Clerical Officer

Overview of the Role

The key features of the role are:

Clerical Officers in the Legal Aid Board carry out a range of duties which can vary with work assignment. They provide essential clerical and administrative support to the many functions of the Board. Clerical Officers are often the initial contact point for members of the public and can play a crucial role in informing the public about the Board’s services, and in directing them to other agencies that may be able to meet their needs.

The Legal Aid Board has two Law Centres and one Family Mediation office located in Cork (city centre).

A Clerical Officer in the Legal Aid Board can fill many different roles including but not limited to;

·      General administrative work including; filing, photocopying, answering and making telephone calls, dealing with emails, reception duties, drafting letters

·      Supporting line managers and colleagues

·      Working as part of a team in delivering services

·      Communicating and dealing with clients e.g., responding to queries and providing information via telephone or email

·      Providing the highest standards of customer service

·      Using Information Technology on a daily basis e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, database, emails and internet

·      Maintaining high quality records in a thorough and organised manner

·      Checking all work thoroughly to ensure it is completed to a high standard

·      Approaching work in a careful and methodical manner, displaying accuracy at all time, even when conducting repetitive work

Clerical Officer Competencies

Candidates should demonstrate the skills and capabilities under the six main competencies identified for this role:

·      Team Work

·      Information Management and Processing

·      Delivery of Results

·      Customer Service and Communication Skills

·      Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development

·      Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values

Candidates to be called for interview may be shortlisted on the basis of the information provided in the Application Forms.

Essential entry requirements

Candidates must by the closing date of the competition;

·      Have the requisite fluency, knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out the role

·      Have an appropriate level and experience of relevant ICT skills, e.g., proficiency in Word, Excel and email.

·      Be at least 17 years of age

·      Fulfil Citizenship, Garda Vetting Clearance and Reference check requirements – further information below

·      Ensure that they meet the criteria regarding Public and Civil Service Redundancy, Ill health Retirement Schemes

·      Demonstrate the skills and capabilities under the competencies identified for this role.

As an Employer of Choice, the Civil Service has many flexible and family friendly policies e.g. Work-sharing, Shorter Working Year, Remote Working (operated on a ‘blended’ basis) etc.  All elective policies can be applied for in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions and are subject to the business needs of the organisation and on a case-by-case basis.

The Civil Service also operates a Mobility scheme for all general service grades. This scheme provides staff with career opportunities to learn and partake in diverse roles across a range of Civil Service organisations and geographical locations.

Principal Conditions of Service

General

The appointment is to a position of Clerical Officer in the Legal Aid Board. Employees of the Legal Aid Board are Civil Service and are subject to the Civil Service Regulations Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and any other Act for the time being in force relating to the Civil Service.

Pay

Clerical Officer PPC Salary Scale – from 1st February 2026

605.69 - 949.31 per week

Tenure and Probation

The appointment may be to a permanent or temporary position in the Civil Service.

The probationary contract will be for a period of one year from the date specified on the contract.

The contract for a temporary position will be for a period specified in the contract. Candidates offered a fixed term contract post from this competition will remain under consideration for any future permanent posts. Notwithstanding this paragraph and the paragraph immediately following below, this will not preclude an extension of the probationary contract in appropriate circumstances.

During the period of your probationary contract, your performance will be subject to review by your supervisor(s) to determine whether you –

·      have performed in a satisfactory manner,

·      have been satisfactory in general conduct, and

·      are suitable from the point of view of health with particular regard to sick leave.

.

Prior to the completion of the probationary contract a decision will be made as to whether or not you will be retained pursuant to Section 5A (2) Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956–2005. This decision will be based on your performance assessed against the criteria set out in (i) to (iii) above. The detail of the probationary process will be explained to you by the Legal Aid Board and you will be given a copy of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s guidelines on probation.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs in this section, the probationary contract may be terminated at any time prior to the expiry of the term of the contract by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005.

In certain circumstances your contract may be extended and your probation period suspended. The extension must be agreed by both parties.

·      The probationary period stands suspended when an employee is absent due to Maternity or Adoptive Leave.

·      In relation to an employee absent on Parental Leave or Carers Leave, the employee may require probation to be suspended if the absence is not considered to be consistent with the continuation of the probation.

·      Any other statutory provision providing that probations shall –

               i.           Stand suspended during an employee’s absence from work, and

              ii.          Be completed by the employee on the employees return from work after such absence.

When the probation is suspended the employer should notify the employee of the circumstances relating to the suspension.

All appointees will serve a one-year probationary period.  If an appointee who fails to satisfy the conditions of probation has been a serving civil servant immediately prior to their appointment from this competition, the issue of reversion will normally arise.  In the event of reversion, an officer will return to a vacancy in their former grade in their former Department.