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- Tasks: Lead legal and policy work, interpret legislation, and manage stakeholder engagement.
- Company: Join the Northern Ireland Civil Service in a dynamic legal role.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible hours, and valuable public sector experience.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on legislation and governance while developing your legal career.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or barrister with strong project management skills.
- Other info: Opportunity for significant career growth in a supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 20 - 30 £ per hour.
Pay Rate: £24.59 per hour
Location: Downpatrick
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Temporary ongoing
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Benefits:
- Competitive hourly pay of £24.59
- Monday to Friday working pattern
- Standard office hours supporting work-life balance
- Flexi time available
- Office-based role in Downpatrick
- Opportunity to gain high-level experience within a public sector legal environment
- Temporary ongoing opportunity
- Involvement in significant legislative, policy and governance work
- Opportunity to lead on complex legal and policy matters
- Valuable senior-level experience within the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Staffline Recruitment Ireland is currently recruiting for a Deputy Principal Legal Officer on behalf of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, based onsite in Downpatrick. This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland to step into a senior legal role focused on legislation, policy development, governance and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading legal and policy-related activity, including the interpretation of EU and domestic legislation, drafting regulations, responding to legal queries, supporting legislative processes through the Northern Ireland Assembly and/or Westminster, and overseeing project management and good governance.
This Deputy Principal Legal Officer job in Downpatrick is ideal for a legal professional with strong leadership ability, public sector awareness, and experience managing complex legislative and policy work.
Key Responsibilities:
- Interpret EU and domestic legislation to assess legislative and operational compliance and compatibility
- Work with DSO officials and legal colleagues in response to legal and legislative queries
- Support the introduction of regulations or primary legislation through the Northern Ireland Assembly and/or Westminster
- Draft regulations and support legislative development activity
- Transcribe and interpret EU legislation where required
- Lead or support policy and legislation development
- Manage stakeholder engagement, co-design activity and evaluation processes
- Maintain and strengthen relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Lead on project management activity and promote good governance
- Work independently while keeping management and colleagues updated on progress, risks and issues
- Provide strong communication, leadership and presentational support across the function
Essential Criteria:
- Qualified solicitor or barrister, entitled to practise in Northern Ireland
- Experience leading a team delivering policy and/or legislation
- Strong project management experience
- Ability to work independently and provide feedback on ongoing progress and issues to management and staff
- Experience interpreting EU and domestic legislation to assess legislative and operational compliance and compatibility
- Experience of working with DSO officials and/or lawyers and responding to legal queries
- Experience maintaining and building relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
- Strong communication and presentation skills
Important Information: To be shortlisted for this role, all applicants must meet the essential criteria in full. Please note that this role may be filled quickly. If you are not successful on this occasion, your CV may be kept on file for future similar opportunities. Due to the high volume of applications, unsuccessful candidates may not be contacted. Successful candidates may be required to apply for an Access NI Certificate through Staffline, regardless of whether they already hold a valid certificate. The cost will be between £16 and £32, depending on the level of clearance required.
How To Apply: If you are interested in this Deputy Principal Legal Officer job in Downpatrick and available for the position, please apply now by uploading your CV through the application link provided.
Deputy Principal (Legal Officer) in Downpatrick employer: The Law Society of Northern Ireland
Contact Detail:
The Law Society of Northern Ireland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Principal (Legal Officer) in Downpatrick
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who have experience in public sector roles. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your project management skills and understanding of EU legislation. We want you to shine when discussing how you've led teams and tackled complex legal issues.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership abilities! Be ready to share examples of how you've managed stakeholder engagement and driven policy development. This is your chance to demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and eager to join our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Principal (Legal Officer) in Downpatrick
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Deputy Principal Legal Officer role. Highlight your experience with legislation, policy development, and project management. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading legal and policy-related activities, don’t forget to showcase your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've successfully managed teams or projects in the past. We love a good success story!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Law Society of Northern Ireland
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on both EU and domestic legislation relevant to the role. Being able to discuss specific laws and how they apply to the job will show your expertise and readiness for the position.
✨Showcase Project Management Skills
Prepare examples of your project management experience, especially in a legal context. Be ready to discuss how you've led teams or managed complex projects, as this is crucial for the Deputy Principal Legal Officer role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about your past experiences working with stakeholders. Be prepared to share how you've built and maintained relationships, as well as how you’ve handled stakeholder engagement in previous roles.
✨Practice Strong Communication
Since strong communication skills are essential, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Consider doing mock interviews to refine your presentation skills and ensure you can convey your ideas effectively.