• Job Description

  Req#: 109578
  JOB DESCRIPTION JOB PURPOSE: The post holder will be required to carry out professional duties as a qualified solicitor specialising in employment law with their primary responsibility being the provision of legal advice and support to EA’s newly created Special Absence Management Team through regular contact with the Team’s Project Manager. Background and Context : The Education Authority (“EA”) was established under the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 and became operational on 1 April 2015. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Education and the Department for the Economy. EA is responsible for ensuring that high quality nursery, primary and secondary education services are available to meet the needs of children and young people as well as the provision of efficient and effective youth services. These services were previously delivered by five Education and Library Boards (ELBs). The organisation employs over 40,000 people across Northern Ireland in a wide variety of roles including teachers in controlled schools, school-based support staff and staff in administrative headquarters. The organisation is responsible for a budget of approximately £1.5 billion recurrent, £300 million capital, £100 million annually managed expenditure and for services to over 1000 schools. EA also has responsibility for the funding of the Voluntary Grammar School / Grant- Maintained Integrated sector. The work we do impacts the lives of tens of thousands of children, young people and their families every day. The services we provide are essential in supporting, encouraging and facilitating learning within our communities to develop generations of young people who are equipped to succeed in life and work in the modern world. As a public sector organisation, we must continue to deliver these vital services in a challenging environment of increasing financial pressure and under intense public scrutiny. Education Authority Solicitors: The Education Authority Solicitors seeks to provide high quality and efficient legal services to enable the Education Authority and other clients to operate effectively within law, maximise the value of legal services provided, minimise legal risk and achieve best legal outcomes. The unit is located within EA’s Human Resources and Corporate Services Directorate and is headed by the Head of Legal Services, Peter O’Rawe. The unit was originally set up in 1973 when the five former education and library boards were established. It has currently a complement of 12 solicitors (full time and part time) and 8 administrative staff and is based in Dundonald. EA Solicitors also provides legal advice and representation to LibrariesNI and the majority of Grant Maintained Integrated schools (both primary and secondary). The Role of the Solicitor – Employment Law (Special Absence Management Team): The appointee will be required to carry out professional duties as a qualified solicitor specialising in employment law with their primary responsibility being the provision of legal advice and support to EA’s newly created Special Absence Management Team through regular contact with the Team’s Project Manager. This primary responsibility will involve the appointee advising on a range of employment law issues pertaining to the effective management of employee ill health including those arising from both short-term and long-term absences; relevant sickness absence policies; monitoring absence; assisting employees return to work; and steps to be taken when employees are unable to return up to and including dismissal. As and when required and subject to their primary role and responsibility for providing legal advice to EA’s Special Absence Management Team, the appointee will advise on a wide range of employment matters and conduct the defence of claims before the Industrial Tribunals, including such personal advocacy as may be required. Working for EA’s in house legal team offers a different perspective and intellectual stimulus. As Employment Law Solicitor the appointee will have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to EA as we continue the process of transformation and seek fundamentally to transform education services and our extensive estate for the benefit of future generations of children and young people. As part of EA’s Human Resources and Corporate Services Directorate the successful candidate for this important role will actively contribute to providing services that support, engage and develop all our people be the best they can be and to make EA, our schools and services, great places to work. SUMMARY OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: 1. To carry out professional duties as a qualified Solicitor relating to the matters set out below. 2. As the post holder’s primary responsibility, to advise EA’s Special Absence Management Team on a range of employment law issues pertaining to the effective management of employee ill health including those arising from both short-term and long-term absences; relevant sickness absence policies; monitoring absence; assisting employees return to work; and steps to be taken when employees are unable to return up to and including dismissal. 3. As a priority, to liaise directly and as required with the Special Absence Management Team’s Project Manager on matters requiring legal input. 4. As and when required and subject to the post holder’s primary role and responsibility for providing legal advice to EA’s Special Absence Management Team, to advise on a wide range of employment matters and conduct the defence of claims before the Industrial Tribunals, including such personal advocacy as may be required. 5. In conducting 4. above, to undertake all relevant processes including taking witness statements; instructing and assessing expert opinion and other relevant evidence; drafting pleadings and other Court / Tribunal documentation; attending consultations; complying with all relevant time limits and Rules of Court; conduct of interlocutory matters; researching the law; and either appearing personally to present evidence and legal arguments to the Court or Tribunal, or when appropriate instructing Counsel to do so. 6. To provide accurate and timely legal advice on matters relating to the functions and exercise of the powers and duties of the Education Authority. To interpret legislation and the requirements of administrative law to Education Authority officers, other bodies and to draft associated reports. 7. To carry out all the foregoing duties in a proactive manner working closely with instruction officers and in particular the Special Absence Management Team’s Project Manager, 8. Assist and/or provide such training on legal matters to Education Authority officers including EA’s Special Absence Management Team and other bodies as may be required. 9. Undertake such continuing legal education and/or professional development courses as may be required. 10. Undertake such other duties relevant to EA Solicitors as may be required from time to time. 11. Undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the Education Authority. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.

• About the company

  The Education Authority is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department of Education in Northern Ireland.

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