Legal Adviser (Immediate / Belfast / 65k )

Job description

A leading Public Sector employer based in Belfast are currently recruiting a Legal Adviser to join their team on an initial interim basis. This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of Northern Ireland's most recognisable employers.

What's in it for you?

• Salary - £65,051 - £67,024
• Long term contract
• Hybrid working policy

About your next employer

The Legal Adviser will provide a specialist in-house legal advice service to the Assembly, its Committees and its Speaker. You will provide objective legal advice, independent of government, to support the Assembly in its scrutiny and legislative roles. Advise on legislation, constitutional and procedural matters and committee work to assist political actors in achieving their goals. You may represent the Assembly and Assembly Commission in proceedings before courts, tribunals and inquiries. In providing advice to the Assembly Commission, the corporate body which supports the Assembly, legal advisers may manage complex contractual and other commercial and public law legal issues on behalf of the Assembly Commission.

About you

• Hold a first or bachelor's degree of minimum 2.1 classification (or equivalent)
• Be a Barrister or Solicitor who is entitled to practice in Northern Ireland
• Have at least 3 years' post-qualification experience ('PQE') in law
• Knowledge of constitutional, administrative and human rights law in Northern Ireland
• knowledge of the role of the Assembly in the political and institutional relationships in Northern Ireland.

What you'll do

The role of a Legal Adviser is that of in-house counsel. The successful applicant will:

• Provide appropriately-researched, sound and timely legal advice to the following clients:
  • The Speaker, on the legislative competence of legislation under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, public law issues in parliamentary procedure and the interpretation of standing orders;
  • Assembly committees, on legislative scrutiny, their statutory and other functions, parliamentary privilege, compliance with Standing Orders and the conduct of committee inquiries;
  • The Assembly Commission in relation to any legal issues arising in connection with the discharge of its functions; and
  • Corporate clients at a senior level, on public law, contract law, information law, and Members' expenditure.

• Legal advice to the Director of Legal, Governance and Research Services and the Head of Legal Services.
• Deliver legal advice which supports Members in the development of legislative proposals.
• Draft legal and statutory documents including standing orders, administrative determinations, and contracts.
• Provide advice on emerging legal issues such as the Windsor Framework
• Conduct legal research including the use of electronic and other resources to provide authoritative advice on unfamiliar areas of law at short notice.
• Maintain membership of the relevant professional body (the Bar of Northern Ireland or the Law Society of Northern Ireland) and act in accordance with their professional code of conduct in the discharge of their duties.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues and political actors in the Assembly and colleagues in other legislatures.
• Comply with the Assembly Commission's staff policies and procedures including the Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work policies.
• Manage information and records in accordance with established policies and statutory requirements.
• Carry out such other duties as the Assembly Commission may reasonably require.

To apply today contact Ethan Boylan in the strictest confidence.