Legal Researcher

Background Information on the post

The Law Reform Commission is a statutory body established by the Law Reform Commission Act 1975. The Commission has five members: the President, the Full-time Commissioner, and three part-time Commissioners.

Its role is to keep the law under independent, objective, and expert review, to make recommendations for law reform and to make current law accessible for all.

Role of Legal Researcher

Law Reform Research

Under the supervision of the Director of Research and Deputy Directors of Research, the Legal Researcher will carry out research and assist in preparing Consultation Papers and or a Report or Reports for publication. The Legal Researcher will be credited as a researcher on the project when a Consultation Paper or Report is published.

Current projects include:

• Compensating Victims of Crime

• Reform of Non-Court Adjudicative Bodies and Appeals to Courts

• Third-Party Litigation Funding

Future projects include:

• Liability of Unincorporated Associations

• Recognition of Foreign Divorces

The work of the Commission and its Legal Researchers involves extensive consultation with relevant people and bodies, including members of the public, Members of the Oireachtas, Government Departments, the legal profession and other relevant professions, industry, State bodies and NGOs.

Comparative research on the laws of other jurisdictions is an essential part of the research process. The Commission maintains extensive library resources for this purpose, including online resources such as VizLegal, LexisNexis and Westlaw.

Researchers may be required to attend meetings of the Commission to discuss their work, including draft papers, and to receive direction.

Researchers may also contribute to the work of Access to Legislation, see below. This work may be assigned for periods of up to 6 months on a revolving basis among the researchers. In addition, one researcher may be assigned to this work fulltime.

Access to Legislation

The Researcher will, under the supervision of the Access to Legislation Manager and Deputy Managers, contribute to the Commission’s important work on Access to Legislation which produces the Legislation Directory, Revised Acts and the Classified List of In-Force Legislation.

In relation to the Legislation Directory, this will involve detailed reading of legislation and noting of effects and other elements such as commencement information. The work on Revised Acts will entail the analysis of amendments and other legislative effects and their incorporation using an XML authoring system. Work on the Classified List will involve the use of an IT system to update and maintain the List.

Principal Duties

Under the supervision of the Access to Legislation Manager and the Director of Research, successful candidates will:

• provide efficient, accurate and high-quality legal research service to the Commission,

• prepare draft papers, Consultation Papers and Reports covering law reform,

• maintain and update the Legislation Directory, Revised Acts, and Classified List,

• attend and participate at conferences and meetings,

• prepare for and facilitate seminars and meetings on behalf of the Commission, and

• undertake such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Commission.

Applicants should note that the above is a general guide to the role in these areas and is not an exhaustive description of the duties which are associated with the role or tasks which may be assigned to the role of Legal Researcher in the Law Reform Commission. Applicants should also note that additional duties may be assigned from time to time.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Requirements

Candidates must, on or before 28th February 2026

a) hold at least a 2:1 honours law degree (at least a Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or a recognised relevant professional legal qualification;

and

b) have demonstrable experience in conducting in-depth legal research and analysis gained either through relevant undergraduate or post-graduate studies or through conducting legal research and analysis in a practical professional context.

In addition, candidates must possess and be able to demonstrate:

• An extensive and broad-ranging knowledge of Irish law and the Irish legal system,

• An extensive knowledge of EU Law and, ideally, knowledge of the ECHR system,

• Strong research and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail,

• Strong information technology skills and demonstrated experience of using a wide range of relevant information sources and online legal research tools and databases,

• The ability to write and present research, information and analysis in a concise, accessible, and plain-English style,

• The ability to exercise integrity and professional judgement, and deliver high quality work in a fast-paced work environment,

• The ability to plan, prioritise and monitor tasks in a systematic and organised way in order to deliver work against tight deadlines,

• Enthusiasm, high motivation and capacity to work independently and as part of a team, and

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Key Competencies for effective performance as a Legal Researcher

The attention of candidates is drawn to the key competencies that are applicable to this post:

• Leadership Potential

• Analysis and Decision Making

• Delivery of Results

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self-Development

• Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values

Citizenship Requirements

Eligibility to compete and certain restrictions on eligibility

Eligible candidates must be:

(d) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(d) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(d) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 4 permission or a Stamp 5 permission.

To qualify, candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants.

It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 to 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment.

People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

[1] Please note that a 50 TEU permission, which is a replacement for Stamp 4EUFAM after Brexit, is acceptable as a Stamp 4 equivalent.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010):

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS).

It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years.

People who availed of the VER scheme are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of the VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013)

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities.

In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for re-employment in any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 to 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012) for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme.

These conditions also apply in the case of engagement or employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Declaration:

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and or where they have received a payment in lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.

Employer of Choice

As an Employer of Choice the Civil Service has many flexible and family friendly policies, for example 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.

Principal Conditions of Service

General

The appointment is to a temporary post in the Civil Service and is subject to the Civil Service Regulation 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

The salary scale for the position (rates effective from 1st February 2026) is as follows:

Engineer Grade III PPC Salary Scale from the 1st of February 2026

€39,974 €42,496 €43,170

The PPC pay rate applies when the individual is required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main or personal superannuation scheme. This is different to a contribution in respect of membership of a Spouses and Children’s scheme, or the Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC).

A different rate will apply where the appointee is not required to make a Personal Pension Contribution.

Important Note

Entry will be at the minimum of the scale, and the rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation and may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Different terms and conditions may apply if you are a currently serving public servant.

Subject to satisfactory performance, increments may be payable in line with current Government policy.

Payment will be made monthly in arrears by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) into a bank account of your choice. Payment cannot be made until a bank account number and bank sort code has been supplied on appointment and statutory deductions from salary will be made as appropriate.

You will agree that any overpayment of salary, allowances, or expenses will be repaid by you in accordance with Circular 07/2018: Recovery of Salary, Allowances, and Expenses Overpayments made to Staff Members, Former Staff Members, Pensioners.

Tenure and Probation

The appointment is on a temporary fixed-term contract for a period of up to 3 years from the date of appointment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo a probationary period of 6 months.

The appointment is subject to termination at any time by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005. In the case of serious misconduct, the employment may be terminated at any time without notice and without penalty.

The appointment, which is strictly temporary, carries with it no entitlement to permanent status (by way of limited competition or otherwise).

Headquarters

The successful candidate will be based at the Commission offices, currently at Styne House, Hatch Street, Dublin 2 or at another place, should the Commission move its offices.

When absent from home and the Commission’s offices on duty, the successful candidate will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances subject to normal civil service regulations.

Retirement and Superannuation

The successful candidate will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions as prevailing in the Civil Service at the time of being offered an appointment.

In general, an appointee who has never worked in the Public Service will be offered appointment based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme). Full details of the Scheme are at www.singlepensionscheme.gov.ie

.

Where the appointee has worked in a pensionable (non-Single Scheme terms) public service job in the 26 weeks prior to appointment or is currently on a career break or special leave with or without pay, different terms may apply. The pension entitlement of such appointees will be established in the context of their public service employment history.

Key provisions attaching to membership of the Single Scheme are as follows:

• Pensionable Age: The minimum age at which pension is payable is the same as the age of eligibility for the State Pension, currently 66.

• Retirement Age: Scheme members must retire on reaching the age of 70.

• Career average earnings are used to calculate benefits (a pension and lump sum amount accrue each year and are up rated each year by reference to CPI).

• Post retirement pension increases are linked to CPI.