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 7th September 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.

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 June 2026

€45,651.00 - €86,953.00

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. €56,067) 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 as per the Probation Policy for the Civil Service 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 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.

General Matters

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

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

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

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

• A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

• 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

• 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 the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.

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

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the date of any job offer.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28 June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 01 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 – 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).

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 01 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 & Local Government (Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013)

The Department of Environment, Community & 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 2009–2011 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/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.

Competition Process

How to apply

In order to apply a candidate must submit a completed application form. Application forms are only available from our website at www.legalaidboard.ie

Candidates should note that the onus is on the candidate to submit a fully completed application. Where an incomplete or blank application form is submitted, a candidate’s application may be cancelled without further notice.

Please submit completed application forms by email. Forms must be typed and provided in either PDF or MS Word format; submissions in other formats will not be accepted.

Completed application forms must be submitted by email to Solicitor Grade III Portlaoise/Tullamore/Longford Competition at recruitment@legalaidboard.ie by 4pm on the specified closing date.

Only applications fully submitted electronically by email will be accepted into the campaign. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.

General Information

The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend an interview, is not to be taken as implying that the Legal Aid Board is satisfied that such person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for you to note that the onus is on you to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending for interview. If you do not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attend for interview you will be putting yourself to unnecessary expense as the Legal Aid Board will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred.

Prior to recommending any candidate for appointment to this position the Legal Aid Board will make all such enquiries that are deemed necessary to determine the suitability of that candidate. Until all stages of the recruitment process have been fully completed a final determination cannot be made nor can it be deemed or inferred that such a determination has been made.

Should the person recommended for appointment decline or having accepted it, relinquish it or if an additional vacancy arises the Board may, at its discretion, select and recommend another person for appointment.

Security Clearance

All applicants will be required to complete and return a Garda Vetting Form as part of their application (this must be done for each individual job application) and vetting information will be requested from An Garda Siochana for any candidate being considered for an offer of a position. Job offers will only be made where the Board has deemed the candidate suitable following consideration of the outcome of the Garda vetting process.

The Board will fully comply with the requirements of GDPR at all stages.

The appointment of a candidate is also dependant on satisfactory reference checking.

Reschedule Requests

Reschedule requests will only be considered under exceptional circumstances as deemed acceptable by the Legal Aid Board. Please note that supporting documentation may be requested as evidence.

Closing date

The completed application form must be forwarded so as to reach the Board not later than 4.00 pm Monday September 7th 2026. If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 2 working days of applying, please contact: Human Resources at 066 9471021.

Candidates should make themselves available on the date(s) specified by the Board and should make sure that the contact details specified on the application form are correct.

The Board will not be responsible for refunding any expenses incurred by candidates.

Selection Methods

These may include:

• shortlisting of candidates on the basis of the information contained in their application; and

• a competitive interview.