The HSE established the Office of Legal Services (OLS) in 2010. The in-house team consists currently of both Solicitors and Management/Administrative staff.
A key purpose and function of this in-house legal team is to oversee and manage the organisations’ legal services and to advise the HSE on how to strategically manage litigation which has the potential to impact on policy and practices in the provision of health services. The Office is involved in the management and review of all significant litigation concerning the HSE. The Office liaises between HSE management and external HSE legal service providers and in appropriate cases, provides the latter with instruction on how to conduct litigation or alternative dispute resolution on behalf of the HSE. The role of the Office also includes overseeing expenditure by the HSE on legal services including the standard and quantum of legal services provided to the HSE and where appropriate, querying and verifying charges for provision of these services. There is a contract in place with eight external legal firms to provide legal advice to the HSE.
The core functions of the solicitors working in the HSE Office of Legal Services include the following:
- Managing the contracts with the HSE solicitor and law firms who provide operational and corporate legal services to the HSE;
- Providing an informed assessment and review of legal bills submitted by the HSE contracted law firms where the authorised Legal Service User requests assistance in determining whether a bill of costs is reasonable or otherwise;
- Providing legal advice to HSE senior management to include where appropriate directly engaging Counsel;
- Participating in HSE Working Groups;
- Providing legal advices on various HSE Policies;
- Arranging for provision of bespoke training to HSE services;
- Identifying litigation and issues of strategic concern to HSE and preparing briefing notes on same;
- Liaising with the Department of Health, the Office of Government Procurement, the State Claims Agency, Tusla and other State entities concerning legal issues of significant importance;
- Assisting in HSE applications to the Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) for sanction for out of court settlements which come within the remit of NFR 26;
- Overseeing the operation and implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Where capacity allows, OLS provide initial advice to assist HSE personnel in managing legal issues, witness attendance at courts and also regulatory body “Fitness to Practice” hearings;
- Particular focus on the following legal areas: Employment/HR, Corporate Governance including Data Protection, Wardship and Property;
If you are working in the HSE and want to access legal advice you must firstly contact your local Legal Services User (LSU).
Contact details for HSE Office of Legal Services (OLS) is 01 7752248 or ols@hse.ie
