Solicitor Grade III

Overview of the Role

The Key Features of the Role are:

·      To assist in the provision of legal services to the Board’s clients to whom legal aid and/or advice has been granted, within the terms of the Civil Legal Act, 1995, and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations;

·      Provide quality legal service to clients, in a timely and professional manner.

·      Deliver legal services in compliance with the Board’s policies, procedures and supervisors’ instructions

·      Actively contribute to ensuring the law centre delivers services in an efficient, effective and customer-oriented manner.

·      Ensure effective use of the Board’s case management system (EOS)

·      Ensure clients are given meaningful non-court-based options for resolving family disputes

·      Engage with stakeholders to promote the role of the Legal Aid Board as a service provider both in relation to legal services and mediation services

Essential Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must, on or before the 21st May 2026 be eligible for admission to the Roll of Solicitors and/or be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors. Where candidates are currently or were previously admitted to the Roll of Solicitors that they be entitled to hold a Practising Certificate issued by the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland (without any restrictions attached) and must continue to be so entitled to hold such a certificate.

It will be a matter for the Legal Aid Board to determine the eligibility of candidates having regard to their qualifications and experience. An invitation to interview is not an acceptance of eligibility.

Competencies

Candidates must be able to demonstrate clearly at interview that they possess the full range of competencies as set out in below. Candidates should have knowledge of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995, and the Regulations made thereunder, an understanding of the role of the Legal Aid Board and its operating environment, or the capacity to quickly acquire same.

Professional expertise/ knowledge and ability to provide excellent legal services

·      Has an excellent understanding of civil law in Ireland and the legal services provided by the Board

·      Ability to provide a timely and professional legal service to the public in all areas of the law covered by the governing legislation and in accordance with the policies / parameters set by the Board

·      Makes an active contribution both legal and administrative within the law centre to ensure that services are provided in an efficient, effective and client-oriented manner

·      Maximise throughput of cases while ensuring quality of service

·      Understanding of court processes and the role of solicitor in dispute resolution.

Analysis & Decision Making

·      Gathers and analyses information from relevant sources, weighing up a range of critical factors

·      Takes account of any broader issues and related implications when making decisions

·      Uses previous knowledge and experience in order to guide decisions

·      Makes sound decisions with a well-reasoned rationale and stands by these

·      Puts forward solutions to address problems

Management and Delivery of Results

·      Takes responsibility for challenging tasks and delivers on time and to a high standard.

·      Plans and prioritises work in terms of importance, timescales and other resource constraints, re-prioritising in light of changing circumstances.

·      Ensures quality and efficient customer service is central to the work of the law centre.

·      Looks critically at issues to see how processes can be improved and open to new ideas initiatives and creative solutions to problems

·      Ensures controls and performance measures are in place to deliver efficient and high value services.

Interpersonal & communications skills

·      Ability to provide an excellent level of customer service skills

·      Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a wide variety of people.

·      Actively listens to the views of colleagues and others.

·      Capacity to work well in a team-based environment.

·      Treats others with diplomacy, tact, courtesy and respect even in challenging circumstances

Personal Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values

·      Is self-motivated and shows a desire to continuously perform at a high level.

·      Is personally honest and trustworthy and can be relied upon.

·      Ability to work on their own and show initiative and flexibility.

·     Through leading by example, fosters the highest standards of ethics and professional integrity.

Principal Conditions of Service

General

The appointment is to a position of Solicitor Grade III in the Legal Aid Board. Employees of the Legal Aid Bord 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

Solicitor Grade III PPC Salary Scale – from 1st February 2026

€45,199.00

€50,415.00

€55,512.00

€61,879.00

€68,284.00

€74,754.00

€81,135.00

€83,513.00

€86,092.00

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/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.

Long service increments may be payable after 3(LSI1) and 6(LSI2) years satisfactory service at the maximum of the scale.

Important Note – Starting Salary and Other Details

While in the normal course, entry point will be at the minimum of the scale, different pay and conditions may apply subject to Government pay policy procedures.

For the purposes of this competition, candidates may be offered up to point 3 (i.e. €55,512) at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and based on post qualification experience (PQE) as a Solicitor.

Different terms and conditions may apply if you are currently a serving civil or public servant. Subject to satisfactory performance increments may be payable in line will current Government Policy. Successful candidates 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 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, while panel remains in place.

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 –

(i)               Have performed in a satisfactory manner,

(ii)              Have been satisfactory in general conduct, and

(iii)             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.

·        Probation may be suspended in cases such as absence due to a non-recurring illness.

The employee may, in these circumstances, make an application to the employer for an extension to the contract period.

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.

Duties

Appointees will be required to perform any duties which may be assigned to them from time to time as appropriate

Outside Employment

The successful candidate may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties or conflict in any way with the position of a Solicitor in the Board.

The Organisation of Working Time Act

The terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 will apply, where appropriate, to this employment.

Headquarters

Solicitors of the Board normally work in Law Centres established by the Board but may be required to serve in such other locations as may be designated by the Board.

·      Notwithstanding an initial assignment to a particular location appointees may be transferred to a different location or assigned to such specific duties at a different location as the Board may determine from time to time so as to enable it to perform its functions under the Act.

·      The duration of a transfer and/or assignment to other duties will be determined by the Board.

When absent from home and headquarters on official duty a Solicitor will be paid appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances, subject to normal civil service regulations.

Hours of attendance

Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross or 35 hours net per week. Solicitors may be required to work such additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of their duties subject to the limits set down in the working time regulations. The rate of remuneration payable covers any extra attendance liability that may arise from time to time.

Annual Leave

The annual leave for this position is 25 days per annum, rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 30 days after 10 years’ service. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in the civil service, is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays. Where the position is in a part time capacity, the annual leave allowance will be applied on a pro-rata basis.

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 for the civil and public service.

Officers who will be paying Class A rate of PRSI will be required to sign a mandate authorising the Department of Social Protection to pay any benefits due under the Social Welfare Acts direct to the Legal Aid Board. Payment during illness will be subject to the officer making the necessary claims for social insurance benefit to the Department of Social Protection within the required time limits.

Superannuation and Retirement

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/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.

Pension Abatement

If the appointee has previously been employed in the Civil or Public Service and is in receipt of a pension from the Civil or Public Service or where a Civil/Public Service pension comes into payment during their re-employment that pension will be subject to abatement in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.