Thursday, 06 March 2025
09:15 - 15:30 (6 hrs)
In Person
Join us as we gather leading education lawyers and experts together to provide Northern Ireland school leaders with updates on the latest trends, changes, and upcoming developments in employment law.
Strikes, Agnew and Stormont's revival - it’s been a year of change for NI employment law – are you up to date on what it means for your school?
Join us as we gather leading education lawyers and experts together to provide Northern Ireland school leaders with updates on the latest trends, changes, and upcoming developments in employment law.
From GDPR, and workplace bullies to AI, we’ll get you up to speed on the law and give you practical tips that you can implement NOW!
And, as an added bonus, bring your employment law questions and have them answered by our experts on the day in the ‘Tricky Questions’ session.
Here's what to expect throughout the day.
Agnew, Stormont's revival and the ‘Good Jobs’ consultation - it’s been a year of change for NI employment law. Find out the latest developments relating to:
School Complaints Policies
‘Good Jobs’ Employment Bill
Draft Programme for Government
Working Time Regulations
- Teaching staff
- Non-teaching staff
Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave)
Seamus McGranaghan, Director, O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors provides detailed notes and a checklist of recommendations to help keep you up to date and out of tribunal.
NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments in employment law relevant to school leaders at 6th March and may differ from the above topics.
Grab a tea or coffee and network.
Technology has many benefits but also has many drawbacks when incorrectly used or when it seemingly interferes with a school’s ability to properly teach or govern.
In this session, Aisling Byrne, Partner A&L Goodbody, Employment & Data Protection considers these technology-related issues in Northern Ireland’s schools:
How can you ensure critical information is shared appropriately while respecting privacy law?
Discover best practices for managing sensitive student information, ensuring it is handled with care and confidentiality.
What should be included in your policies and procedures that not only complies with legal standards, but also fosters a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students and staff?
Recent relevant Data Protection Developments.
NOTE: This session will consist of what our speaker considers to be the most important developments in data protection law relevant to school leaders on 6th March and may differ from the above topics.
In this dynamic session, discover how generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can rapidly enhance the skills of your entire school community—from senior leadership to newly qualified teachers, and every pupil too.
Enjoy something to eat (light lunch is provided), stretch your legs, and network with your peers.
Bullies 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 N. Ireland.
Our expert will discuss:
This is your chance to put your tricky questions to the employment law experts.
Seamus McGranaghan of O’Reilly Stewart and Aisling Byrne of A&L Goodbody return to answer your tricky questions from throughout the day! Submit one now via email or raise it on the day.
If you have a tricky question of your own, drop us a line before the event and we'll put it to the team. Email gosia@legal-island.com
Here's what our previous attendees had to say about Northern Ireland Schools' Legal Update.
Seamus McGranaghan qualified as a Solicitor in O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in 2003 and is an experienced Commercial Lawyer dealing with employment, commercial and education cases.
He has experience in the Industrial Tribunal representing both Claimants and Respondents and has provided seminars in relation to particular areas of employment law. Seamus is the only member of the Education and Law Association in Northern Ireland. He specialises in advising schools and colleges on policy matters, employment issues and student welfare. He is also responsible for the Education Law Quarterly Review.
In addition to having contributed at Legal Island’s Education Updates since 2010, Seamus in association with Legal Island provides a live “Employment Law @ 11” webinar on the first Friday of each month, dealing with all aspects of Employment law affecting Northern Irish employers.
Aisling Byrne is Partner in A&L Goodbody's Employment & Incentives group in Belfast and has over 20 years of experience in advising on employment and equality law. Aisling advises on contentious employment litigation, employment aspects of commercial transactions and procurement.
John graduated with a degree in music from Newcastle University, before completing teacher training at Durham University. He went on to specialise in Educational Assessment, undertaking a masters in the area at Durham University.
John worked as a music teacher in the North East of England before taking up post as a Director in a large 3-19 Academy in Northumberland. In 2015, he moved out of the classroom and began working for the NI Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). Within the Northern Ireland awarding organisation, John held a number of key positions, most recently with responsibility for Standards and Assessment Development as part of the senior leadership team.
John took up his role as Director of ASCL Northern Ireland in September 2023.
