Legal Advisor

Northern Ireland Civil Service; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working available

Flexitime arrangements

Exposure to varied public sector work

Job summary

Northern Ireland Civil Service is seeking an experienced Legal Advisor in Belfast to provide high‑quality legal advice across public and regulatory matters. The role involves litigation, Judicial Review, and policy support within a busy public sector environment.

The successful candidate will manage complex caseloads, prioritise deadlines, and contribute to policy development on issues including sustainability, data protection and information requests.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience (PQE).
• Strong litigation experience, ideally including Judicial Review, public law and/or regulatory matters.
• Experience in public/administrative law, regulatory law, energy/commercial law or related fields.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload and prioritise multiple deadlines.
• Knowledge or experience of European Union law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across public and regulatory law matters.
• Manage a varied caseload including litigation and Judicial Review matters.
• Provide clear legal advice to clients and stakeholders.
• Undertake legal research across public law, competition, energy, water and environmental law.
• Support dispute resolution, complaints and appeals processes.
• Assist with sustainability, penalties and enforcement policy matters.
• Contribute to policy work with a legal focus.
• Advise on freedom of information and data protection matters.
• Review and analyse legal documentation and provide commentary.
• Work independently while contributing to the legal team and handle multiple matters concurrently.

Skills

Judicial Review experience

Public law

Regulatory matters

EU law knowledge

Litigation management

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister (NI or England & Wales)

Job description

Pay Rate: £47,615 per annum
Location: Belfast
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Temporary ongoing
Working Pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week

• Hybrid working available
• Flexitime arrangements
• Opportunity to work within a highly respected public sector organisation
• Exposure to a broad range of legal, regulatory and policy matters
• Opportunity to develop experience across a varied and challenging caseload

Staffline Recruitment Ireland is currently recruiting for a Legal Advisor on behalf of a public sector organisation based in Belfast.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced solicitor or barrister to work across a broad range of legal matters within a public sector environment.

The successful candidate will provide high-quality legal advice and support across a broad range of areas, including public law, competition law, company law, energy law, water law, environmental law and dispute resolution.

The position will also involve litigation and Judicial Review matters, as well as supporting policy development and implementation in areas with a legal or quasi-legal focus.

This is a varied, complex and stimulating position, requiring an experienced legal professional who is confident managing a diverse and demanding caseload, able to progress multiple matters simultaneously and skilled in prioritising competing demands and deadlines within a busy professional environment.

Given the nature and complexity of the work, candidates should ideally be at a senior level and able to demonstrate strong litigation experience, particularly in Judicial Review, public law and related regulatory matters.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to contribute to a range of interesting policy and regulatory matters, including sustainability and environmental issues, financial penalties and enforcement, competition matters, freedom of information and data protection, complaints, disputes and appeals processes.

Alongside this advisory and policy work, the postholder will undertake routine legal and administrative duties on behalf of the Legal Affairs Department, contributing to the effective delivery of the organisation's wider legal function.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and assistance across a range of public and regulatory law matters
• Manage and progress a varied caseload, including litigation and Judicial Review matters
• Provide clear and practical legal advice to clients and stakeholders
• Undertake legal research and provide advice across areas including public law, competition law, company law, energy law, water law and environmental law
• Assist with dispute resolution, complaints, disputes and appeals processes
• Support matters relating to sustainability, environmental issues, financial penalties and enforcement
• Provide legal input into policy work with a legal or quasi-legal focus
• Advise on freedom of information and data protection mattersReview and analyse legal documentation and provide appropriate commentary
• 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 legal administration and case management duties as required

To be considered for this role, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister, qualified to practise in Northern Ireland or England and Wales
• Hold a valid practising certificate, or be eligible to hold one at the date of appointment
• Minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience (PQE)
• Strong litigation experience, ideally including Judicial Review, public law and/or regulatory matters
• Proven experience working in public/administrative law, regulatory law, energy law, commercial law, Judicial Review or another relevant legal field
• Experience managing a varied caseload and prioritising multiple competing tasks and deadlines
• Ability to work effectively in a busy environment while managing several matters simultaneously
• Knowledge or experience of European Union law
• Knowledge or experience of commercial law
• Previous experience working within a public sector or regulatory environment

Additional Information

To be shortlisted for this role, all applicants MUST meet the essential criteria, including the minimum 5 years' post-qualification experience and strong litigation experience.