Legal Assistant

1.    The Role

Fingal County Council’s Law Department provides a comprehensive service to the County Council in the entire area of local government law including conveyancing, litigation (including statutory enforcement) and dispute resolution, procurement, commercial and E.U. law. The Legal Assistant will be required to work under the supervision and direction of the Senior Legal Assistant, Chief Clerks and the Law Agent.

2.    Duties

The successful candidate will be required to carry out all duties as assigned by the Chief Clerks and the Law Agent from time to time. The duties will mainly comprise of local authority litigation including debt collection and regulatory code enforcement, conveyancing and housing matters and include but are not limited to the following:

·                 general litigation, civil and criminal, in all Courts

·                 general advice on litigation matters

·                 debt collection including rates recovery

·                 preparation of cases and briefs and attending in all courts including regulatory code enforcement

·                 matters relating to planning, environmental law and judicial review

·                 Acquisition and disposal of property and local authority housing stock

·                 Completion of online stamp duty returns, first registrations, scheduling of title documents and preparation of files for archiving

·                 Statutory Vestings

·                 attend at arbitrations/oral hearings

·                 legal research and advisory work

·                 cases involving the statutory functions and powers of local authorities

·                 Attending training appropriate to the role

·                 Operate an electronic case management system.

3.    Qualifications and Requirements of the Post

CHARACTER

Each candidate must be of good character.

HEALTH

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ETC.

Candidates must on the latest date of receipt of completed application forms:

(a)            have attained a good standard of general education

(b)            have at least three years’ experience as a Clerk in a solicitor’s office in litigation, conveyancing, or other legal work.

The ideal candidate shall:

·       Have at least 5 Years satisfactory experience working as a Legal Executive in a Solicitor’s office in litigation, conveyancing or other legal work or the law department of a corporate entity

·       Have strong interpersonal communications and advocacy skills and have the ability to engage with a wide range of people;

·       Be able to work independently or within multi-disciplined teams;

·       Be capable of working on his/her own initiative;

·       Possess good organisation skills;

·       Possess good IT and presentation skills including a working knowledge of case management systems together with an ability to manage and develop IT services and resources.

·       Have an ability to lead a team

·       Understand the changing environment and be capable of adapting to change in order to deliver quality services to our citizens.

·       Have an ability to work effectively within a team to achieve a common goal, take instruction and ensure standards are adhered to and maintained.

·       Candidates should be a holder of a full driving license, Category B free from endorsement and provide their own vehicle for use in carrying out their Council duties. Their motor insurance policy must indemnify the Council.

·       Have knowledge and experience in conveyancing processes which apply to the functions of Local Authorities including acquisition and disposal of property, complete online stamp duty returns and preparation of land registry applications.

·       Have knowledge and experience in litigation including the preparation of briefs and attending solicitors and counsel in court.

·       Be able to interview clients and advise them on the best course of action to take

·       Have a sound knowledge of Local Government statutory requirements and its functions.

·       Have an understanding of the Council’s purpose, goals and priorities and knowledge of public service organisation in Ireland.

·       Understand the role of the elected council and the representational role of the elected members.

·       Have a sound knowledge of the Housing Acts and their application

·       Have a good understanding of safety management in the workplace including health and safety legislation and regulations

·       Have a good understanding of data protection management in the workplace.

• Possess satisfactory knowledge or experience of office organisation

4.    Benefits

At Fingal County Council, we value our employees and want to support them to develop their careers. We offer flexible working arrangements, competitive salaries and pension benefits, a positive work environment, training and development opportunities, a defined career path in a supportive and inclusive culture and the opportunity to make a difference, along with the following benefits:

Ø  Standard working day is 9-5 with Flexitime (up to 13 flexi days per year)

Ø  Excellent Work/Life balance with Family Friendly Schemes such as Shorter Working Year and Work-sharing

Ø  Opportunities for promotion and career development

Ø  Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme

Ø  Pension Scheme

Ø  Blended Working available - up to 2 days per week

Ø  Ongoing training and higher educational support

Ø Cycle to Work Scheme

5.    Particulars of Employment

The employment is wholetime, permanent and pensionable. Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the annual rate of social insurance old age contributory pension payable at the maximum rate to a person with no adult dependent or qualified children).

Persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required in respect of their superannuation to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration.

All persons who become pensionable employees of a local authority will be required in respect of the local Government (Spouses and Children’s Contributory Pension) Scheme to contribute to the local authority at the rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration in accordance with the terms of the Scheme.

PROBATION

(a)   there shall be a period after such employment takes effect during which such persons shall hold such employment on probation,

(b)   such period shall be one year but the Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend such period,

(c)   such persons shall cease to hold employment at the end of the period of probation unless during such period the Chief Executive has certified that the service of such persons is satisfactory.

SALARY

€49,706, €51,193, €52,709 €54,256, €55,816, €57,633 (1st LSI), €59,456 (2nd LSI)

Persons who are not serving local authority employees will be based on the minimum of the scale.

Holders of the post shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their post or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

HEALTH

For the purpose of satisfying the requirement as to health it will be necessary for successful candidates, before they are employed, to undergo a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the Local Authority.

RETIREMENT AGE

The retirement age is 70 years.

Recruitment

A local authority may decide, by reason of the number of persons seeking admission to a competition, to carry out a shortlisting procedure. The number of persons to be invited, in these circumstances, to interview shall be determined by the local authority from time to time, having regard to the likely number of vacancies to be filled.

Selection will be by means of an interview conducted by or on behalf of the local authority. Candidates will be required to pay any expenses incurred by them in attending the interview.

Panels may be formed on the basis of such interviews. Candidates whose names are on a panel and who satisfy the local authority that they possess the qualification declared for the post and that they are otherwise suitable for employment may, within the life of the panel, be employed as appropriate vacancies arise.

The local authority shall require a person to whom employment is offered to take up such employment within a period of not more than 6 weeks and if he or she fails to take up the employment within such period or such longer period as the local authority in its absolute discretion may determine, the local authority shall not employ the person.

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