Head of Law Society Career & Practice Development Unit

lawsocietyie; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary (DOE)

Excellent working condition

Training & development opportunities

Pension

Job summary

The Law Society of Ireland is seeking a Head of the Career and Practice Development Unit to lead a dynamic team within the Solicitor Services Department.

You will influence strategic direction, oversee delivery of professional development services, and engage with a wide range of legal workplaces to support 13,000+ practitioners. A minimum of five years’ management experience is required, with strong leadership and budgeting capabilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ managerial experience in professional development or legal practice.
• Strong understanding of the changing legal profession and talent development.
• Proven ability to lead a small dynamic team and manage budgets.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement and oversee the Career & Practice Development Strategy 2026-2028.
• Lead a unit and manage its budget and delivery of services.
• Produce high-quality reports, resources, and communications.
• Engage with in-house and external legal workplaces through meetings and events.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Change development

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Team management

Strategic planning

Project management tools

Education

Third level qualification

Tools

AI tools

Project management tools

Job description

Overview

The Law Society is seeking applications for a Head of its Career and Practice Development Unit. This management role involves leading a programme of work with a small, dynamic team, as part of a newly formed Solicitor Services Department.

The Head of the Career and Practice Development Unit will provide strategic leadership for the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of services for solicitors—from early career through mid and senior-career progression. Areas of focus include business and practice development, leadership, technology, and innovation.

The successful candidate will support the effective and timely implementation of key projects linked to Law Society’s Strategic Ambitions and the Solicitor Services strategy. A minimum of 5 years’ managerial experience in professional development, legal practice, and/or legal talent development is required. While professional legal training is not a requirement of the role, a strong understanding of the changing legal profession is required.

It is required that the Head of Service would attend in person at the Law Society a minimum of three days per week. Duties will occasionally require attendance after 5pm and/or weekends.

Contract length: Permanent.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the ongoing implementation of the Law Society’s 2024-2028 strategy and Career & Practice Development Strategy 2026-2028.
• Plan and oversee the timely delivery and ongoing development of a range of profession-facing services/projects.
• Manage the Unit’s team and its operational budget.
• Produce high quality reports, resources, and communication materials.
• Research, assess and develop ways of meeting the evolving career and practice needs of the almost 13,000 strong cohort of practising solicitors and allied legal professionals.
• Develop and coordinate strategic engagement with inhouse, small/medium practices and larger legal workplaces – through meetings/events (externally, onsite, online), and at regional locations.

Knowledge & Skills

• Hold a relevant third level qualification and/or significant senior work experience in a relevant area such as professional services, leadership and change development, legal practice/management.
• Experience of managing dynamic teams, projects and budgets.
• Experience of partnering with professional services workplaces is an advantage.
• A creative, innovative, and proactive approach to working within a dynamic team.
• Willingness to develop new skills, knowledge and capacities as the Law Society Career and Practice Development Unit evolves and priorities shift.
• Strong communication and organisational ability with well-developed interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Empathetic and professional approach to leadership in law.
• Ability to influence stakeholders in the Law Society and in the wider legal community to work towards common goals.
• Knowledge and nuanced understanding of appropriate responses to prevailing sectoral challenges and opportunities (incl. technology/innovation, talent development, and business/practice development, is required).
• Experience in developing/overseeing implementation of a Unit wide operation and communication strategy is desirable.
• Familiarity with AI/Project management tools is desirable.

Remuneration & Benefit

• Salary (DOE)
• Excellent working condition
• Training & development opportunities
• Pension

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Closing Date: Friday, 3 July 2026