Careers

The Courts Service is seeking suitably qualified and committed individuals to take up full-time fixed-term roles as Research Support Associates (RSA) in the Research Support Office (RSO). These individuals will provide high quality legal research services to support members of the Irish Judiciary as well as being involved in initiatives to develop legal research and support services for the judiciary.

Research Support Associates will engage directly with members of the Irish Judiciary. They will not be assigned directly to an individual judge but will undertake research projects and support information dissemination across the judiciary via newsletters and updates on case law for example.

The Research Support Office (RSO) consists of Research Support Associates to provide legal research and support services to Judges of all jurisdictions.

The RSO is managed by a Legal Research Executive who reports to a Legal Research Manager. The Legal Research and Library Services Committee guides the work of the RSO in terms of judicial requirements.

The RSO provides the following services:

• The compiling and updating of bench books on various court lists and areas of law (civil and criminal) for use by members of the Judiciary;
• The provision of written memoranda in response to research requests made by individual Judges in the Appellate, High, Circuit and District Courts;
• The circulation of legal updates to all members of the Judiciary;
• Briefings to members of the Judiciary and colleagues on legal research conducted by the office on various areas of law;
• The provision of information sessions to visiting delegations of international dignitaries on the Irish legal system;
• Attendance and the provision of research assistance at judicial conferences.

Qualifications, skills and experience

Candidates must, on or before the 1 June 2022, be in possession of the following: 

• An honours law degree at 2.1 (LLB or BCL) at a minimum of level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or a recognised professional legal qualification or the Diploma in Law from The Honorable Society of King’s Inns;
• Relevant experience conducting legal research (including academic research or research in the course of court-case preparation);
• Knowledge of Irish law and the Irish legal system, including contemporary statute and case law;
• Knowledge of EU law;
• Excellent legal research and information technology skills and knowledge of commercial and open-access online legal research methods, materials and databases;
• Strong editorial skills and the ability to write and present research in a concise, accessible and plain English style;
• Experience of prioritising and managing assigned tasks in a busy work environment and working within deadlines;
• The ability to apply legal research to practical scenarios;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; and
• The ability to work both independently and in a team environment.

The following are desirable:

• a recognised professional legal qualification;
• a post-graduate qualification;
• an aptitude for research;
• knowledge of international law;
• experience in professional legal research; and
• experience in knowledge-management systems.

Further information is available in the competition information booklet.

Application Form

Closing date for applications is 12 Noon on Wednesday 1 June 2022.

The Courts Service is currently hiring for an Assistant Principal Officer in the Finance Unit (Court Fees and Financial Control Environment).  The AP position will support the Head of Finance leading a team of three people who have responsibility for, amongst other things:

• Managing and reporting the Courts Service income of €34.6m.
• Oversight and reconciliation of the Service’s bank accounts and banking,
• The financial control environment including the risk management framework, the preparation of reports to the Senior Management Team, Audit and Risk Committee, the Finance Committee and the Board of the Courts Service.
• Involvement in projects contributing towards the achievement of the ambitious ten-year Modernisation Programme aimed at improving access to justice in a modern, digital Ireland.
• Any other projects required from time to time.

The core responsibilities and deliverables for the role are laid out below with further information available in the competition information booklet: 

• Court Fees Management
• Banking
• Risk Management
• Control Environment
• Budgeting and reporting (Performance Budgeting)
• Annual Appropriation Account

Candidates interested in applying for this role should submit a letter of application no longer than one page and a CV no longer than three pages to careers@courts.ie by 12 noon on 27 May 2022.

Operating Environment

The Courts Service is an independent State Agency established by the Courts Service Act, 1998. Our mission is to support the judiciary and provide excellent services to all users of the courts thereby facilitating access to justice. 

A long-term strategic vision for the future of the Courts Service sets out our plan to re-design services around court users, leveraging digital technology to streamline services and ultimately delivering a modern court system. The coming years is an exciting time to be a member of Courts Service staff and be part of our evolving and modernising journey. 

The Courts Service is seeking suitably qualified and committed individuals to take up full-time and part-time (contract of 1-3 year duration) solicitor roles in the General Solicitors Office at the grade of Assistant Principal Officer.

1. Role & Overview

The General Solicitors Office is an office within the Supreme & High Court Directorate of the Courts Service.  As a senior member of the staff within the General Solicitors Office the Assistant Solicitor will be required to participate and contribute to the formulation of policies and strategies within the office to ensure the office meets its obligations as a business unit within the Courts Service.

As Committee/Guardian the General Solicitor assumes the legal identity of a Ward/Minor and, subject to the direction of the High Court, carries out all necessary legal and property management work on their behalf.  The General Solicitor's Office has a wide remit which includes taking carriage of Wardship proceedings; acting as Committee of the Estate and/or Person of a Ward of Court or Guardian of a Minor; providing solicitor services in Wardship matters and acting as Amicus Curiae; and opposing costs in Wardship matters before the Taxing Master as directed by the Registrar of Wards of Court.

2. Key Responsibilities

Assistant Solicitors in the General Solicitor’s Office carry out a wide range of work on behalf of Wards of Court and Minors which includes but is not limited to such matters as the following:

• Conveyancing
• Litigation mainly in Superior Courts and Circuit Court
• Probate and Administration and Taxation
• Vulnerable Adult Law/Human Rights
• Child Care Law/Family Law
• Deprivation of Liberty
• Acting as Amicus Curiae
• Managing the estate/assets/income of a Ward/Minor

As Case Officers the Assistant Solicitors assigned to the office are required to take the necessary steps to ensure the personal well-being of the Wards and this will include:

Liaising with families and health professionals in regard to a Ward’s placement and making the appropriate recommendations to the Court.

Applying the Ward’s funds for his/her benefit and assessing requests for expenditure.
Reviewing proposals by other parties that impact on a Ward’s entitlements and to provide appropriate advice and recommendation to the Court on such proposals;

Ensuring a Ward is in receipt of entitlements due under Social Welfare or Health Legislation

3. Essential Qualifications and Personal Requirements:

Each candidate must on or before 12 noon on Monday 23 May 2022:

• Have a minimum of three years relevant experience as a practising solicitor in the State; and
• Have sufficient and varied practice (in the areas set out below) as a solicitor in the State in the areas of Property and Conveyancing, Probate and Administration of Estates, Civil Litigation and Court Advocacy.
• Periods spent in whole-time positions in the Civil Service, for appointment to which qualification as a solicitor was an essential requirement, will be reckoned as practice for this purpose.
• demonstrate in-depth and up to date knowledge of Irish law and the Irish legal system, including contemporary statute and case law;
• demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills; and
• possess high level ICT skills required for research purposes and be familiar with the use of commercial and open access on-line electronic law sources.
• demonstrate the skills and competence to perform as an Assistant Principal Officer.

The following are desirable:

• experience dealing with vulnerable adult law and child law would be beneficial.

4. Application Process

Applications by way of a CV (No more than 3 pages) and a one-page cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements and why you should be considered for this position should be sent by email to careers@courts.ie.

All applications must be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 23 May 2022.

Candidates should note on their email if they are applying for the full-time position or the part-time position.

Information Booklet

Have you a passion for working with numbers? Have you excellent people skills?

If you have answered “Yes” to both of these, have you considered a career in the Courts Service?

The Courts Service are looking to hire an Accounts Payable Manager (HEO grade).

The role would suit a dynamic individual who thrives working in a fast paced environment and has a real desire to succeed.

If you think you have what it takes, please email careers@courts.ie or contact Ms. Denise Cole, Head of Human Resources at 087 9182955.

Closing date to apply is 12 noon on Monday 16^th May

Information Booklet 

Why Choose Us

The benefits of working in the Courts Service include:

• Flexible Working
• Generous Annual Leave
• Career Development
• Internal Mobility
• Training
• Professional Development
• Responsibility
• Corporate Citizenship
• Structured salary Progression
• Excellent Superannuation Scheme
• We are an Equal Opportunities Employer

Your learning journey starts when we welcome you onboard with our induction programme and continues with further opportunities for personal and professional development. Opportunities for further education are available with a refund of fees scheme along with study and exam leave. We want you to maximise your potential and we will support you to get there.

If you are a student, a graduate, just starting your career, changing your career or an experienced professional in your field of expertise we have a role for you in the Courts Service.