Former parliamentary secretary Deborah Schembri has been appointed chairwoman of the board of appeal under the Foster Care Act, the latest in a number of government jobs for the lawyer.

According to a notice in The Malta Government Gazette, Dr Schembri assumed office this week and will serve for three years.

She succeeds Ramona Frendo who last month was appointed judge at the European Union’s general court.

Appointed by the Minister for the Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity, the board of appeal, made up of a chairman and two members, is tasked with reviewing decisions by the Fostering Board when appeals are filed. It also reviews decisions by the central authority.

Read: Ex-junior minister gets over €160,000 a year

Questions sent to the Family Ministry on the matter remained unanswered at the time of writing. Times of Malta reported over the past months Dr Schembri earned about €160,000 a year through public contracts awarded to her by direct order after losing her parliamentary seat in the last election.

Dr Schembri was appointed legal consultant by both the Planning Authority and the Lands Authority, which both fell under her political wing until the last legislature.

She was also awarded contracts by the Office of the Prime Minister in connection with Identity Malta and legal consultant on a person-of-trust basis. She was also named data protection officer on a three-year contract.

Earlier this year, Dr Schembri and her adviser at her ministry, Robert Musumeci, formed a new partnership to provide legal services to their clients, including government authorities.