Senior Legal Researcher (Assistant Principal Officer)

An opportunity now exists for a suitably qualified and committed individuals to take up the role of Senior Legal Researcher (Assistant Principal) in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs & Migration.

Currently a number of vacancies exist for Senior Legal Researcher across the Department including in the Legal Services Support Unit (LSSU), Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals, Security & Northern Ireland and Civil Legislation and Policy. Successful applicants will be placed on a panel, in order of merit. The Senior Legal Researcher vacancies to be filled from this panel will be in various locations in Dublin 1 and 2.

Vacancies of a closely similar nature arising elsewhere in the Department or wider Civil Service may be filled from the panel established on foot of this competition.

More information on the roles can be found in the Senior Legal Researcher competitiion booklet

Essential Qualifications & Requirements

Candidates must by the closing date for applications:

• Hold a Law Degree at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), minimum 2.1 Honours, or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent or a recognised relevant professional legal qualification such as a Barrister-at-Law degree and /or a completed Solicitor Professional Practice Course

and

• Relevant practical experience in providing legal research and /or legal advice.

Candidates must also have:

• Extensive knowledge of one or more areas of law including

- Irish immigration and international protection law;

- Constitutional law

- Administrative law and the law of judicial review, including contemporary legislative developments and evolving jurisprudence;

- Criminal law

- International human rights law and international refugee law;

• Good familiarity with EU law and the EU legal system;
• Significant management experience at an appropriate level, including an ability to lead, guide and develop teams and manage resources;
• Strong experience of the management and/or development of research services/projects;
• Strong research & analytical skills with excellent attention to detail;
• Excellent legal writing skills with the ability to present research/information/analysis in a concise, accessible, and plain-English style;
• The ability to exercise integrity, professional judgement and deliver high quality work in a fast-paced work environment
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills with the capacity to influence and work effectively and constructively with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels;
• Be highly motivated and capable of working independently as well as part of a team;
• Strong information technology skills particularly using Microsoft Office, legal research databases and online legal resources;
• A demonstrated commitment to Continuous Professional Development

Desirable Requirements

It is desirable that candidates should, on the date of application, have:

• Familiarity with the law of evidence.
• Experience with legal research projects
• Experience of working in a quasi-judicial decision-making body
• Experience in litigation and familiarity with court procedures in civil and criminal law matters
• Familiarity with data protection and digital policy matters at EU and National Level

Completed applications, in Microsoft word only, should be submitted to competitions@justice.ie with the subject heading: Senior Legal Researcher ‘Candidate name’.

The closing date for applications is 13/05/2026 at 3.00pm