An online Advanced Diploma in Public Procurement Law at King's Inns, Ireland's renowned law school, provides participants with a comprehensive and practical knowledge of the public procurement regime in Ireland and the EU.
Public purchasing is now central to the internal market. Three new EU directives were adopted in 2014 and implemented in Ireland in May 2016, meaning that public procurement law is a crucial, fast-moving and complex area of law. In recent years, the area has also led to increased litigation, where disputes between disappointed tenderers and contracting authorities play out in the courts.
Undertaking large or small contracts
To stay competitive and appreciate the complex legal framework in which public procurement operates, gaining a practical understanding of the law in Ireland and the EU is vital for all procurement professionals and businesses undertaking large or small contracts.
The highly sought-after advanced diploma in Public Procurement Law, currently in its eighth year, returns to King's Inns this October 2022. Its focus is on providing participants with a comprehensive and practical knowledge of the public procurement regime, including the recent amendments.
It addresses various issues in-depth, from invitations to tender to conduct the different procurement processes, selection of tenderers, tender evaluation, contract conclusion and procurement litigation.
Participants also understand how procurement can be used to achieve innovation and promote government policies. They receive a thorough grounding in the differences between the utilities and public sector regimes and the intersection between procurement law and competition, state aid and intellectual property.
The Advanced Diploma attracts procurement professionals, public sector and utility employees, academic and government researchers, policymakers, practising lawyers, regulators and judges.
It would also appeal to any business undertaking large or small public and private contracts within the state. Having a diverse group of professionals studying this course together allows participants to learn from each other, especially during tutorials and Q&A sessions.
'Mix of speakers makes this course attractive to anyone involved in procurement'
"Our speakers include barristers, both junior and senior counsel, partners in many of the top law firms, procurement professionals, high-ranking state legal advisors and members of the judiciary. This mix of speakers makes this course attractive to anyone involved in procurement”, said Dr Aoife Beirne BL, one of the designers and lead lecturers for this course.
"The wealth of the speakers' legal knowledge and practical experience in the area of public procurement law helps each participant to understand the legal framework in which public procurement operates and the complicated legal issues which can arise."
Dr Beirne is a barrister based at the Bar of Ireland, with a civil, commercial and European-based practice, including public procurement law. She jointly co-ordinates the course with Dr Catherine Donnelly SC, a leading procurement legal practitioner.
Starting in October, the course will take approximately 18 weeks to complete, with lectures on Wednesdays from 8.30am to 10am from October to March. It will be delivered in an online format only, live via Zoom, with recordings of lectures available after class is over.
There will also be some live, unrecorded sessions, including a panel discussion with leading experts and a lecture from a member of the judiciary. This course delivery allows people to participate regardless of their geographical location.
The course fee is €2,550, and to be awarded the Advanced Diploma, a participant must complete one written assessment successfully. There are no admission requirements for this course. However, a place on the highly sought-after course is not secured until the course fee is received in full.
The application deadline for the course is midnight on Sunday, September 25, 2022. To view the class schedule and the list of expert speakers for this course and apply for this Advanced Diploma, visit the King's Inns website.