Law - Company Secretarial Law & Practice

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

Who should attend?
This course is suitable for the following:

Solicitors who offer company secretarial services or who advise clients in this area,

In-house lawyers,

Those looking to develop their company secretarial skills and knowledge with a view to developing new opportunities and offering new services to existing clients,
Company secretaries and their teams, and

Suitably qualified corporate governance and compliance professionals looking to develop their legal knowledge and practical skills in this growing area.

We welcome applications for this course from suitably qualified non-members. Please explain your interest and set out any relevant experience in a cover letter and a brief CV. 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.

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

Delivery Method
Lectures Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm and webcast online, with occasional Saturday workshops. Also available to view on demand.

Start Date Wednesday 7 February 2024 at 6:00 PM