Competition for appointment to the position of:
Senior Legal Researcher
in the
Law Reform Commission
Closing Date: 12 noon on 17th February 2025
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Background Information about the post
The Law Reform Commission was established by the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 to keep the law under independent, objective and expert review. The Commission has five members: the President, the Full-time Commissioner, and three part-time Commissioners.
Our purpose is to review Irish law and make proposals for reform. We also work on modernising the law to make it easier to access and understand. Our law reform proposals are developed in a process which starts with a Consultation Paper. Consultation Papers examine the law and set out questions on possible changes to the law. Once a Consultation Paper is published, we invite submissions on possible changes to the law. We consult widely, consider the submissions we have received and then publish a Report setting out the Commission’s analysis and recommendations.
Many of the Commission’s proposals have led to changes in Irish law.
Job Function
Senior Legal Researchers play a key role on the Commission’s legal research team, providing an efficient, accurate and high-quality legal research service to the Commission. Senior Legal Researchers work closely with the Director and Deputy Directors of Research to develop research questions and draft law reform recommendations for consideration by the Commission and to progress law reform projects at Commission level.
The Senior Legal Researcher will be required to provide guidance and mentorship to legal researchers and interns and to contribute to knowledge management, development of skills and information sharing within the Commission.
Law Reform Research
Under the supervision of the Director of Research and Deputy Directors of Research, the Senior Legal Researcher will carry out legal research and analysis, and draft proposed legislation, Consultation Papers and Reports for publication.
Current projects include:
- Compensating Victims of Crime
- Reform of Non-Court Adjudicative Bodies and Appeals to Courts
- Regulation of Third Party Litigation Funding and Assignment
Upcoming Projects include:
- Liability of Unincorporated Associations
- Recognition of Foreign Divorces
The work of the Commission and its legal research team involves extensive consultation with relevant people and bodies, including members of the public, members of the Oireachtas, Government Departments, the legal profession and other relevant professions, industry, public bodies and NGOs.
The Senior Legal Researcher will be required to conduct comparative research on the laws of other jurisdictions as this is an essential part of the Commission’s research process.
The Commission maintains extensive library resources to assist with the research process, including online resources such as vLex, HeinOnline, LexisNexis and Westlaw. Senior Legal Researchers will be expected to have familiarity with those resources and to be able to support junior researchers in their use of same.
The Commission often publishes draft Bills that reflect the recommendations contained in its report. Depending on the project, the Senior Legal Researcher may have to produce draft legislative provisions for consideration by the Commission.
Researchers attend meetings of the Commission to discuss their work and to receive direction from the Commission on how to progress law reform projects. Senior Legal Researchers will be expected to produce, and assist other researchers with the production of, research memorandums, draft chapters, recommendations, and draft legislative provisions.
Access to Legislation
The Senior Legal Researcher will also be expected to contribute to the Commission’s work on Access to Legislation which produces the Legislation Directory, Revised Acts and the Classified List of In-Force Legislation, under the supervision of the Access to Legislation Manager and Deputy Managers. In relation to the Legislation Directory, this will involve detailed reading of legislation and noting of effects and other elements such as commencement information. The work on Revised Acts will entail the analysis of amendments and other legislative effects and their incorporation using an XML authoring system. Work on the Classified List will involve the use of an IT system integrated with the Legislation Directory to update and maintain the List.
Key Responsibilities
The Senior Legal Researcher will be responsible for:
- Conducting accurate, high quality, evidence-based research and analysis on the Commission’s law reform projects to assist the Commission with the development of law reform proposals;
- Supporting the Commission’s law reform objectives of producing an expert and thoroughly researched body of work containing proposals for law reform that contribute to the development of laws that are responsive to the contemporary and anticipated needs of society in Ireland;
- Progressing law reform projects, ensuring excellence, independence and objectivity in the Commission’s research, as well as delivering high standards of research quality and legal analysis in the Commission’s law reform publications;
- Preparing draft memoranda, Consultation Papers and Reports;
- Preparing draft legislative provisions that reflect the Commission’s law reform proposals where required;
- Engaging with stakeholders on the Commission’s projects to ensure law reform proposals are practical, end-user focus and capable of implementation;
- Maintaining and updating the Legislation Directory, Classified List and Revised Acts;
- Promoting human rights and equality in the law reform work of the Commission;
- Promoting innovation in the law reform work of the Commission;
- Working collaboratively and effectively with others to meet the Commission’s objectives: to keep the law under independent, objective and expert review, to make recommendations for law reform and to make current law accessible to all;
- Supporting the Management Committee and the Commission;
- Mentoring, supporting and guiding researchers and interns through induction, training and knowledge sharing, and where required, assigning and constructively reviewing their work, including providing feedback and direction;
- Undertaking such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Director of Research, Deputy Directors of Research and Access to Legislation Managers.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential Requirements
Candidates must have, on or before the 17th February, 2025:
- A 2:1 honours degree or an equivalent qualification (at least a Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in law, or a qualification, acceptable to the Law Reform Commission as equivalent, in which Law was taken as a major subject;
- Excellent and demonstrable knowledge of Irish law, the Irish legal system and a good knowledge of EU law gained through an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree or professional experience acceptable to the Law Reform Commission as equivalent;
- Excellent and demonstrable knowledge of Irish constitutional law, contemporary legislative developments and evolving jurisprudence;
- Good knowledge of Irish and European current affairs;
- Experience reading and interpreting Irish and EU legislation;
- Knowledge and experience of analysing complex legal questions, whether in an academic, professional research or practice setting;
- Strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills with excellent attention to detail;
- Excellent editorial skills and the ability to write and present research and information in a concise, accessible and plain English style;
- Good information technology skills, particularly in the use Microsoft Office, Sharepoint, legal research databases, and online legal resources;
- The ability to prioritise and manage workloads in a busy working environment to meet deadlines;
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment;
- Demonstrable experience in contributing to substantial research projects.
Desirable skills
Ideally, candidates will also have one or more of the following:
- a master’s degree in law and/or a professional legal qualification;
- applied knowledge of legal and social science research methodologies;
and
- experience providing guidance, induction and/or training to new colleagues.
Candidates will also be expected to be able to demonstrate the competencies for a role at Higher Executive Officer level, please refer to Appendix 1.
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Faigh an Fhoirm Iarratais don phost seo anseo.
Please find the Information Booklet for this position here.
Please find the Application Form for this position here.