Application Closing Date: 9 June 2023
Job Start Date: As soon as possible
Duration: Initial one-year contract - with possibility of permanent contract
Pay: Starting at €65,000 per annum (depending on experience and qualifications). This is a Grade 5 position on the Transparency International Ireland Pay scale)
Location: 69 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1/Hybrid
Transparency Legal Advice Centre Overview
Transparency Legal Advice Centre (TLAC) is a not-for-profit, independent law centre registered with the Law Society of Ireland. We specialise in providing legal advice to workers in Ireland who are considering disclosing, or have already disclosed, suspected wrongdoing in their workplace under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 or as otherwise provided for in law. TLAC was established by Transparency International Ireland (TI Ireland), the Irish chapter of the global coalition against corruption to provide legal advice to clients referred to TLAC from TI Ireland’s Speak Up Helpline. We are a partner organisation of TI Ireland and work closely with them in advancing our charitable goals and advise them on matters of mutual concern.
Primary Purpose of the Role
TLAC is seeking to recruit a Managing Solicitor to lead, co-ordinate and manage the operations and resources of a small team of solicitors and volunteers in the effective delivery of legal services to clients. The Managing Solicitor will be expected to run the centre in pursuance of the charitable objectives of TLAC. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wishes to work in a developing and highly topical area of law. The Managing Solicitor also serves as Legal Counsel to TI Ireland.
Key Accountabilities
Manage Operations & Service Delivery
The Managing Solicitor is responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day operations of the Law Centre, co-ordinating and supporting services to ensure consistency in quality and the effective utilisation of staff to meet its commitments and respond to service-user needs. They, along with their team, maintain a body of knowledge and legal expertise on whistleblowing.
Relationships & Stakeholder Management
The Managing Solicitor will actively promote and maintain respectful and collaborative relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
They will work closely with senior stakeholders on key issues and provide expert advice. They will be a skilled communicator who writes fluently and communicates persuasively in a range of styles and formats adjusting their style to optimise relationships and outcomes.
Ensure Compliance
They will ensure that the Centre’s internal systems, processes, policies and programs are compliant. Reporting to the Centre’s Board of Directors, they will ensure that the Centre’s obligations to Donors; TI Ireland and the wider TI Movement; the Charities Regulator; the CRO; and the Law Society of Ireland are met.
Provide Leadership & Staff Development
They will have an unwavering commitment to service delivery. They will help to maintain an atmosphere where performance counts in a culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. They will hold themselves and others personally responsible for results and will champion the development of all members of the team.
Champion the Centre
The Managing Solicitor will at all times help to champion the centre with their actions and their words both written or verbal. They will collaborate with and support TI Ireland in its advocacy, education and research efforts and where necessary, income generation, fundraising and media engagements. They will use their knowledge and legal expertise on whistleblowing to help create statistical data and identify corruption risks.
Key challenges
- Balancing competing demands and ensuring professional standards are met.
- Ensure ongoing compliance.
- Delivering and maintaining services in an environment where resources are limited.
Key Relationships
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Who |
Why |
Internal |
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Board Members |
To ensure quality in the delivery of an effective, efficient and compliant service.
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TLAC Team Members |
To help maintain a culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect; where performance counts and results are achieved; and people have the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally.
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TI Ireland Chief Executive |
In the provision of legal advice to TI Ireland from time to time; TLAC compliance with contractual obligations to donors, TI Ireland and the wider TI movement; administrative and management support to TLAC; and also to discuss and collaborate in advancing TLAC’s charitable goals.
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TI Ireland Team Members |
To promote collaborative relationships between the two organisations.
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External |
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Service Users |
To deliver upon TLAC’s commitment to assist those who are considering reporting wrongdoing or who have already done so. Leading by example, to ensure superior quality of service and the outward extension of the Centre’s culture of dignity and respect.
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Donors |
To build close-knit relationships with existing and potential donors ensuring the long-term viability of the Centre.
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External Agencies & Regulators |
To maintain positive working relationships with external agencies and regulators whom the Centre may rely upon and/or have a burden of compliance with, in relation to the provision of its services.
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Other Practitioners & Professionals |
To create positive relationships with other practitioners in the area of Protected Disclosures along with other professionals who may from time-to-time be in a position to provide additional support to service users. To participate and contribute to the network of Independent Law Centres in Ireland.
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Essential Requirements
- The ideal candidate must be a qualified solicitor in possession of or can apply readily for a practicing certificate from the Law Society of Ireland.
- They must have post-qualification experience as a practicing solicitor.
Ideal Requirements
- Knowledge of employment law, including protected disclosures, data protection law and anti-corruption law in Ireland.
- Experience managing a small team.
- Experienced in income generation and/or fundraising.
- Understanding of or experience with the compliance requirements of a charity.
- Professional or volunteer experience in a not-for-profit legal environment
Applications
Please send a CV and covering letter to admin@transparency.ie by 6pm on 9 June 2023. The email enclosing your CV and covering letter should have [MS/2023] in the subject line.
It is essential that the covering letter concisely addresses (in no more than two pages):
- Motivation for applying for the position; and
- Relevant experience for the role.
The CV should ideally be two pages long. CVs longer than three pages will not be considered. Experience should be presented in reverse chronological order and the names and positions of two referees should be provided. Contact details of referees are not necessary at this stage.
The selection process will involve at least one interview and a written exercise.
Equal Opportunities Statement
Transparency Legal Advice Centre is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to promoting a work environment free from discrimination on grounds of gender, civil/marital status, family status, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, age or membership of the traveller community.
Data Protection
As part of any recruitment process, TLAC collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. TLAC is committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection obligations. You can find more information in our Data Protection Policy.