12913 - Crown Court Clerk - Leeds

Ministry of Justice; Leeds; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Leeds is seeking a Crown Court Clerk to ensure the smooth running of hearings at the Crown Court. The ideal candidate will liaise confidently with judges and other court participants, produce critical court documentation, and manage a clerking team. High emotional resilience and strong communication skills are essential for handling sensitive issues. This role offers a structured training program and the chance to contribute significantly to the delivery of justice in the Civil Service.

Qualifications

• High emotional resilience and non-judgemental approach required.
• Experience in producing time-critical documentation is essential.
• Familiarity with process and new technologies expected.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth operation of Crown Court hearings.
• Liaise with judges and legal teams in sensitive matters.
• Produce accurate court documents and record hearing outcomes.

Skills

Ability to motivate and support team

Public speaking in court

Excellent communication skills

Document accuracy under deadlines

IT proficiency

Job description

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going. Our Crown Court Clerks are essential to ensure Crown Court hearings run smoothly. They have the self‑assurance to speak in court, communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents. Our Crown Court Clerk training programme provides a structured yet flexible approach to building the skills required to perform this vital role. This position includes line management responsibility.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life‑changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About you

This is a unique position at the heart of justice. It requires high emotional resilience, along with the ability to understand and be sensitive to many, sometime difficult, issues and take a non‑judgemental approach to our service users.

You’re an active listener, confident communicator; able to speak publicly in court, with the self‑assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner.

A real team player, working with the clerking team, you’ll ensure the smooth running of all the Crown Courts sitting daily, able to intervene in Court when required and maximise judicial sitting time. With experience in producing exact and time critical documentation, your ability to focus will be key in taking verdicts, conducting arraignments, producing Court orders and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.

You recognise the importance of the team’s overall wellbeing and meet objectives by setting clear direction and measuring through team and individual meetings.

Resilient, keen to learn and able to multi‑task, you’re familiar with working within process and have the IT skills to adapt to new systems and technologies as we’re constantly investing in digital solutions to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today’s world.

Your skills and experience

• Ability to motivate and support your team to deliver excellent customer service and achieve effective performance.
• Able to speak publicly and within a court room environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to complete documents accurately and to deadlines.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.

Benefits and development

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in delivery Justice and gives you the benefits developing your career in the Civil Service.

Please refer to the job description attachment for more information.

We also have more information on our website about the role Crown court clerks - HM Courts & Tribunals service

Further details

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Applications for part‑time working would be considered however due to the nature of the role the minimum hours would be 22.5 hours per week (3 × 7.4 hours) which must include full days.

Location

This post will be based at Leeds Crown Court, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds, LS1 3BG.

Regular travel to York Crown Court, YO1 9WZ and Bradford Crown Court, BD1 1JA will be required.

Skilled Worker Visa

This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.

From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you are applying for this role and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.