Employment Law Seminars - All Events
Events
Equality Law in Northern Ireland Update 2010
Cost: | See Below |
Location: | Belfast |
Start Date: | 30 September 2010 |
End Date: | 30 September 2010 |
Event Email Reminder
Full Day
Equality Law is ever-changing, from the areas of age and disability discrimination, to the legal issues involved in employing migrant workings and the implications of the GB Equality Act 2010 for NI Equality Law. Major cases from 2009 and 2010 highlight the trends and likely developments in the quality field to be expected in 2011 and beyond. Employment law practitioners, other representatives at tribunals and senior HR professionals have to keep up-to-date with developments in theses area if they are to defend or pursue cases successfully. You need to know what has changed in order to give the latest, practical and correct advice.
Description
What will I get out of this Update?
Speakers at past events have been asked to concentrate on important case law and useful arguments; the ratio and how these decisions impact on existing law. We bring together some of the most experienced and respected equality lawyers to give you a comprehensive overview, with detailed notes, of all of the major changes to have occurred in the year prior to this event.
Event Programme:
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9.30am | My legs are grey. My ears are gnarled. My eyes are old and bent. The areas of discrimination that are causing employers and their representatives the most trouble are age and disability. Stephen Mearns, Head of Employment, John Ross and Son, sets out the latest case law developments and highlights lessons for us all. Also – practical guidance on how employers can prepare for changes to the default retirement age. |
| 10.15am | Implications of the GB Equality Act 2010 for NI Equality Law: April 2010 saw the enactment of the single Equality Act that will draw together the various strands of equality legislation into one Act. It becomes operational from October. Why is it so powerful in the equality field, what are now the gaps between GB and NI equality law and what are the likely implications for NI legal practitioners, HR professionals and employers? Advice and signposts provided by Barry Fitzpatrick, Deputy Director, NICEM |
| 11am | Networking and Break |
| 11.30am | Northern Ireland Case Law: In Northern Ireland we have our own tribunals, our own Appeal Court, our own legislation, our own judiciary (all becoming more important because employment law is a devolved matter) – we review the NI equality case law practitioners need to know about, including recent local cases on part-time workers, pregnancy discrimination, race discrimination, DDA, recruitment, and more . Maxine Orr, Partner Worthingtons Solicitors |
| 12.15pm | Employing Migrant Workers: Legal Issues. Many employers take on workers from overseas but employment of employees from outside the EU is subject to strict conditions. Employers are expected to assist the UK Border Agency in monitoring migrant workers and preventing illegal working. The consequences of failing to comply with immigration requirements can be serious - for employers and individuals. What are the safest methods of bringing in non-EU migrants and how can employers safeguard themselves from penalties and potential discrimination claims when recruiting from overseas? We set out the dangers and provide practical guidance for employers. Angus Menzies, Senior Associate, McGrigors Solicitors |
| 1pm | Networking and Lunch |
| 2pm | Whatever next? We present a round-up of the remaining important recent cases (including ECJ) from 2009/10 and highlight trends and likely developments in the equality field to expect in 2011 and beyond. Signposting and analysis by Beverley Jones, Senior Partner, Jones Cassidy Jones |
| 2.45pm | Networking and Break |
| 3pm | Developments in Equal Pay: Very few issues are as potentially costly to employers – the NI civil service is currently facing the cost of thousands of equal pay settlements. In GB multi-million pound awards are commonplace. Rosemary Connolly, Partner, Rosemary Connolly Solicitors sets out the latest and most important developments in the last 12-18 months and advises employers how best to protect themselves. |
| 3.45pm | S.75 Revised Equality Scheme Guidance: This year saw new guidelines by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to move the equality agenda forward. We keep you up to date with the new guidelines and assist you in addressing the practical measures your organisation needs to make to meet these new guidelines. Patrice Hardy, Policy and Development Division, ECNI |
| 4.30pm | Close |
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed with experienced employment law practitioners and HR professionals in mind. NOTE: speakers on this course are asked to assume that delegates have a sound knowledge of equality law. This event is not suitable for beginners in this field.
Duration ~ Date ~ Location
Full Day Legal Event: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Thursday 30th September 2010
Hilton Hotel, Lanyon Place, Belfast
Cost
Standard Rate: £429+VAT ~ Charity Rate: £343+VAT
All organisations with fewer than 50 employees or registered charities (registered at the time of booking) qualify for the Charity Rate. The number of employees includes all branches, subsidiary/parent companies, boards, trusts and federated organisations.
Save an additional £20 if you book and pay online.
How to Book:
Pay Online: Each event page has a link to the booking form at the top. Just fill in the form and click 'Continue'. You can pay by credit card and your details will be sent to us. Confirmation of your booking will be sent to you by email.
Reserve Online - Alternatively, if you require an invoice before paying you can reserve a place online. To reserve a place online click here.
Speakers
Stephen Mearns – John Ross & Son
Stephen Mearns studied Law in Portobello College, Dublin and completed a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in the University of Wales, Cardiff. Stephen represented the Northern Ireland Law Society in the Louis M Brown International Client Counselling Competition in Durban, South Africa in 2002 where he was a Semi-finalist.
He went on to qualify as a solicitor in Northern Ireland at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 2003. Stephen joined John Ross and Son in 2008 and runs the firms Employment Law Clinic. He specialises in Employment Law, advising and representing individuals on Human Rights issues, Disability Law, all aspects of Personal Injury Law, Judicial Review, Criminal Law, Contract, Wills, Probate, Professional Conduct Hearings and Extradition matters.
Barry Fitzpatrick – NICEM
Since May 2009, Barry Fitzpatrick has been Deputy Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM).
Barry was a Professor of Law at the University of Ulster between 1995-2002, during which time he was Jean Monnet Professor of European Law (1997-2002) and Head of the Law School (2001-02). He was a law lecturer in universities and polytechnics in England from 1979-1995.
He was Head of Legal Policy & Advice at the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland from 2002-05.
In 2008-09, he worked for Citizens Advice (England & Wales) as Developing Discrimination Advice Co-ordinator.
Barry was also the part-time Chairman of Industrial Tribunals in Northern Ireland from 1998-2002, Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Court for Northern Ireland from 2000 and was been Acting Chairman from March 2006-October 2008.
Maxine Orr – Worthingtons Solicitors
Maxine is a Partner at Worthingtons Solicitors in Belfast. She regularly advises and represents employers on all matters relating to the contract of employment and is a regular speaker at Legal-Island events. She also writes regular emails on NI case law for the Legal-Island email update service.
Angus Menzies – McGrigors
Angus leads McGrigors' UK-wide Business Immigration team. He has 10 years' experience of advising employers on how best to bring non EU nationals to the UK and frequently delivers training and updates to HR professionals, lawyers and managers on all aspects of employment law and business immigration. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association and recent immigration work has included obtaining sponsorship licences for 4 UK subsidiaries of a multi-national entertainment group and bringing in employees under Tier 2, as well as numerous successful Tier 1 applications.
Beverley Jones – Jones Cassidy Jones Solicitors
Beverley Jones is a Partner in Jones, Cassidy, Jones Solicitors which combines extensive litigation and advisory work in the field of employment and anti-discrimination law. In 1992, Beverley was the expert to the European Commission and prepared the working document on Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value which led to a European Memorandum on the issue and a Code of Practice.
Rosemary Connolly – Rosemary Connolly Solicitors
Rosemary is a leading employment and discrimination lawyer having advised and represented a large number of parties before Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals in Northern Ireland.
Patrice Hardy – Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
Patrice is currently Policy Manager – Statutory Duties, with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and is leading on the revision of the Section 75 Guide to the Statutory Duties for Public Authorities. Patrice has worked for the Equality Commission for almost 10 years in a variety of roles, including Policy Manager for the Disability Duties and prior to that, roles in the Promotion and Education Division with responsibility for the development of Equality Campaigns, Codes of Practice, Training and Education materials.
Prior to this Patrice worked in management roles for 8 years in voluntary sector organisations in Northern Ireland, including NI Chest, Heart and Stroke Association, Victim Support and The Cedar Foundation. Patrice graduated from Queens University in 1992 with a BSC Honours degree.
Here's what delegates from the Equality Law in Northern Ireland Update last year had to say:
“Excellent. Time well spent in pondering the impacts of the latest developments on our business and services. Case law updates were also ideal – providing something different to just legal updates.” Jim Glackin, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
“The speakers were very good, particularly Maxine Orr and Rosemary Connolly. There was a lot of up-to-date information on case law and legislation, which is essential in my role and I am not a lawyer so this update is vital.” Paul McIlwaine, Probation Board for Northern Ireland
