Legal Officer - Adjudicator

Legal Officer - Adjudicator

Location: Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland, Belfast
Pay: £47,304 per annum
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday
Contract: Temporary ongoing
Hours: 37 per week

Staffline Recruitment Ireland is currently recruiting a Legal Officer - Adjudicator for the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland, based in Belfast.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified legal professional to play a key role in the administration of civil legal aid, ensuring applications are assessed fairly, efficiently, and in accordance with statutory requirements.

The Role

The Legal Services Agency is responsible for determining the legal merits of applications for civil legal services submitted by the legal profession. As a Legal Officer - Adjudicator, you will assess applications for civil legal aid, provide legal guidance, support appeals processes, and contribute to the delivery of high-quality legal services.

Key Responsibilities

• Adjudicate on the merits of applications for civil legal aid
• Ensure applicants satisfy the statutory criteria for the granting of legal aid
• Grant, issue, refuse, discharge, revoke, and reinstate civil legal aid certificates as appropriate
• Manage staff dealing with specific categories of legal work
• Provide advice and guidance to legal representatives on legal aid matters
• Deliver a proactive, customer-focused, efficient, and effective service to applicants and their legal representatives
• Meet quantitative and qualitative performance standards
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to manage workflows, achieve key performance indicators, and facilitate access to justice
• Participate in internal redetermination and review panels
• Support management in delivering corporate, policy, and strategic objectives
• Prepare case notes for matters proceeding to the Civil Legal Services Appeals Panel
• Draft responses to Subject Access Requests, Freedom of Information requests, and complaints within required timescales
• Draft or assist with drafting pre-action protocol responses where the Agency is challenged by way of Judicial Review
• Assist with quality assurance processes
• Work collaboratively with senior managers and a range of internal and external stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, Audit Office, Equality Commission, and other partner organisations

Essential Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be qualified as a barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in Northern Ireland and hold a current practising certificate, or be in a position to do so by the commencement of the assignment
• Demonstrate post-qualification experience working as part of a team providing sound legal advice and representation to clients
• Have strong decision-making, analytical, and organisational skills
• Be able to work effectively within a team environment and manage competing priorities
• Possess excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in civil litigation

Additional Information

• Hybrid working arrangements available
• Security Clearance: Access NI or other levels of security may be required for this position
• To be shortlisted for this role, applicants must meet the essential criteria.

How to Apply

If you are interested and available for this position, please submit your CV via the application link or contact Hannah Fitzsimons on [email protected]