The Law Society of Ireland is inviting creative professionals across Ireland and globally to take part in a massive open online course (MOOC) in arts, entertainment and media law, launching on 7 May 2019.

Widening access

The MOOC is presented by the Diploma Centre and embraces the Law Society of Ireland’s public interest mission to provide access to legal education and the legal profession. Dr. Freda Grealy, head of Diploma Centre at the Law Society of Ireland, says “to date, the Diploma Centre’s MOOCs have attracted over 10,000 participants from over 70 countries since first launching in 2014. The core aim for the MOOCs is to design and deliver a course that fits with the Law Society’s mission to widen access to legal education. MOOCs provide individuals and businesses with a greater understanding of the law, and also provide educational value while highlighting a commitment to embrace technology and provide public legal education online.” The course ‘Arts, entertainment and media law – the issues that take centre stage’ is a free, interactive course open to all and designed to provide a short, incisive overview of law, business practices and commercial realities.

Widespread appeal

The themes of the annual MOOCs at the Society are aligned to topical subject matter areas likely to have widespread appeal for lawyers and non-lawyers alike and cover areas of practice including technology law, data protection, finance, employment law and media, arts and entertainment law. Contributors include Andrea Martin (Media Lawyer Solicitors), Aideen Burke (LK Shields), William Ryan (music law barrister) and  minister for culture, heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan. The course offers 10 CPD points available for completing the MOOC. Says, “we are hoping to have over 3,500 registered to beat our previous record of 3,300 on the Data Protection MOOC 2 years ago. Over the last 5 years we have had 68% of participants from Ireland and 32% international from over 70 different countries which is pretty incredible. 42% have been lawyers and 58% other professions, students.” The course video an sign up can be accessed here.