Trainer
MH Human Resource Management Services Solutions
Michelle Halloran is an experienced Human Resource Management professional and an accredited workplace mediator providing training and consultancy services to organisations nationwide, in the Public and Private sector. She has spent a long career originally in executive and general management roles, then specialising in Human Resources management in Ireland, the UK and Europe, across various sectors including investment banking, information technology, manufacturing and services plus some time in the public sector, before starting her own HR consultancy business 17 years ago. Her key areas of expertise are in workplace investigations, disciplinary and performance management and employee relations, and the practical application of employment law in a HR context.
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Paul Crone NAPD
Director
Paul Crone, Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), and formerly Principal of Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght and currently Director of Schools in City of Dublin ETB.