Law - Company Secretarial Law & Practice

Start Date Wednesday 7 February 2024 at 6:00 PM

€1,725.00

Solicitors and Trainees
To pay online click on the 'Book Now' button, otherwise please complete one of the application forms, containing our bank details, in the Download section below and send it to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie, indicating in your cover email should you need an invoice to pay by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) or if you wish to pay by card over the phone.

Other Professionals
We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified professionals. Please note, for non-members this course is subject to a supplemental fee of €175 bringing the total course fee to €1,900. No fees are required prior to approval. To apply please email the following documents to diplomateam@lawsociety.ie :

Completed application form (see below)
Curriculum Vitae
Short cover letter setting out your relevant experience

The closing date for applications for this course is Wednesday 24 January 2024.

Programme structure and approach to learning
Jointly awarded by the Law Society of Ireland and the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) , this certificate offers a practical insight into company secretarial requirements in Ireland. The requirement in the Companies Act 2014 obligating the directors of a company to appoint a suitably qualified individual to the position of company secretary has enhanced the company secretary’s position as the principal legal administrative and compliance officer within a company. The duties and responsibilities of the company secretary vary depending on the industry in question and the type of company involved. With an increased focus on the need for effective governance in the current climate, the position has expanded in many companies, and the scope of the role has moved beyond corporate compliance to become a focal point for advice about governance, compliance, and the conduct of business.

This established course focuses on the procedural requirements of company secretarial practice and aims to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the company law framework and key corporate governance provisions under the Companies Act.

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

Module 1: Company law, the secretary, the board and members
The role and legal duties of the company secretary,
The Companies Act – structure and key provisions,
The company incorporation process.

Module 2: Corporate compliance
Maintaining the statutory registers,
Types of members’ and directors’ resolutions,
Annual returns and financial statements,
Corporate governance.

Module 3: Corporate compliance 2 - shares
Summary approvals procedure,
Share capital – allotment, variation and transfer,
Redemption and buyback.

Module 4: Corporate compliance 3 - wind up
Types of company wind-up,
Strike-off and restoration.

Module 5: Public limited company
An introduction to the company Secretarial requirements of a PLC.

Workshops
Workshops are interactive sessions that focus on group problem-solving and are designed to revise all modules covered to date and to consolidate the participant’s knowledge.

Workshop Title Date Time
1 Company Law, The Secretary, The Board And Members 23 March 2024 9.30am – 4pm
2 Corporate Compliance based on Course Sessions 4-6 13 April 2024 10am – 12.30pm
3 Corporate Compliance based on Course Session 8-10 20 April 2024 10am – 3pm
4 Exam Preparation 27 April 2024 10am – 12pm

Three-hour written examination.

CPD Hours
The number of hours of CPD that you may claim in relation to this course will depend on the way in which you access each of the individual sessions. For further information and the booklet, see https://www.lawsociety.ie/Solicitors/rules-legislation/CPD-Scheme

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

Identify the scope, role, and functions of the company secretary, and apply them in the employing or client organisation;

Critically evaluate the role of company secretary as an advisor to the board;

Ensure effective communication and dissemination of information to and from the board, both internally and externally, for the optimum benefit of the organisation;

Discuss and report on the law and best practice in key functional matters (for example, meetings and share capital management);

Identify required actions arising from statutory obligations and best practice in terms of financial, compliance and governance reporting and disclosure;

Apply statutory requirements and good practice in relation to shareholder related communications;

Ensure compliance with CRO filing requirements;

Explain the company law framework in Ireland as governed by the Companies Act 2014 as amended.

Course Leader: Geraldine Rafferty, Course Leader: g.rafferty@lawsociety.ie