Legal Executive

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Legal Services Unit, the Legal Executive will be part of the team which will develop an organisational culture of collaboration focused on putting the child at the centre of service provision. They will engage in a wide range of functions to support the delivery of effective and efficient systems in the Legal Services Unit.

The Legal Executive will play a central role in the provision of organisational and legal support to the GAL National Service and will support the management of legal files, tracking of legal advices provided, tracking of requests for legal representation and other relevant legal duties through a document management system, legal diary and other appropriate support structures.

In advance of the opening of the service, the Legal Executive will support the Head of Legal Services Unit in assisting the Director and other members of the management team in developing the necessary systems required for the service to open. This includes finalising the details of policies and procedures for establishing legal panels and developing performance management and quality assurance systems.

Key Duties and Responsibilities of the role will include:

• Supporting GALs in day to day legal and administrative activities and providing general support within the Legal Services Unit

• Conducting preliminary research on cases and queries

• Managing efficient document and correspondence retention and filing procedures including archiving

• Preparing serving and filing of pleadings

• Managing legal queries and requests that arise from internal and external stakeholders

• Supporting the GAL National Service to deliver the actions on the implementation plan for the service

• Supporting the Service to engage and communicate with court services to develop and manage a system for compliance with the provisions of the Child Care Amendment Act 2022

• Contributing to the development of policies and procedures associated with the delivery of legal advice and legal representation in line with the provisions of the Child Care Amendment Act 2022

• Assisting with the management of costs and budgets within the Legal Services Unit

• Supporting the establishment and maintenance of a Private Practitioners Panel of Solicitors and Barristers engaged on a contract for service basis

• Supporting the transition from the existing service provision to the new national service

• Meeting defined performance targets for self

• Supporting the performance of external legal representation

• Keeping up to date on current and impending legislation

• Developing strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the child and family justice system

• Fostering the highest standards of legal professionalism and integrity

• Acting as a resource by participating in and supporting the education and training of Guardians ad litem and other related professionals as appropriate

Please note this list is not exhaustive but serves to reflect the type of duties included in the role. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may also be assigned from time to time.

Working Environment

The Legal Executive will be required on occasion to attend in person meetings seminars workshops etc in Dublin and regionally both during the building phase of the Service and after its establishment and flexibility will be required in this regard. Travel and subsistence will be paid in line with current government policy.

Blended working arrangements may be accessed in line with the Civil Service Blended Working Policy Framework and subject to the blended working policy of the employing Government Department Office.

Training and Development

The Department is committed to providing training and opportunities that support staff growth and career development while encouraging personal responsibility for ongoing professional development that align with Department goals. Training may include specialist skills training specific work needs and grade specific training as well as development in skills identified by individuals as necessary for their continued personal and professional growth.

Vacancy and Location

The successful candidate will be located in the office Guardian ad litem National Service in Dublin 2 however the location of the office may be subject to change in line with any future change in Government policy.

There is currently one vacancy and candidates who are successful in this competition will be placed on a panel in an order of merit to fill this and other future vacancies that may arise during the lifetime of this panel.

It is not expected that appointments will be made from this panel after October 2027.

Salary Range From €41,998 to €59,550 LSI2

Starting Annual Leave 23 Days

Hours of attendance 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week

Essential

Candidates must have on or before Tuesday 24th February 2026:

A qualification at minimum Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications NFQ or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications Equivalent in Legal Studies or in other relevant legal discipline such as Law

A minimum of 1 years post qualification experience working as a legal executive or other similar legal role

Strong organisational skills and good attention to detail with a demonstrated ability to work calmly under pressure deal with multiple demands and competing priorities to tight deadlines

Good knowledge of legal principles with a demonstrated ability to apply legal knowledge effectively

Good knowledge of court procedures including conduct of legal proceedings

The resilience adaptability and self confidence necessary to cope with challenging and or sensitive cases information

A proven ability to maintain confidentiality impartiality and discretion

A high level of motivation and a demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team

Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present complex information in a clear logical and comprehensive manner

Good interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels

Strong IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications Word Outlook and Excel

Desirable

• Membership of the Irish Institute of Legal Executives IILEX

• Strong analytical and research skills

• Experience in records management and or budgetary management

• Experience in the use of appropriate technology e.g. electronic case management systems and other ICT applications commonly used in law offices

• Knowledge and or experience of Child and Family law including child care proceedings in the context of the Irish Courts system

• Knowledge and understanding of public sector service requirements and governance requirements

• A current full driving licence Category B valid in Ireland and access to a car

Selection Process

The selection process for this competition may include one or more of the following:

• Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application against set criteria based on the requirements of the position

• A competitive preliminary interview

• Pre recorded video interview

• Completion of online questionnaire s

• Report writing exercise or other exercises

• Presentation or other exercises

• A final competitive interview

• Remote interview

• Work sample role play media exercise and or any other tests or exercises that may be deemed appropriate

Shortlisting

The number of applications received for a position generally exceeds that required to fill existing and future vacancies. While a candidate may meet the eligibility requirements of the competition if the numbers applying are such that it would not be practical to interview everyone publicjobs may decide that a smaller number will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

publicjobs provides for the employment of a shortlisting process to select a group who based on an examination of the application forms appear to be the most suitable for the position. This is not to suggest that other candidates are necessarily unsuitable or incapable of undertaking the job rather that there are some candidates who based on their application appear to be better qualified and or have more relevant experience. During shortlisting an expert board will examine the application forms against agreed shortlisting criteria which are based on the requirements of the position. The standard of content of each application submitted may also be assessed during this process.

Where a competition attracts a large number of eligible candidates the shortlisting process will apply a scored assessment of the information provided on the application form. A rank order of candidates will then be created and based on that ranking candidates will be invited to the next stage of the process in groups batches with those candidates ranked highest invited initially. Subsequent groups batches may be invited to the next stage of the selection process over the lifetime of the competition on a demand led basis if required.

The shortlisting criteria may include both essential and desirable criteria specified for the position and it is therefore in your own interest to provide a detailed and accurate account of your qualifications experience in your application. The onus is on candidates to complete the application form fully and accurately.

For certain competitions candidates may be required to undertake online assessment tests and will be shortlisted in accordance with their ranking in these tests. Applicants must successfully compete and be placed highest on the order of merit to be considered for advancement to the next stage of a multistage selection process which may include a shortlisting exercise as described above. The number to be invited forward at each stage will be determined from time to time by publicjobs.

Pre Employment Checks

Should your place on the panel be reached and you come under consideration for a position several pre employment checks must be completed before a candidate is deemed suitable for appointment. These checks are carried out to satisfy publicjobs that the candidate satisfies all necessary requirements.

Prior to assigning recommending a candidate for appointment to a position publicjobs will make all such enquiries necessary to determine the suitability and eligibility of that candidate. These checks include an evaluation of Citizenship Health and Character Garda Vetting and Security Clearance and Reference Checks. Where Citizenship Health and Character Garda Vetting and Reference Checks are unsatisfactory or cannot be obtained publicjobs reserves the right to disqualify a candidate from any further consideration of appointment or termination of your employment where an appointment has already been made.

Candidates with Disabilities

Attracting candidates from all sectors of society to ensure accessible routes to career opportunities is a key priority of publicjobs. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates. If you have a disability or need reasonable accommodations made during the selection process e.g. for interview assessments or exercises we strongly encourage you to share this with us so that we can ensure you get the support you need.

Reasonable accommodation in our selection process refers to adjustments and practical changes which would enable a disabled candidate to have an equitable opportunity for this competition. We can provide accommodations for any stage of the process including online assessments interviews or exercises. Examples of adjustments we provide include the use of assistive technology extra time scribes and or readers or a range of other accommodations.

Please be assured that having a disability or requiring adjustments will not impact on your progress in the selection process you will not be at a disadvantage if you disclose your disability or requirements to us. Your disability and or adjustments will be kept entirely confidential.

Should you be successful the disclosure of a disability for this stage of the process will not be passed onto the employing department unless you request that we do so.

If you indicate on your application form that you require reasonable accommodations you will have the following option:

A. If you have been provided with reasonable accommodations from publicjobs in the last three years you should input the details of the most recent competition for which you were assigned accommodations along with your Candidate ID

OR

B. You will need to upload a psychologist medical report as part of your application which details your disability requirements.

We require a report to better understand your disability and requirements. The report in addition to your request helps us determine what accommodations may be suitable for you in the selection process. The reports will only be shared with our Assessment Services Unit. In the reports it is useful for us to see the outcome of any diagnostic tests conducted by your psychologist doctor and their summary of recommendations in relation to your requirements. You may redact block out parts of medical reports psychologist’s reports that you feel are sensitive or unnecessary for the decision to make reasonable adjustments.