Join to apply for the Crown Solicitor, Northern Ireland role at Attorney General's Office (UK)
The Crown Solicitor is the most senior government lawyer for the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland, acting for the Crown in service to the people of Northern Ireland and the rule of law.
Section 35 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (as amended) provides for a Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland to be appointed by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland after consultation with the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. Under section 35 (as amended) the Crown Solicitor:
“…must make his services available to any Minister or department of the Government of the United Kingdom and may make his services available to any Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department or any other public body or holder of public office.”
The Crown Solicitor is appointed as a statutory office holder and is accountable to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland for his/her legal functions.
The funding of the Crown Solicitor’s Office (CSO) statutorily resides with Parliament. At present, it is nominally secured as part of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) vote, for financial management and accounting purposes.
The Crown Solicitor’s Office is engaged exclusively in legal work for the public service. The Office provides a service to UK Government ministers, departments and agencies, to some non-departmental public bodies and public officers (such as the Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland) and undertakes some debt recoveries for the NI Administration.
The Crown Solicitor also supports the Advocate General for Northern Ireland in the discharge of their functions.
The political and societal change that has occurred in Northern Ireland since 1973 has been significant and provides a very different context to the nature and conduct of the business of the Crown Solicitor’s Office today. Consequently, the Office is currently undergoing a significant programme of transformation including a machinery of government change to bring governance arrangements for the Crown Solicitor, under the auspices of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland with the Crown Solicitor’s Office becoming a Law Officers’ Department.
The Work of The CSO
The CSO deals with the some of the most complex and high-profile legal cases in Northern Ireland. The work is hugely varied, high volume in nature and includes:
* Inquests and civil claims relating to the legacy of Northern Ireland’s troubled past
* Non legacy related inquests and civil claims
* Judicial reviews frequently involving complex constitutional issues
* Employment advisory and litigation cases
* Immigration
* Extradition
* Commercial and debt recovery.
* Bona Vacantia work
The CSO is a member of the Government Legal Profession which brings together those legal offices and departments across the UK who provide legal services to UK government departments.
The CSO is also currently a participating unit of the Government Legal Service for Northern Ireland (GLSNI). GLSNI brings together a community of lawyers from five legal units operating in the devolved and non-devolved sectors.
There are currently 80 staff in the CSO of whom 40 are legal staff. It has a total running cost of approximately £7 million, mostly salaries, and operates on a full cost recovery basis by hard charging clients for services.
We are looking for an exceptional lawyer and outstanding leader to be the new Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland. You will be an expert in domestic law, in dealing with senior Ministers, and speaking plainly about the law and the justice system.
You will need to be able to get up to speed quickly about the challenges facing the UK government in Northern Ireland and lead high- performing teams led by capable and expert Deputy Directors.
Key Responsibilities
As Crown Solicitor of Northern Ireland, your key responsibilities will include:
* Leading the CSO’s transformation agenda setting direction, encouraging innovation and freshness of approach to tasks through effective communication and motivating colleagues.
* Having oversight and strategic leadership of all civil litigation in Northern Ireland brought by or against the Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom as listed in Section 17 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 as extended to Northern Ireland in by the Crown Proceedings (NI) Order 1981. Also to act in litigation matters for all who may instruct him/her and who come within the provisions of Section 35(3) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (as amended)
* Leading the Office’s Management Board, responsible for the strategy, resourcing, governance, performance, and culture of the Office.
* Overseeing four Deputy Directors and the work of their teams.
* Owning very senior and complex relationships with clients and stakeholders in Northern Ireland, Whitehall and within national security arenas,
* Acting in extradition matters under the provisions of the Extradition Act
* Acting for the Advocate General for Northern Ireland when required.
* Acting as nominee for the Treasury Solicitor in Bona Vacantia matters - the administration of estates of deceased persons which devolve to the Crown; and in relation to the property of dissolved companies and failed trusts.
* Carrying out other miscellaneous functions such as the taking of evidence and service of documents in foreign suits.
* Representing the Office’s interests at GLP Core Group Meetings and GLSNI Management Board.
* Being an active legal leader in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, including through core membership of the Government Legal Profession.
* Working towards the Crown Solicitor’s Office becoming a full Law Officers’ Department.
* Upholding your independence as a statutory officer holder in line with professional obligations.
* Liaising and collaborating closely, including on development and pastoral matters, with the Director General of the Attorney General’s Office / Advocate General’s Office in London.
Person specification
As the Crown Solicitor, you will set the direction for the Office and help shape its future role. In doing so, you will be playing an important role in the governance of and rule of law in Northern Ireland. You will engage your people and develop their capability; manage performance effectively; drive savings and efficiencies and role model the Civil Service values of honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity as outlined in the Civil Service Leadership Statement.
It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you provide evidence to demonstrate your capability and potential against the following essential criteria:
* The Crown Solicitor carries out their functions in an intensely complex environment. You will need a confident manner with senior interlocutors, sophisticated and versatile communication skills (verbal and written), and highly developed handling skills.
* The Crown Solicitor personally advises clients at the most senior level on a regular basis. You will have personal presence, effectiveness and credibility to operate at the highest levels in Government. You will be able to demonstrate excellent judgement and self-reliance, and highly developed legal and relationship building skills, to resolve complex challenges at pace.
* The Crown Solicitor is responsible for the professional content of the complex legal practice of the CSO. You will be experienced in legal leadership including leading transformation programmes.
* The role requires expertise and experience in domestic law (civil or criminal), including litigation. You will have direct knowledge of and experience of handling national security issues within a civil or criminal context.
* The Crown Solicitor has substantial governance, sponsorship and managerial responsibilities. You will have demonstrated strong leadership and management skills. An ability to drive through significant transformation is essential.
* The Crown Solicitor carries out their functions in a complex, fast-moving and unpredictable environment. You will be able to show you can thrive in such an environment by demonstrating self-awareness and resilience, commitment to personal development and well-being. Diversity and inclusion are business critical to the successful operation of the Office. A track record of effectiveness in this area is essential.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo developed security vetting once in post, which is a condition of appointment.
Qualifications
You will need to demonstrate that you meet these requirements in your application.
Under Section 35 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, to be eligible for appointment candidates must, by the date of application, meet the following conditions:
Be a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing; or a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing.
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Other
Industries
* Government Relations Services
We’re removing irrelevant postings to improve focus. The description is intended for a Crown Solicitor role in Northern Ireland and reflects responsibilities, qualifications and context for this position.
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