Law Society recognised by Apple for use of technology

The Law Society of Ireland has received recognition from Apple for its progressive use of the company’s technology to help train solicitors.

Trainee solicitors have been doing their training exclusively on iPads for the past three years.

The Society has now become the first professional educator in Europe to receive the Apple Distinguished Program 2015-2017 accreditation, awarded to outstanding schools and programmes worldwide that are centres of innovation, leadership and educational excellence.

The Society’s iPad 1:1 programme began in 2013, with iPads now incorporated across all PPC modules to facilitate a more interactive approach to learning.

Since 2013, nearly 2,000 trainee solicitors have received iPads.

T P Kennedy, director of education at the Law Society, said: “As the Law Society is the sole provider of solicitor training in Ireland, our vision is to train 21st century solicitors who can meet the exacting requirements of their clients and their firms.

“Modern solicitors not only need to possess an acute understanding of the law and its application, but also need to possess the digital skills necessary to serve their clients in a globalised Ireland. Our iPad programme helps achieve that.

“The old image of a solicitor working with stacks of paper, faxes, and letters is outdated. We appreciate the efficiencies technology can bring to solicitors’ work.

“The fact that the iPads have also saved our trainee solicitors’ backs from dragging heavy books on law around the country is another important benefit.”