62170 - Legal Researcher, Judicial College, Judicial Office
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.
Job advertisement – Legal Researcher
Number of jobs available: 1
Detail of reserve list: 12 months
Region: London, Midlands, or, North East
City: London, Loughborough, or, Leeds
Grade: EO
Post Type: Fixed Term (up to 2 years)
Working pattern: Full Time, with flexible options available
Role Type: Legal Services
Job Description:
This is a new role within the Judicial College Legal Team and presents an exciting opportunity for the post holder to develop this and build a portfolio of interesting and varied legal experience. The post of Legal Researcher has been created in recognition of the volume and quality of training required by an ever growing and more diverse magistracy. It is intended to provide those considering a legal career with a unique opportunity to work at the very heart of the judiciary, gaining a distinctive perspective on the legal system and what it takes to deliver justice.
You will be a self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible person with excellent legal research and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and succinctly. You will have excellent organisational skills to be able to prioritise workstreams and deliver at pace, with strong interpersonal qualities and can build good working relationships with a diverse range of people.
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
Job Title / Group / Directorate: Legal Researcher, Judicial College, Judicial Office
Reports To: Legal Team Manager, Judicial College
Location & Terms of appointment
This is a FTC and can be based in any one of the Judicial Office locations in London, Loughborough or Leeds, however travel would be expected to attend meetings and training events. The main office is Judicial College, 9th Floor Thomas More Building, The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL
Salary and Grade
This post is Grade EO
New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
The Judicial College
The principal role of the Judicial College is to support the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals in fulfilling their responsibilities for the arrangements for training the judiciary in an ever-evolving justice system.
The Judicial College is part of the Judicial Office (JO), an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice. Our purpose is to strengthen the rule of law and improve the administration of justice through delivery of essential training for the judiciary in courts and tribunals, as well as a framework of training for magistrates.
We are a unique branch of the civil service, independent from Government, dedicated to supporting the judiciary and promoting judicial independence, to maintain confidence in the rule of law. The Judicial Office reports to, and is accountable to, the Lord Chief Justice and was set up in 2006 to provide support to him and to the wider judiciary following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. We support some 22,000 judicial office holders, providing policy, legal and handling advice and operational support.
Role Purpose
You will be joining the Judicial College Magistrates Legal Team, who are a supportive, dynamic, and committed team. Legal team members assume personal responsibility for national delivery of projects, in all jurisdictions including adult crime, youth crime and the Family Court for both legal advisers and magistrates.
Legal team members advise the relevant Judicial College training committees, supporting them to identify where national training is required and then work with stakeholder groups to develop, draft, update and deliver training material for magistrates and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) legal advisers.
Within each jurisdiction, the legal team are also responsible on a national basis for the development and delivery of mentor training to those HMCTS legal advisers appointed as mentors to trainee legal advisers.
The Legal Researcher will work closely with the legal team members by aiding in the preparation of training materials for magistrates and legal advisers, updating those materials and ensuring that they remain current. You will have excellent relationship-building, organisational, planning, drafting and research skills. You will also possess a sound understanding of the legal systems and processes in England and Wales and be able to examine and interpret complex legal information. You will maintain currency with relevant legislative and case law changes in order to identify those materials that require updating. You will provide legal research into specific areas of law as requested by the legal team. You will support a wide range of governance groups and in doing so will gain excellent secretariat experience.
Duties and responsibilities
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- To consider the overall magistrates and legal adviser training programmes and advise the legal team on priorities and timescales for updates
- To assist the legal team with updating the current training materials by keeping up to date with legal changes and their effects on training material.
- To complete legal research into discrete areas of the law as requested by the legal team.
- To attend face to face training with the team and work with the Planning and Operational Support Teams as required.
- To support the secretariat function for the Judicial College magistrates and legal adviser training committees.
Other Duties
The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the legal team or their line manager which are commensurate with the level or responsibility of this post.
Person specification
Technical skills/qualifications
Candidates for this post must be able to demonstrate rigorous and sound legal research and analysis skills at degree level or equivalent.
You will be asked to provide a CV.
At interview, you will be asked for a short presentation on a point of legal research on a topic to be notified.
Experience
Experience of practical legal research is essential. Whilst you do not require a specific area of expertise, you must be able to demonstrate sound and competent legal research ability and will be selected to provide cover for the range of work handled by the legal team.
Behaviours
- Delivering at pace
- Developing self and others
- Communicating and influencing
- Managing a quality service
Qualifications
A minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree, in law, or, with law as the primary subject, by September 2022
Selection process details
At the application stage you will be asked to provide a CV, statement of suitability and 250-word statements evidencing the required behaviours (above). Applications will be sifted based on this information. If a large number of applications are received, they will be sifted on the basis of the primary behaviour, namely, delivering at pace.
At interview stage candidates will be asked questions on the behaviours and they will also be asked strength-based questions, but those strengths are not shared in advance. Interviews will take place between 12/09/2022 and 19/09/22.
Reserve list
A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
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 UKor 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 Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- 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.
22/08/2022, 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 - 62170.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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.