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We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Job Title: Judicial Assistant in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

Location: Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Duration: Fixed term contract 2 October 2023 to 31 July 2024

Pay Span or equivalent: HEO

Salary: London (within M25): £35,405 – £39,000

These positions are available for external applicants as well as existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion.
New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.

Background:

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. HMCTS aims to ensure that all citizens receive timely access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crime, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies.

The Court of Appeal Civil Division hears appeals across all civil jurisdictions. In the majority of cases it is the final court of appeal.

The post of judicial assistant is intended to provide entrants to the legal profession with a unique opportunity to work at close quarters with judicial members of the court, to view the appeals process and to appreciate appellate advocacy at close quarters. Candidates should note that a judicial assistant works full time. It is not possible to conduct professional practice or to devote significant time to external study while working as a judicial assistant.

Role Purpose:

Judicial assistants in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal are assigned to one or two justices of appeal. They assist in the preparation of cases for hearing before a constitution of the full court by analysis of the appeal papers, legal research and the drafting of summaries for the assistance of each member of the constitution of the court. They also prepare case papers and summaries for submission to a single justice for consideration of applications for permission to appeal. From time to time they are requested to assist with research into specific subjects of interest in the law or the administration of justice.

It is not essential that candidates should have a specific area of expertise but the team will be selected so as to provide cover for the range of work handled by the civil division of the Court of Appeal including general common law, public law and human rights, commercial law, chancery and tax law, employment law, family law and some criminal law. Candidates must be willing to undertake work in areas of law in which they have no previous experience.

Main Activities / Responsibilities:

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• To prepare case summaries for permission to appeal applications and bench memoranda for full appeals as requested by their supervising Lord or Lady Justice.
• To complete case summaries and bench memoranda for other members of the court who do not have an assigned judicial assistant.
• To complete legal research into specific subjects of interest in the law or administration of justice as requested by the supervising Lord or Lady Justice or any other justice of appeal.
• Occasionally to assist in the preparation of a speech to be given by their assigned judge or any other justice of appeal.

Other Duties:

The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by their assigned judge or line manager which are commensurate with the level or responsibility of this post.

Experience:

Experience of practical legal research

Technical skills / qualifications:

A 2:1 undergraduate degree in law or better; or

A 2:1 undergraduate degree in any other subject or better and a postgraduate law qualification

Application Process:

To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following:

• A copy of your anonymised CV
• A 250 statement of suitability against the required experience and technical skills/qualifications detailed above
• A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 3):

• Managing a Quality Service

In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the lead Success Profile Behaviour: Working Together.

If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested / assessed (Level 3).

Interviews will include one Strength and will also involve a test of legal technical skills, including a written test.

Please note, face to face interviews will be required for candidates progressed from sift stage and will take place between 6 June and 16 June 2023.

Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 3), can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Location:

This post is based in the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL. Travel to other court sites across the region will be required.

Security checks required:

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC).

Salary

£35,405 - £39,000

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on ‘modernised’ terms in their current post or onto ‘unmodernised’ MoJ terms if they are on ‘unmodernised’ terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.