Advisory Counsel Grade I - Group E

Patrick leads and manages the advisory group responsible for legal work in the areas of Social Protection, Data Protection, Property, and Employment Law.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and supervising the group’s delivery of legal advice on matters relating to social protection, data protection, property law, and employment issues
• Advising on draft legislation across these domains
• Directing the group’s involvement in litigation, including challenges related to social protection decisions, data protection, employment disputes, and property rights, and working closely with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office on litigation strategy
• Participating as a member of the Office’s Management Committee, contributing to collective decision‑making, and the strategic coordination of legal services across the organisation
• Ensuring that legal services are delivered to a high professional standard
• Providing cross‑Government legal support on the development, interpretation, and implementation of policy within the group’s specialist legal areas.

This role seeks to ensure that Government Departments receive timely and robust legal advice across some of the most operationally significant areas of public service delivery.