Public Affairs Ireland

Public Sector Legal Forum 2026

Enabling Better Public Decisions. Managing Risk. Strengthening Public Trust.

One day. Five Group Study CPD hours. Practical insights. Peer networking. Future-focused legal practice.

About the Event

The role of the public sector lawyer is evolving.

Today’s legal professionals are no longer just interpreters of the law. They are trusted advisers, helping organisations navigate complexity, manage risk and enable confident, legally robust decision-making.

PAI’s Public Sector Legal Forum 2026 brings together legal professionals from Government Departments, Local Authorities, State Agencies, Regulators and the wider public service to explore the cross-cutting issues shaping today’s public legal practice.

Through practical case studies, expert insights and peer discussion, delegates will examine how to balance legal risk with organisational priorities, strengthen governance, embrace artificial intelligence responsibly and deliver advice that supports better public outcomes.

Why Now?

The Government’s recently published Risk Appetite Statement signals an important shift in how the public service approaches risk: not as something to be avoided, but as something to be understood, managed and owned in the pursuit of better public outcomes.

As public bodies are encouraged to make timely, informed decisions and deliver with greater confidence, the role of the public sector lawyer has never been more important.

Legal advisers are increasingly expected not only to identify legal risk, but to help organisations understand it, manage it and make confident decisions within an agreed risk appetite.

The Public Sector Legal Forum 2026 has been designed around this evolving landscape, equipping legal professionals with the practical insights, tools and peer learning needed to support better decision-making while upholding the highest standards of governance, accountability and public trust.

Why PAI?

Unlike traditional legal CPD providers, PAI understands the unique environment in which public sector lawyers operate.

Our programmes are designed specifically for professionals working across the public service, where legal advice must balance governance, accountability, policy, public trust and organisational delivery.

Rather than focusing on a single area of law, this conference explores the common challenges faced by every public sector legal team, creating a unique opportunity to learn from peers, share experiences and build a stronger public sector legal community.

Choose Your Package

Complete Package eLearning Modules

• Dignity at Work
• Business Ethics
• Office Management Mastery: Streamlining Efficiency and Collaboration
• Plain Language for Public Sector Lawyers
• Legal Discovery
• Neurodivergent Support in the Workplace
• Understanding GDPR
• Cybersecurity Essentials: Staying Ahead of Threats
• Understanding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• How to Deal with Difficult Customers
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: Navigating Compliance and Change
• Anti-Money Laundering in Focus
• Understanding Data Breaches
• Client Care and Professional Standards
• Protected Disclosures: Legal Framework and Core Obligations
• Protected Disclosures: Legal Nuances, Reporting and Compliance
• Litigation Risk in Climate, Infrastructure and Planning Decisions
• Emergency Powers and Crisis Decision-Making in the Public Sector

Public Sector Legal Forum 2026

Enabling Better Public Decisions. Managing Risk. Strengthening Public Trust.

Book Your Place