25 Adelaide StreetBelfast BT2 8FH

T 028 9032 4431F 028 9053 5667

028 9053 5660028 9024 2393

E dls@csa.n-i.nhs.uk

progressing together

DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,

The Directorate of Legal Services (DLS)is the principal provider of legal servicesfor the Health and Personal SocialServices Sector (HPSS) in NorthernIreland, with clients consisting of Boards,Trusts, Agencies and Councils.

who are we?

what do we dThe Directorate of Legal Services:

is a modern, progressive legal practice

has provided legal services to the HPSS for over 30 years

is a non-profit making practice

has 27 Solicitors specialising in particular areas of law

has 60 administration staff supporting the Solicitors

is the largest Clinical Negligence practice in Northern Ireland

is the largest Family Law practice in Northern Ireland

offers a highly competitive hourly rate

DLS provides a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusiv

The main areas of law provided by DLS include:

Family LawClinical NegligenceGeneral LitigationEmployment LawConveyancingGeneral Advice

Additionally DLS provides legal advice and representation on issuesrelating to Inquests, Debt Recovery, Judicial Review, Mental Healthand Learning Disability, Registration of Homes, Primary Care Servicesand the Law of Contract.

do?sively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland.

“we believe in a simple strategy: specialists should do specialist work.”

Alphy Maginness, Director, DLS

quality througDLS achives its aim through a structured programme of improvement. Aspart of this the Directorate’s systems and procedures have beenindependently assessed, and DLS has achieved accreditation to the followingquality awards:

Lexcel (from the Law Society of NI)ISO 9001 2000Investor in People

To maintain a customer-focused service DLS continues to involve clients inthe development of services. An integral part of this is the quality questionnaire,issued to DLS clients, which shows an extremely high level of satisfaction withour service.

“DLS is a modern,progressive legal practice.”

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Legal Senior Management TeamThe role of the Legal Senior Management Team is to co-ordinate and managethe various functions of the Directorate ensuring the delivery of a qualityservice to clients. The Team comprises;

Alphy Maginness Director, who is also the Solicitor on record.

Wendy Beggs Assistant Director, head of the ClinicalNegligence Section.

June Turkington Assistant Director, head of the Employment Law,General Litigation and Conveyancing Sections.

Kathryn Minnis Assistant Director, head of the Family Law Section.

Owen Nicholson Business Manager, in charge of the SeniorAdministration Team, and DLS Finance Functions.

ugh teamworkAlphy MaginnessWendy BeggsJune TurkingtonKathryn MinnisOwen Nicholson

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specialist The eight specialist Solicitors working inthe Family Law Team represent SocialServices before the Family Courtsthroughout Northern Ireland, primarilyhandling cases under The Children (NI)Order 1995. Adoption is another majorpart of the team’s work, offering legaladvice to Adoption Panels andrepresentation before the higher courts.The establishment of the DLS ‘AdoptionLiaison Group’ has proved hugelysuccessful and is a means whereby theSocial Work and legal professions canmeet to discuss developments in law andpractice. DLS Solicitors sit on all threeBusiness Court Committees. WendyBeggs (Assistant Director) is a member ofthe Children Order Advisory Committee.

Family Law Solicitors assist SocialServices’ clients with care planningand development of child care practiceincluding guidance on policies andprocedures, particularly since theimplementation of the Human RightsAct 1998. Advices are also given on issuesrelating to vulnerable adults, the elderly,and a wide range of issues relating tomental health and learning disability,including attendance at Mental HealthReview Tribunals and representationon the current Review of Mental Healthand Learning Disability (NI).

Legal Services are provided through four main sections

Family Law

Kathyn Minnis, Assistant Director, DLS

“Assisting Social Services in theprotection of the vulnerable.”

Brian GreenawayJonathan TaylorTerry BradyAvril FrizellClaudine QuinnJohn DonaldsonEmma O’Neill

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knowledgeA team of specialist Solicitors work withinthe field of clinical negligence. The teamhandles cases of great complexity andimportance and cases of very significantvalue. We regularly and successfullycontest cases provincewide. Our Solicitorsare also experienced negotiators andwhere liability is clearly against our clientwe encourage early settlement, thusachieving considerable savings for ourclient in monetary and manpower terms.

We retain only experienced Counsel andExperts. The Solicitors regularly adviseand represent DLS clients at inquesthearings. We are at the forefront inproviding clinical negligence training toHealth Service staff province wide andhave received very positive feedback fromall clients in relation to the standard of thisservice. As we are professionals acting inthe defence of professionals we demandthe highest standards of ourselves.

Clinical Negligence

Marie-Claire CareyEileen FinneganAnn CassidyAngela MaguireMartina GillenMaeve HollandJonathan Good

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Wendy Beggs, Assistant Director, DLS

“Working in partnership withhealth Professionals.”

workingSolicitors working in the busy andexpanding area of Employment Law coverall aspects of this developing area;particularly unfair dismissal, discrimination,and disciplinary procedures. Legal adviceis given on Human Resources policies thathave an impact on staff to ensure fairprocedures are adopted and issues suchas Human Rights are taken into account.Carol McClean sits on the Committee ofthe Northern Ireland Employment LawyersGroup.

Solicitors working in the area of generallitigation adopt a pro-active approach tomanaging employers’ and public liabilitycases. They achieve excellent results forour clients and assist clients with riskassessment and risk management. Thisis an area which requires excellentnegotiating skills and our solicitors havemany years of negotiating experience andspecialist knowledge of the relevant law.We retain only experienced Counsel andExperts. Our Solicitors are also in demandin this area to provide lectures, seminarsand workshops on a wide range of litigationissues and we tailor training packages toour clients’ requirements.

Employment Law General LitigationCarol McCleanClare TiffneyKieran HarkinAudrey McCleanAnthony GilmoreChristine McClelland

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June Turkington, Assistant Director, DLS

“Legal expertise exclusive to Health& Social Care.”

ng for... you!Following Departmental direction DLS isnow responsible for all conveyancing forHPSS bodies and specialist Conveyancershave now joined our team, together withappropriate administrative support.They deal with all aspects of landtransactions, including contracts forsale or purchase, leases, licences,and any legal proceedings resultingfrom contractual disputes.

DLS actively pursues debt on behalf ofour clients and we have recovered over£1 million of debt over the last five years;money which can be put back into healthand social care.

DLS provides extensive training for clientsin all areas of law relevant to our clients’needs. This includes issues such asthe Human Rights Act 1998, the DataProtection Act 1998, and other significantpieces of legislation. This training isdesigned to enable clients to takepreventative measures, to advise themof their rights and obligations and to assistthem in ensuring their practice complieswith legal requirements. Further detailsof training are available on our website.

Newsheet

DLS publishes a Newsheet twice a yearfor the benefit of clients, bringing to theirattention current issues in the law whichmay impact on their services. Written bySolicitors within DLS with contributionsfrom counsel, it has proved very popularwith clients.

Conveyancing & Debt Recovery Training

Deborah MalcolmClaire QuinnMichaela Murray

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dedicated legDLS regularly hosts major conferencesfor the benefit of clients on topical issueswhich have a direct impact on client servicedelivery. Conferences have included amost successful conference on “Adoptionand the Legal Process” to assist SocialServices and other professionals involvedin this complex area of law. Previousconferences included Human Rights andan important conference on Mediation atwhich Lord Woolf, Lord Chief of Justiceof England and Wales was keynotespeaker.

Changing and developing ICT in line withclient needs is an important function withinthe Directorate. Recent developments infile management, financial management,time recording and digital processing ofrecords have assisted in improving theefficiency and effectiveness of the servicedelivered to clients. The Directorate’swebsite can be accessed atwww.dls.centralservicesagency.n-i.nhs.uk

“The application of innovative technologyenhances the quality of our legal service.”

Owen Nicholson, Business Manager, DLS

Conferences ICT

egal supportThe administrative functions of theDirectorate are managed through theSenior Administrative Team. This team,which reports to the Business Manager,takes a lead role in ensuring that servicesare developed in line with client needs,that proper systems and proceduresare in place and that there is a structuredprogramme of training and developmentfor staff.

Out of Hours Service

A full out of hours service is available forclients. This service is specifically designedfor emergency situations where clientsneed immediate access to legal advice.The Out of Hours telephone number is

0800 083 7680

Senior Administration Team

The SeniorAdministrationTeam

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7David HamillPrincipalLegal Assistant

Senior LegalAssistantsClaire CorrGary SharrattMarie LawlorRoisin O’HareSiobhan CairnsLorna Walker

DirectorAlphy Maginness

Assistant DirectorsWendy BeggsJune TurkingtonKathryn Minnis

SolicitorsTerry BradyMarie-Claire CareyAnn CassidyJohn DonaldsonEileen FinneganAvril FrizellMartina GillenAnthony GilmoreJonathan GoodBrian GreenawayKieran HarkinMaeve HollandAngela MaguireDeborah MalcolmAudrey McCleanCarol McCleanChristine McClellandMichaela MurrayEmma O’NeillClaire QuinnClaudine QuinnJonathan TaylorClaire Tiffney

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DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to providea high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLSaims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout NorthernIreland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughoutNorthern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusively for clients in theHPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal service exclusivelyfor clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effective legal serviceexclusively for clients in the HPSS throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality, cost effectivelegal service exclusively for clients in the HSC throughout Northern Ireland. DLS aims to provide a high quality,