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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.

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service

Royal Courts of Justice Group, Legal Operations

Job Title: Registrar, Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber)

Pay Span or equivalent: Grade 7

Contract type: Permanent

Number of hours per week: 37

Number of vacancies: 1

Reserve List: Yes

Background:

His Majesty’s 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.

Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do, and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential. HMCTS Senior Management Team expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

Introduction

The RCJ legal operations group includes all the lawyers working in the offices which support the Upper Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, High Court and Court of Appeal (criminal and civil divisions).

The Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) (“UTAAC”) exercises a largely error of law jurisdiction deciding appeals from a range of First-tier Tribunals. The majority of UTAAC’s workload consists of appeals relating to social security benefits but it also considers appeals in other subject areas including child support, mental health, information rights, special educational needs, and transport licensing. UTAAC also exercises a judicial review jurisdiction.

A team of legally qualified Registrars work with the Judges and administrative staff to deal with this work. The key purpose of the role of the Registrar is to support the judges of UTAAC in the efficient, just and expeditious disposal of cases. There are eight Registrars who support the work of UTAAC in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, seven based in London (including the Senior Registrar) and one in Belfast. A number of Registrars now combine the role with fee-paid judicial office, so the post offers significant opportunity for career development.

Key responsibilities and duties:

• Case management, providing ongoing high-quality casework throughout case progression, including to:
• provide clear, prompt and accurate legal and procedural advice to judges giving weight to appropriate issues and key authorities.
• manage interlocutory and case management issues for the effective conduct of a case, either at the request of judges or on their own initiative, including the exercise of delegated judicial functions.
• provide appropriate advice on practice and procedure to the Chamber President, Upper Tribunal Judges and Tribunal users, including appellants and legal professionals;
• dealing with procedural and other issues raised by administrative staff; and
• promote and practise proactive case management to ensure that cases are progressed consistently and efficiently in accordance with the overriding objective contained in the Tribunal Procedure (Upper Tribunal) Rules 2008 or other relevant rules with a view to minimising delay and reducing outstanding cases.
• Maintain and develop specialist knowledge
• maintain and develop specialist knowledge in relevant areas of law and procedure;
• identify developing trends in the case load.
• where appropriate, maintain a dialogue and exchange of information with First-tier Tribunals, or other agencies and organisations
• Legal research as required, carrying out efficient and proportionate legal and other research using relevant and up to date resources and taking into account applicable aspects of constitutional, public and human rights law.
• Liaising with the Chamber President and Upper Tribunal Judges to exchange information, provide advice and support as well as attending Judges’ Meetings, User Group and other jurisdictional meetings as required.

Other duties

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and to undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Accountability

The post holder will report to the Senior Registrar, Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber).

Location of Post

Located at the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber), 5th Floor, 7 Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, London, although regular and routine working from other locations may be expected.

Required Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Institute of CILEx qualified to practise in England and Wales (i.e. having completed training contract, pupillage or qualifying period of employment)
• Sound knowledge of public law principles, plus a good knowledge of social security law and procedure and/or other UTAAC jurisdictions will be an advantage
• An ability to quickly assimilate new areas of law and master and interpret complex legislation and case law
• An ability to produce and communicate sound legal analysis, using secure legal research, and to advise clearly, persuasively and constructively, both orally and in writing.
• The ability to consider issues in their practical context and recognise the wider issues which a case may raise, suggesting viable solutions where appropriate and identifying advantages and disadvantages of different courses of action.
• An ability to achieve the best results from the resources available (including own time) to achieve the targets taking into account competing priorities

Application Process

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

Behaviours

During the application process you will be asked to provide evidence of the following behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a quality service
• Communicating and Influencing

Please also refer to the Civil Service Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on experience and on the lead behaviour of Making Effective Decisions. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, where they will be assessed against both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out in person in London.

Candidates invited to interview may be required to do a written exercise to assess technical legal skills.

The interview will assess experience, technical legal skills (situational legal skill questions) and Behaviours and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.

You can refer to the Civil Service Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Interviews are expected to take place late June early July 2023.

Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information

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.

Starting Salary

The starting salary for this post is £55,720.

Flexible working hours

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

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Test Legal Professional Skills

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Job contact :

Name :
SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
Email :
[email protected]
Telephone :
0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

Email :
[email protected]