Legal Advisor

CCPC; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Remote work 60%

29 days leave

Job summary

CCPC in Ireland invites applications for a Legal Advisor at Higher Executive Officer grade in the Competition Legal Division. You will provide legal advice on administrative and criminal enforcement, merger review, and advise on compliance with competition law.

You will work with case teams, interact with external counsel and government bodies, and contribute to enforcement strategy. This is a high-responsibility role in a dynamic public body with extensive powers.

Qualifications

• Bar admission to practice in Ireland or equivalent qualification.
• At least two years of relevant experience.
• Strong advisory, litigation and analytical capabilities.
• Fluency in English.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality legal advice on CCPC’s competition law functions including investigations, enforcement action and merger review.
• Support management of administrative and criminal legal proceedings.
• Provide proactive legal advice to enforcement case teams and coordinate cross‑divisional working.
• Liaise with external counsel, government officials and EU counterparts.
• Represent the CCPC at national and international meetings and contribute to legislative proposals.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical

Interpersonal

Communication

Job description

*Point of entry on this salary scale may differ from the minimum point of the scale if thesuccessful candidate is a current public or civil servant.

Employing Authority: Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

Office Location: Bloom House, Railway Street, Dublin 1, D01 C576

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Hybrid / Agile / Remote Working:You will be required to attend the office for at least 40% of your timeand can avail of remote working up to 60% of your time. This is subjectto business requirements.The CCPC generally operates on a fully remote basis during the monthof August and over the Christmas period. This arrangement is subject tobusiness requirements.

Annual Leave:29 days per annum

Tenure: Wholetime, Permanent

Job description: Please see detailed job description for this role below

Required competencies: The required competencies for this role can be found here .

Terms and conditions: Please see terms and conditions linked to the recruitment process here .

The CCPC has two in-house legal divisions: the Competition Legal Division (CLD) and the ConsumerCorporate Legal Division. This competition is for a role within the Competition Legal Division.

The Competition Legal Division is a team of lawyers who support the CCPC in delivering on all aspectsof its competition law functions. The Division’s primary focus is advising the Commission and caseteams on mergers and competition enforcement. In relation to mergers, the Division advises on allaspects of the CCPC’s merger review function under the Competition Act 2002, as amended. Oncompetition enforcement, the Division advises on criminal enforcement and the CCPC’s noveladministrative enforcement regime introduced by the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022. TheDivision also has a very busy litigation function and is responsible for managing legal proceedings andlegal risk on behalf of the CCPC. In addition, the Division also advises the Commission on legislationand policy relating to competition law and enforcement, for example, the Digital Markets Act, and onother aspects related to the CCPC’s expanding remit.

CLD is led by the Director of Legal (Competition). The team consists of two Deputy Directors, one withresponsibility for mergers and one with responsibility for competition enforcement, and a currentteam of seven lawyers supplemented by external consultants where required. Where appropriate, theCCPC also engages external barristers and solicitors to advise on a variety of legal matters. The teamworks closely with case teams on mergers/investigation files and also has a key role in advising the Commission on matters of strategic importance.

Given the CCPC’s evolving remit and ambitious enforcement objectives, this is a rare opportunity tojoin a division at the forefront of advising on novel, complex and exciting legal issues in Ireland.

The CCPC is seeking to recruit a Legal Advisor at Higher Executive Officer (HEO) grade to work in theCompetition Legal Division. The Legal Advisor will provide legal advice to the Commission and itsvarious Divisions on administrative and criminal enforcement of competition law and on the statutorymerger review regime and will take an active role in all legal aspects of the CCPC’s competition lawfunctions including litigation matters. They will also have opportunities to gain experience of otherareas of law which impact the CCPC, including public procurement law and Freedom of Information.

This is an exciting opportunity for a junior lawyer to be at the forefront of the competition regulatorylandscape in Ireland and to make a significant contribution to the delivery of legal services within adynamic organisation with a wide range of enforcement and regulatory powers.

This position offers a fulfilling and responsible role in a busy and challenging environment dealing withinteresting and varied legal issues. We strongly promote and support the personal development ofevery one of our lawyers and on the job training and education will be provided.

The broad range of issues dealt with by the Competition Legal Division means you will have directengagement with decision makers, while playing a key role in ensuring that CCPC decisions are legallyrobust, and that legal risk is managed effectively.

Key responsibilities

• Provide high quality, clear and timely legal advice on all aspects of the CCPC’s competition law functions including investigations, enforcement action and merger review.
• Support the management of both administrative and criminal legal proceedings relating to the CCPC’s competition law functions.
• Provide proactive legal advice and support to the CCPC’s enforcement case teams and build and develop relationships within the CCPC to further embed cross-divisional working.
• Liaise with and maintain effective and professional working relationships with external parties, including external legal counsel, government officials, other enforcement agencies in Ireland and the EU and the European Commission.
• Represent the CCPC at both national and international level at meetings and conferences e.g. European Competition Network (ECN).
• Assist in making proposals or recommendations to Government Ministers regarding legislative changes which will promote competition and/or consumer welfare.
• Promote the Vision, Mission and Values of the CCPC that will pro-actively contribute to the CCPC achieving its strategic objectives.

The successful candidate

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic and motivated lawyer with a genuine interest incompetition law/mergers and public regulation. They will be required to demonstrate strongleadership, analytical, organisational and interpersonal skills together with the ability to analysecomplex legal issues, provide practical legal support and communicate effectively with a range ofinternal and external stakeholders.

• Candidates must have been called to the Bar in the State and entered on the Roll of PractisingBarristers maintained by the LSRA or have been admitted and be currently enrolled as asolicitor in the State or equivalent.
• At least two years of demonstrated relevant experience.
• Proven ability to provide clear, strategic and practical legal advice.
• Oral and written fluency in the English language.
• Relevant qualifications and/or experience in law above the essential requirements.
• Knowledge of the work of the CCPC, including knowledge of Irish and EU competition law andthe Irish merger review regime.
• Knowledge of Irish civil and criminal court practice and procedure.
• Experience in dispute resolution, litigation, or regulatory investigations.
• Experience advising on civil or criminal investigations and/or inspections and enforcementpowers.

Equal opportunities

The CCPC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to championing an inclusive anddiverse workforce that reflects modern Ireland and the people we serve. We strive to create a culturewhere everyone has equal access to opportunity and feels comfortable and confident to be themselvesat work. Reasonable Accommodations will be provided, if required, during this process. To discuss andrequest reasonable accommodations in confidence please contact [e-mail] .