36349 - Legal Advisor
About the IMA:
The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) is responsible for monitoring the implementation and application of the citizens’ rights commitments made in the Withdrawal Agreement and EEA EFTA Separation Agreement. The IMA has a significant role to play in the Government’s commitments to secure the rights of the three million EU and EEA EFTA citizens in the UK and will provide additional certainty and security to those citizens in the UK. The IMA will receive and assess complaints received concerning these rights, and has the power to conduct inquiries into the way these rights are implemented and applied by public authorities.
Further information can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/854222/WAB_Fact_Sheet_-_IND_MONITOR.pdf
Purpose of the post:
The post holders will work within a team of 4 lawyers (currently intended to comprise 2 Senior Legal Advisors and 2 Legal Advisors) within the Independent Monitoring Authority, reporting to the IMA General Counsel. The post holders will work with senior stakeholders across the IMA and will be responsible for advising the IMA on all aspects of the statutory functions of the IMA under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
The legal team will be responsible for advising the Board on the UK government’s implementation of part II of the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK, including providing legal advice on the adequacy of the legislative framework implementing the Agreement, complaints to the board, inquiries, and litigation. The team will also be responsible for providing legal advice, training and input to IMA teams and staff responsible for the range of IMA operational functions including complaints handling, inquiries, and potential use of the IMA’s legal powers.
The post-holders will be expected to contribute to the development of policy statements, particularly including the guidance the IMA is required to produce under the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and be active in the development of the IMA’s legal resources (e.g. to include electronic databases).
The post-holders will also be responsible for working with external legal service providers when required, under the direction and oversight of the General Counsel.
Within these areas of responsibility, the post-holders may be allocated specific areas of responsibility. As Legal Advisers, the post-holders will have support from Senior Legal Adviser colleagues in the team, in particular on more complex and new areas of legal issues and questions.
Location:
The IMA will be based in Swansea but flexible working arrangements will be available, with scope for remote working. However, some travel may be required as part of the role., including attendance to Swansea as necessary.
Essential Skills:
You will be
- a qualified barrister or solicitor
and you will be able to demonstrate the following:
- Experience of advising on the main features of public law including judicial review proceedings
- Sound legal judgement including the effective management of legal risk
- Sound powers of analysis and the ability to provide legal advice on complex and technical areas of law
- Experience of working with, communicating complex legal issues to and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Practical experience of litigation, including judicial review proceedings.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- An exciting opportunity to get involved in helping establish a new organisation
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Civil Service pension
Security
- Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
- Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Check. Successful candidates may be required to understand CTC security clearance in the future.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Technical and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note that your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 500 words. It should highlight the reason you are interested in the role and how your experience makes you the best candidate. You should also make particular reference to the essential skills and technical skills set out above.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview
Please note we do not consider CV applications – you must apply for this role through Civil Service Jobs.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place from 14 September 2020 with interviews provisionally scheduled for the week commencing 5 October 2020. Due to the current coronavirus situation, interviews will be conducted virtually.
Reserve List
In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.
Note to existing Civil Servants
The IMA welcome applications from suitable applicants. Please note that the IMA is not a Civil Service employer and so any current Civil Servants recruited on a permanent basis will cease to be Civil Servants. This means you would not retain your terms and conditions or continuity of service.
Job Contact
Set up of the IMA is being sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Justice. Should you have any questions, or wish to discuss anything in more detail, please contact IMA.jobs@justice.gov.uk
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
Rydym yn croesawu ac yn annog ceisiadau gan bawb, yn cynnwys grwpiau sydd wedi’u tangynrychioli yn ein gweithlu ar hyn o bryd, ac rydym yn ymfalchïo mewn bod yn gyflogwr o safon uchel sy’n denu llawer o ymgeiswyr. Ewch it https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity i gael rhagor o wybodaeth am sut rydym yn hyrwyddo amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant yn y gweithle.
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.
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.
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 any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
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.
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
1- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
2- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk);
3- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Grading Structure Review
The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.
Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.
11/09/2020, 23:55 hours.
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Please quote the job reference - 36349.
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.