Principal Legal Officer

Principal Legal Officer

Department: Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO), Litigation Division 1
Location: Lanyon Plaza, 7 Lanyon Place, Belfast, BT1 3LP
Grade: Principal Legal Officer - Grade 7
Salary: £61,673 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week

The Role

The Departmental Solicitor's Office (DSO) Litigation Division provides legal advice and representation to Northern Ireland Departments across a broad range of litigation, including Judicial Review, employer's liability and personal injury matters.

Team 4 provides legal representation in Judicial Review and other varied litigation, including personal injury actions in the County Court and High Court. The team has carriage of litigation for the Department of Education, Parole Commissioner cases for the Department of Justice, the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland, and insolvency proceedings relating to Directors' Disqualification and Official Receiver cases.

The successful candidate will join an agile and responsive legal team and will provide high-quality litigation advice and representation to client departments.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Providing legal advice and representation to client departments, particularly the Department of Education, the Department of Justice and the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland, in litigation before the High Court, County Court, Judicial Review Court and Court of Appeal.
• Providing advice and representation in insolvency proceedings before the Bankruptcy Master or Chancery Court.
• Working collaboratively with clients and Counsel to draft pleadings, prepare affidavits and compile exhibit bundles.
• Attending client consultations and providing effective legal advice and representation throughout the litigation process.
• Undertaking advocacy as required.
• Providing a high-quality litigation service to clients in accordance with Service Level Agreement requirements.
• Supporting the Assistant Director as part of an agile, responsive and collaborative legal team.

The above list is not exhaustive but provides an indication of the demands and responsibilities of the role.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must:

• Be a qualified solicitor or barrister at substantive Principal Legal Officer or Deputy Principal Legal Officer level, employed in a permanent legal post in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS).
• Have not less than three years' Post Qualification Experience (PQE).
• Have at least three years' professional experience of delivering a litigation service to clients.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of conducting insolvency proceedings.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for an experienced legal professional with strong litigation experience who can provide high-quality advice and representation across a varied caseload. The successful candidate will be able to work effectively with client departments, Counsel and colleagues, manage competing priorities and contribute positively to an agile legal team.

Experience of insolvency proceedings would be an advantage.

Additional Information

• Applicants must meet the essential criteria to be shortlisted
• This is a full-time post, however applications for part-time hours and alternative working patterns will be considered
• The position is based within the Commercial & Property Law Division, Departmental Solicitor's Office, Lanyon Plaza, Belfast
• The post is subject to CTC clearance

How to Apply

If you are interested and available for this position, please upload your CV to the link or contact Hannah Fitzsimons on 02890242824 ext 302 for further information.