Complaints and Resolutions Officers

The Role of the Complaints & Resolutions Officer: The Complaints & Resolutions Officer isrequired to deliver impartial and independent analysis and decision making in complaints relating to legal practitioners. The Complaints & Resolutions Officer is also required to advise senior management in respect of their areas of responsibility and may be called upon to represent the organisation to external stakeholders. The Complaints & Resolutions Officers may be deployed as Inspectors and/or Case Managers.

This position presents a unique opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced candidate with:

• Excellent analysis and decision making skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Experience working in a complaints environment;
• Experience in mediation, problem solving and/or negotiation;
• Experience of statutory interpretation and implementation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities: Amongst the duties assigned to the role, the Complaints & Resolutions Officer will be responsible for:  Reviewing complaints against legal practitioners received by the LSRA;  Determining whether complaints are admissible under the 2015 Act;  Determining the nature of the complaint under the Act and managing all aspects of the processing of the complaint;  Ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements in relation to the processing of complaints;  Managing and facilitating the informal resolution or mediation of complaints;  Determining complaints as required by the 2015 Act;  Accurately recording any determination reached and the rationale behind the determination;  Assisting in the management of appeals of determinations to the Review Committees established under the 2015 Act;  Assisting the Complaints Committee in the investigation and progression of cases before it  Assisting in the prosecution of cases referred to the Legal Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal which may include giving evidence before that Tribunal;  Conducting inspections as directed.  Ensuring that the complainant and the legal practitioner are kept informed of the complaints process throughout.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description should not be regarded as comprehensive in scope and may be added to or altered as required.

Essential Criteria: Applicants must be able to demonstrate how they meet each of the following essential criteria: 1) Be a qualified legal practitioner or/and have experience of dealing with complaints against members of a professional body; 2) A track record of excellent judgement and decision making in a pressured environment and to pressing deadlines; 3) Ability to manage a personal caseload while also managing and supporting a team if required; 4) Ability to deliver to tight deadlines and to take a strategic approach in the delivery of key objectives; 5) Excellent problem solving skills; and 6) Ability to investigate complex matters using an analytical and thorough approach.

Desirable Criteria: Experience in the following areas would also be considered of particular relevance: 1) Experience in mediation or informal resolution of complaints; and 2) Knowledge of the legal sector in Ireland.

The position shall be remunerated at the equivalent of State Solicitor level in the Irish Civil Service. However, it should be noted that a legal qualification is not essential for the role and those that can demonstrate experience of working in a statutory investigative environment will be considered.

The key capability dimension relating to effective performance in the role of Complaints & Resolutions Officer are as follows:  Building Future Readiness.  Evidence Informed Delivery.  Leading & Empowering.  Communicating and Collaborating.

Principal Conditions of Service: General Appointments are on a permanent basis as a public servant as per section 25(4) of the 2015 Act, subject to the satisfactory completion of the specified probationary period.

Salary The salary for the post is based on the starting point on the State Solicitor and Prosecution Solicitor Officer (PPC) scale of €40,208. The relevant scale is as follows (Pay Rates from 01 March 2025) 40,208 – 42,903 – 43,676 – 47,052 – 51,377 – 54,820 – 58,361 – 61,962 – 65,556 – 69,132 – 80,668 – 83,640 – 86,651 – 89,672 – 92,690 – 94,431 – 97,474¹ – 100,530² *Long service increments may be payable after three (LSI-1) and six (LSI-2) years of satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale. Candidates should note that different pay and conditions may apply if, prior to appointment with the Authority, the appointee is/was a serving civil or public servant Salary shall be deemed to accrue from day to day and to be payable in the appointed person’s bank account by equal instalments fortnightly in arrears by electronic funds transfer.

This rate of pay may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

Annual Leave Annual Leave will be 25 working days, rising to 29 after 5 years’ service. This is exclusive of public holidays. Pension The LSRA is a Public Service Body and a relevant authority for the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (SPS). Persons employed by the LSRA will become members of the SPS. Where an employee was already a member of a pre-2013 public service pension scheme, that scheme may apply subject to certain conditions. More information in respect of the Scheme can be found on the website www.singlepensionscheme.gov.ie

Probation The appointee must serve a probationary period, which normally will last for twelve months. Should the appointee’s services be satisfactory as regards health, attendance, conduct and efficiency generally during the probationary period, the appointee, on completion of the period will be finally appointed. Should the appointee’s services be unsatisfactory, the appointment may be terminated at any time during the period. The LSRA may extend the probationary period if necessary.

Duties The appointee will be expected to perform all acts, duties and obligations as appropriate to this position (which may be revised from time to time.)

Hours of Attendance Hours of attendance will be as fixed from time to time but will amount to on average not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross or 35 hours net per week. The successful candidate may be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his/her duties, subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. This may include working evenings and weekends. The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Sick Leave Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the sick leave circulars. Appointees will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts direct to the LSRA and payment during illness will be subject to the appointee making the necessary claims Interviews The interviews for this post are likely to be held week commencing 7 July 2025 however this may be subject to change. The interviews will be in held in person in our office in Manor Street, Dublin 7. Interviews will be semi-structured in format, with candidates asked to provide examples and evidence of the capability dimension required for the role. We will endeavour to give as much notice as possible of interview dates. Candidates who do not attend for interview as scheduled, or who do not furnish such evidence as required in regard to any matter relevant to their application, will have no further claim to consideration in this process. Candidates must produce satisfactory documentary evidence of all qualifications claimed by them, on request. Failure to produce such documentary evidence when requested may lead to disqualification from the competition and or/termination of contract. Therefore it is advised that you have this documentation available to you when making your application. Any candidate who supplies false or misleading information in their application will be disqualified.

Panel The LSRA aims to establish a panel of the successful candidates for the role of Complaints & Resolutions Officer in order of merit. Should future vacancies arise for the role of Complaints & Resolutions Officer these may be offered to those on the panel in order of merit. Any panel created will expire after a designated period from its establishment (usually twelve months), or when it has been exhausted, whichever is sooner. The LSRA may decide to limit the number to be placed on any such panel. Qualification and placement on a panel is not a guarantee of appointment to a position. Candidates not appointed at the expiry of the panel will have no claim to a position thereafter because of having been on the panel. More detailed information regarding establishment of a panel (if any), duration of any such panel and placement on the panel will be provided to successful candidates. If you are placed on a panel, and are subsequently offered an assignment, you must be available to take up the post as offered. Vacancies may need to be filled with immediate effect and therefore if you are not contactable, the LSRA will immediately move on to the next available candidate.

Health and Character References Candidates must be in good health, capable and competent of carrying out the work assigned to them, and they must also be of good character. Those under consideration for a position will be required to complete a health and character declaration. Please be assured that we will only contact referees should you come under consideration after the preliminary interview stage. Please note, that should you be successful at interview, we will require a reference from your current employer or most recent employer. Referees should be able to provide relatively recent information on your performance, character and behaviour in a work context.

Canvassing Candidates should be aware that any attempts to enlist support for their application through any person except as a referee named on the application forms will result in their application being disqualified.

Equal Opportunities Employer The Legal Services Regulatory Authority is committed to equality of opportunity in employment and welcomes applicants irrespective of disability, gender, race, age, religious belief / political opinion or sexual orientation. All applications for employment are considered on the basis of merit.

Security Clearance Some posts within the LSRA may require security clearance and will require completion of a form for Garda vetting purposes. In the event of conflicts of interest, candidates may not be considered for certain posts. Eligibility Eligible Candidates must: (a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or (b) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or (c) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or (d) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or (e) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.