New “Equality & Diversity Law” Professional Certificate
UCD Sutherland School of Law is pleased to announce the launch of an innovative Professional Certificate in Equality & Diversity Law, starting in January 2026. The certificate is designed to equip legal professionals, HR managers, trade unionists, policy officers, and equality advocates with advanced knowledge and practical skills in EU and Irish equality and diversity law. Please email queries in relation to the certificate to (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie.
Equality & Diversity Law is a ten credit certificate and will run in hybrid format. Teaching will include Zoom tutorials, readings, videos and handouts from late January 2026, plus six, in-person, evening classes over a two-week period in mid-April.
Designed and led by (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Sara Benedí Lahuerta, a leading expert in EU equality and labour law, and taught by expert academics and practitioners in EU and Irish equality and labour law - including (opens in a new window)Adjunct Professor Anthony Kerr SC, (opens in a new window)Professor Dagmar Schiek, and (opens in a new window)Assistant Professor Judy Walsh - the course explores key EU directives and case law, how they are implemented in Ireland, and how they shape real-world challenges in employment, public services, and civil society.
Topics will include:
- Discrimination in employment and beyond (race, gender, disability, age, religion, etc.)
- Equal pay and the new EU Pay Transparency Directive
- Hate speech, free expression and equality
- Work-Life balance, flexible working, working time
- Atypical work, platform labour, precarious employment
- The role of trade unions and collective bargaining in advancing equality
- Enforcement mechanisms and equality bodies
The course also includes two bonus online masterclasses on:
- Pay gap reporting: practical tips for gender, disability and race pay reports, by (opens in a new window)Dr Alex Patrick and (opens in a new window)Ms Jennifer Keane.
- Artificial Intelligence and discrimination, by (opens in a new window)Dr Fabian Lutz.
Applications can be made at this link (Direct Entry to B400). There are a number of 10 credit certificate options so applicants should note in their personal statements that “Equality & Diversity Law” is their selected Certificate. Queries can be emailed to (opens in a new window)lawdiplomas@ucd.ie.
“Equality & Diversity Law” is also offered as an LLM module for Law Master’s Students (see details at LAW42320)