Staffline Recruitment Ireland
Principal Legal Officer
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Principal Legal Officer
Pay Rate: £61,673 per annum
Location: Belfast, Lanyon Place
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Temporary ongoing
Branch: DoF, DSO Advisory Division 1
Benefits
- Hybrid working available
- Flexitime arrangements
- Opportunity to work within a highly respected public sector organisation
- Opportunity to provide specialist legal advice within a government department
- Exposure to a broad range of public law, legislative, and policy matters
- Opportunity to develop experience across a varied and challenging legal caseload
About the Role
Staffline Recruitment Ireland is currently recruiting for a Principal Legal Officer on behalf of a public sector organisation based in Belfast. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced solicitor or barrister to provide specialist legal advice and support to the Department of Health across a broad range of legislative, constitutional, and public sector matters.
The successful candidate will be responsible for providing timely, well-drafted, client-sensitive, and risk-based legal advice to the Department of Health. The role will involve advising on the interpretation of primary and secondary legislation, as well as providing legal support in relation to legislative procedures.
The position will also involve advising the Department on Northern Ireland Assembly and Westminster procedures, including matters relating to the making and scrutiny of secondary legislation and Assembly procedures for Bills.
The successful candidate will provide advice on matters which may include the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Department of Health's sponsorship of Arm's Length Bodies, and Assembly Questions for Written Answer (AQWs).
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Key Responsibilities
- Provide timely, well-drafted, client-sensitive, and risk-based legal advice to the Department of Health
- Advise on the interpretation of primary and secondary legislation
- Provide legal advice on the development and making of secondary legislation
- Assist the Department in navigating Northern Ireland Assembly and Westminster procedures relating to secondary legislation
- Assist with the scrutiny of secondary legislation
- Provide legal advice in relation to Assembly procedures for Bills
- Advise on matters relating to the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly, where required
- Provide legal advice to the Department of Health in relation to its sponsorship of Arm's Length Bodies
- Advise the Department on Assembly Questions for Written Answer (AQWs)
- Undertake legal research and analysis as required
- Provide clear and practical legal advice to clients and stakeholders
- Manage multiple pieces of work simultaneously, ensuring competing priorities and deadlines are effectively managed
- Work independently while contributing effectively as part of a wider legal team
- Undertake other legal duties as required
Essential Criteria
To be considered for this role, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Qualified Solicitor or Barrister in Northern Ireland
- Minimum of 3 years' post-qualification experience (PQE)
- Demonstrable ability to provide clear, accurate, and practical legal advice
- Ability to manage a varied workload and prioritise competing demands and deadlines
- Ability to work effectively within a busy professional environment
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Desirable Criteria
- Experience of providing legal advice to a public body
- Experience working within a government department or wider public sector environment
- Experience advising on primary or secondary legislation
- Experience or knowledge of Northern Ireland Assembly procedures
Additional Information
To be shortlisted for this role, all applicants MUST meet the essential criteria, including qualification as a Solicitor or Barrister in Northern Ireland and a minimum of 3 years' post-qualification experience.
Please note that these roles may be filled quickly, but your CV will be kept on file for future similar opportunities. As there are a high number of applications, unsuccessful candidates may not be contacted.
Successful candidates may need to apply for an Access NI Certificate with Staffline regardless of whether they already hold a valid certificate.
How to Apply
If you are interested and available for this position, please upload your CV via the link or contact Hannah Fitzsimons for further information at Hannah.Fitzsimons@stafflinerecruit.com.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Legal research and analysis
- Interpretation of primary and secondary legislation
- Legal drafting and document preparation
- Provision of clear, accurate, and practical legal advice
- Public and administrative law
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