Paralegal (Findings Team)

The **Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR)** is an independent organisation established to provide information on **Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries to families, victims, and survivors while promoting reconciliation.**

From becoming operational on **1 May 2024**, the Commission’s caseload continues to move at pace. This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will work with competing deadlines and emotionally challenging content, while delivering for the public good through this historic work.

The **Findings Team** is led by the **Head of Findings** and comprises **Senior Findings Officers, Findings Officers and a team of paralegals.** Its role is to assist the **Chief Commissioner, Sir Declan Morgan**, to fulfil his statutory duty to publish written reports that make findings about all the circumstances of every death or instance of harmful conduct that the Commission has investigated.

The Findings Team comprises the Head of Findings, Senior Findings Officers, Findings Officers, a Legal Delivery Manager and a team of paralegals. Its role is to assist the Chief Commissioner to fulfil his statutory duty to publish written reports that make findings about all the circumstances of every death or instance of harmful conduct that the Commission has investigated. The Paralegal Team, led by a Legal Delivery Manager who reports to the Head of Findings, will support the Findings Team in all aspects of their work. We are looking for exceptional staff to join the team. From becoming operational on 1 May 2024, the Commission’s caseload continues to move at pace. This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will work at pace, often with competing deadlines and emotionally challenging content, while delivering for the public good through this historic work. Working to the Legal Delivery Manager (LDM), who in turn works to the Head of Findings, the paralegal team will assist the Findings Team to produce draft reports to be disclosed to eligible individuals and public authorities, oversee and manage the statutory representations process and liaise with stakeholders and internal teams within the Commission to communicate updates on those processes.

**Key responsibilities**
- Use the Commission’s electronic document management system to review documentary evidence and data provided to the Findings Team by the Information Recovery Team
- Review and organise documentary evidence and data relevant to the work of the Findings Team and present it in a preferred format to assist the production of reports and preparing briefing notes
- Assess, summarise and report on documents with accuracy and attention to detail in accordance with the Head of Findings’ protocols, including identifying information that constitutes personal data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998
- Assist the Findings Teams to produce high quality written reports in a clear, coherent and consistent manner (to be watermarked individually) including, preparing and indexing any annexes to those reports, for disclosure to eligible individuals and public authorities
- Assist the Findings Team by managing and coordinating the statutory process of disclosing draft reports to eligible individuals and public authorities, using e-disclosure platforms and specific systems
- Assist the Findings Team by managing the statutory process of receiving representations from eligible individuals and public authorities, including any requests for extensions of time for escalation to the Head of Findings/Chief Commissioner;
- Assist the Findings Team by managing the statutory sensitive information process time lines, including any requests for extension of time for escalation to the Head of Findings/Chief Commissioner;
- Liaise with internal colleagues and external bodies/stakeholders/relevant authorities where necessary;
- Assist the Findings Team with day-to-day case management tasks and with such of their duties as may be required
- Conduct case progress reviews
- Deal with correspondence and administrative tasks as and when required - Ensure deadlines and quality measures are adhered to
- Be prepared to work outside core hours, if necessary, prior to and during busy disclosure or representations periods

**Essential criteria**
- Law degree or GDL
- Previous experience of working on a public inquiry or other similar large-scale inquiry or investigation
- Strong organisational, resilience and administrative skills

Our offices are in Belfast and London, with travel and hybrid working arrangements available.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £37,000.00 per year

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Belfast BT2

Application deadline: 10/01/2025