Careers

The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is proud to offer you an unparalleled opportunity to join one of the largest law offices in the country. Whether you are a newly qualified solicitor eager to begin your legal career, an experienced solicitor looking for a change from the private practice dynamic, or a professional from a related field, we provide an exceptional platform for growth, professional development, and meaningful work that impacts the entire nation.

We recruit across five key areas:

• Qualified solicitors
• Trainee solicitors
• Legal executives
• Specialists from professions such as ICT, records management, information and knowledge management, HR, and finance
• Administrative staff at all general civil service grades

Vacancies are advertised on the Recruitment page on our website and through the Public Appointments Service, and recruitment is ongoing throughout the year. Even if you miss a specific vacancy, we encourage you to regularly check our website and the Public Appointments Service for future opportunities.

The CSSO may not suit you today, but it could be the perfect fit in the future. To ensure success in your application, good preparation is essential, particularly as we recruit through a competency-based application and interview process—a format that may be new to some.

Working with the CSSO offers a unique alternative to private practice. It provides a refreshing opportunity for solicitors to focus on delivering high-quality legal services for a single significant client: the Government of Ireland. Our client is divided across multiple departments and organisations, enabling you to engage in a broad range of legal work that directly affects the nation’s governance and public policy. The complexity and sensitivity of the legal matters we handle mean that your work will often be high-profile and have a direct impact on society.

For litigators, this means frequent appearances before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, where you will work on the most prominent cases of the day, shaping the legal landscape of Ireland. Located near the Four Courts complex, our office is ideally positioned to engage in these significant legal proceedings. We also represent Ireland internationally before the CJEU in Luxembourg.

For those involved in advisory work, government departments rely on the CSSO’s expert advices to navigate complex legal challenges. You will play a crucial role in guiding public policy through your legal advice, ensuring the State is equipped to handle evolving legal issues. For conveyancers, the CSSO offers the opportunity to work on large-scale property transactions, including managing the State’s vast portfolio through the Office of Public Works.

Joining the CSSO also provides the chance to engage with law at a national, EU, and international level, representing Ireland in legal matters that are not available in private practice. You will be involved in shaping the law and contributing to legal developments both domestically and internationally.

The CSSO recognises the importance of job satisfaction to Officers and the positive impact this can have on an Officer’s wellbeing. We promote a collaborative, open and friendly work environment that enables effective working practices. The CSSO offers various supports in achieving this, including:

• Blended Working Opportunities: Requests for blended working may be facilitated, some in-office attendance will be required in all roles in line with business needs
• Work-Sharing Arrangements: subject to satisfactory probationary period and business needs
• Wide variety of special leave options

Professional growth and development combined with direct entry to solicitor management grades

We are committed to supporting the growth and development of our solicitors, whether you are newly qualified or an experienced practitioner. Tailored training programmes, continuous professional development opportunities, and leadership pathways are all part of our offering. For senior solicitors, we provide direct entry opportunities to manage teams and shape the direction of the office’s legal work. Our diverse and supportive environment allows solicitors from all backgrounds to thrive, ensuring a fulfilling and rewarding legal career.

At the CSSO, you will have the opportunity to engage in complex and intellectually challenging legal matters, work on high-profile cases, and be at the forefront of public law, commercial law, and regulatory law. If you are seeking a legal career where your work makes a tangible impact, contributes to the development of the law, and serves the public interest, then the CSSO may be the right place for you.

We invite you to explore the opportunities available with the CSSO and join a team dedicated to shaping the future of the legal landscape.

As a trainee solicitor with the CSSO, you will be afforded a unique opportunity to develop your legal expertise in an environment that can offer more than private practice. From the outset, you will be immersed in a diverse range of legal work that has real impact on the functioning of the State, handling cases that frequently involve public law, constitutional law, commercial transactions, and litigation. At the CSSO, even as a trainee, you will be an integral part of teams working on complex legal issues that influence national policy and public governance. You will have direct exposure to high-profile cases that shape the law at the highest levels.

In addition to courtroom experience, you will also work closely with government departments, offering strategic legal advice on critical issues ranging from regulatory frameworks to legislative interpretation. This exposure will not only broaden your understanding of the law but also sharpen your ability to apply legal principles in dynamic, real-world contexts.

Your time as a trainee will be enriched by the CSSO’s structured mentorship programme, where you will work under the guidance of senior solicitors who are leading experts in their fields. This mentorship, combined with formal training programmes, will ensure that you are supported in every aspect of your professional development, from honing your legal drafting skills to mastering courtroom advocacy.

What truly sets the CSSO apart is the ethos of public service. The work you undertake will not be driven by commercial interests, but by the objective of delivering high-quality legal services that serve the public interest. You will be contributing to legal decisions that affect the lives of citizens, giving you a sense of purpose and professional fulfilment that few roles can offer. Furthermore, the CSSO offers exposure to legal matters not only at the national level but also within the EU and on the international stage, offering a breadth of experience that is seldom available elsewhere. By the end of your traineeship, you will have gained an invaluable grounding in law that will enable you to forge a successful and rewarding career, equipped with skills and experiences that are truly unique.