Legal Advisor

We are looking to recruit a pro-active, experienced lawyer with a keen interest in public/EU law and economic regulation. Someone eager to learn and contribute to ComReg’s Wholesale Division.

Wholesale Division

The Wholesale Division’s key role is to set to set rules promoting effective competition and investment in electronic communications networks, under the EU framework for electronic communications networks and services, and competition law. This includes the analyses of electronic communications markets using competition law analytical tools and the imposition and enforcement of appropriate market remedies on telecoms operators with a view to improving levels of competition and reducing barriers to entry.

The Role

The primary role of the Legal Advisor is to provide clear, solution-focused legal advice and support the projects and the general functions of the Wholesale Division, assimilating complex legal and factual situations. This may involve briefing external solicitors and barristers and managing the interface with them.

The Legal Advisors work within multi-disciplinary teams in the Wholesale Division, which includes business analysts, industry experts, engineers, economists and accountants. The Legal Advisor reports to the Head of Legal, Wholesale Division and will be part of a team of 4 legal advisors in the division.

Role Description

  • Provide clear, concise, practical and strategic legal advice to inform and guide the Division, the Commission and its staff by identifying the key legal issues, process and procedural requirements, the available options, and the associated legal risks;
  • Review key documentation prepared in the Division or by external consultants prior to publication, and identify legal weaknesses and/or necessary changes;
  • Draft regulatory instruments such as secondary legislation and decision instruments and draft elements of public consultation documents, including regulatory impact assessments;
  • Minimise legal risk in respect of any proposed regulatory measure ensuring that it is supported by the facts and consistent with applicable law and the administrative process leading to the proposed measure is properly conducted;
  • Prepare legal briefs for external lawyers, particularly in the context of litigation, and manage the ongoing provision of external advice;
  • Contribute to the management of litigation as required, particularly in the context of appeals/judicial review and enforcement, including review and advice on correspondence, affidavits, expert reports and other documents required in the context of Court proceedings;
  • Provide analysis and input on any proposed national or EU legislation impacting ComReg’s responsibilities;
  • Liaise with legal and other staff in government departments, public bodies and national regulatory authorities as required;
  • Contribute to organisation-level legal and regulatory policy issues, including by participating in cross-Divisional advisor meetings led by ComReg’s General Counsel.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Be enrolled and admitted as a Solicitor or Barrister in the State, or equivalent;
  • Experience in regulatory law, EU law, public administrative law or competition law;
  • Proven ability to operate collaboratively at all levels within an organisation providing accurate and timely advice on a variety of legal topics.
  • Experience in drafting and/or reviewing all aspects of public consultation papers and regulatory decisions, or legislation;

Desirable

  • 6+ years post-qualification experience or equivalent experience and competencies, ideally in top tier legal practice or as in-house counsel in a competition or sector-specific regulator or in the regulated industry sector;
  • Regulatory enforcement or High Court litigation experience;
  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team;
  • Proven experience of operating at a management level including briefing senior management.

Core Competencies and Skills for the Role

In addition to your legal qualifications and experience, you will bring professional competencies and skills in the following core areas:

Communicating & Influencing: Communicates clearly, confidently and respectfully. Engages, persuades and convinces others to follow a particular course of action. Ensures all relevant parties are appropriately updated and notified.

Decision Making & Judgement: Effectively builds evidence base to support the decision-making process. Assesses alternative options. Uses judgement to adapt to specific and challenging requirements of the organisation.

Drafting: Uses a logical structure to draft documents. Communicates complex and technical information clearly and concisely. Ensures key messages are understood and have the desired impact on the target audience.

Planning & Organising: Establishes and monitors priorities, systematically differentiating between urgent, important and unimportant. Manages activities to deliver results. Meets objectives within predetermined time frames.

Teamwork: Promotes and enhances team performance through working collaboratively and in cooperation with others to achieve goals.  Interacts in a manner that builds respect and fosters trust.

If you meet the criteria and are interested in applying, we would love to hear from you.

Our Package

  • Salary €75,998.96* to € 95,013.28 (Pay increases will be awarded annually subject to satisfactory performance and to the terms of any government agreements)
  • Dublin city centre location on Luas line
  • 28 days Annual Leave per year
  • Further Education and Training Opportunities
  • Attractive pension scheme
  • Travel tax saver scheme, Access to Cycle to Work Scheme
  • Access to Employee Assistance Programme

*(entry will be at the minimum point and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.)

How To Apply

This position is now closed.