Maeve gives us insight into her career as Advisory Counsel Grade II in the Office of the Attorney General.
Please tell us a little bit about your role.
As Advisory Counsel I assist the Attorney General in the performance of his functions, providing legal advice to Government Departments, directing litigation and advising in relation to the development of new legislation.
What were your reasons for applying for your role?
I qualified as a solicitor and really enjoyed practising law in private practice but was intrigued by the idea of working primarily in the field of public law, with the opportunities to specialise in Constitutional, EU and administrative law that are the focus of the work of the Office of the Attorney General.
What do you value most about your job?
I really value the people I work with. The dedicated and brilliant people who work in the public sector, all motivated by public service values and putting the citizen at the core of the work we do, is a particularly special aspect of this job.
What are some of the benefits and supports available to you?
The Office provides great training and learning and development opportunities, including travel and further education. I completed very interesting diplomas and programmes in areas outside of law which has been great in expanding my perspective. I have also taken advantage of flexible leave arrangements such as parental leave.
What opportunities has this role provided for you?
I have had the opportunity to travel widely, including to Brussels, Luxembourg and London, to work on legal projects involving institutions of the European Union and third countries. I spent two years on secondment in a Government Department assisting them directly on the delivery of their policy mandate including the rollout of new primary legislation. I have worked directly with the Attorney General and Ministers of Government on cross-cutting legal issues that have wide-ranging implications.
What has surprised you since starting this role?
I was unaware of how many great outreach initiatives the Office is involved in, including a transition year programme with three DEIS schools from across County Dublin, an internship placement programme with law students from University College Dublin, and a legal access internship scheme for undergraduate law students from socio-economic groups that are under-represented in the legal profession. I have been delighted to become involved in assisting the roll-out of some of these initiatives, and highly recommend any interested students to take part in them to get a feel for the practice of law in general and in particular for the work the Office does.
What aspect of the role do you particularly enjoy?
I particularly enjoy collaborating with civil servants from Government Departments and with my colleagues in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government on the development of new legislative proposals. The subject matter is wide-ranging and the legal issues that arise are fascinating and nuanced.
Would you recommend a career in the public sector and why?
I would highly recommend a career in the public sector. The ability to work at the forefront of legal issues that are fundamental to the citizen and to the State is such a privilege.
Anything else you would like to share?
I am thrilled that I made the transition to work in the public sector and in particular in the Office of the Attorney General, and I am happy to speak to interested applicants about aspects of the role on which they would like further information.