Principal Legal Officer

Staffline Group PLC; Belfast; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Principal Legal Officer in Belfast. The successful candidate will provide risk-based legal advice to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and assist with Assembly procedure navigation. Qualified solicitors or barristers with over 3 years of public sector experience are encouraged to apply. This is a temporary ongoing position with competitive hourly pay.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister, entitled to practice in Northern Ireland.
• Minimum of 3 or more years post-qualification experience preferably providing legal advice to a public sector body.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
• Assist client department with Assembly procedures for Bills.
• Advise client department on interpretation of primary and secondary legislation.
• Draft instructions to Legislative Counsel or other legislative drafters.
• Initial advice on judicial reviews and collaborate with litigation team.

Skills

Legal advice

Risk-based analysis

Understanding of legislative procedures

Drafting legal documents

Education

Solicitor or Barrister qualification in NI

Job description

Job description

Principal Legal Officer

Salary : £ p / h

Location : Belfast

Hours : 9am - 5pm , Mon - Fri / 37 hours per week

Duration : Temporary ongoing

Job Summary :

• Timely, well-drafted, client-sensitive, risk-based legal advice to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
• Legal advice to assist the client department navigate Assembly procedures for Bills. This may encompass advice on the legislative competence of the assembly.
• Advice on the interpretation of all forms of primary and secondary legislation
• Assist client department in the scrutiny of secondary legislation
• Draft instructions to Legislative Counsel or other legislative drafters
• Advise client department on AQWs
• Initial advice to the client department in relation to judicial reviews and collaboratively work with DSO litigation in relation to any judicial reviews

Essential Criteria :

• Qualified solicitor or barrister, entitled to practice in NI.
• Minimum of 3 or more years post‑qualification experience preferably providing legal advice to a public sector body.