Caseworker - Legal Aid Agency

Ministry of Justice; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector agency is seeking an Administrative Officer Caseworker to join their team. This role involves making critical decisions on legal aid applications and managing inquiries. Candidates will benefit from flexible and hybrid working arrangements, with full training provided for those without prior experience. The agency fosters an inclusive culture and offers comprehensive benefits, including 25 days of annual leave, training opportunities, and family-friendly policies.

Benefits

25 days annual leave, increasing after 5 years

Flexible benefits and retail discounts

Paid maternity, adoption, and paternity leave

Free annual sight tests

Extensive training and development opportunities

Supportive family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• No prior experience is required as full training will be provided.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Positive attitude and enthusiasm for learning.

Responsibilities

• Make accurate decisions on applications to determine eligibility.
• Ensure the correct spending of public funds.
• Deal professionally with enquiries from customers.
• Interact with solicitors and legal-aid clients.

Skills

Ability to work to deadlines

Ability to make decisions using evidence

Experience of working in a team

Effective communication skills

Ability to use Microsoft 365

Job description

The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc. If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 21 hours and to cover 3 days of the week. There may also be a business need to cover full‑time working hours during initial training. To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages of 16 and 18 and are successful, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on‑the‑job training. Reporting to: Team Manager

We are the Legal Aid Agency, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We help eligible people meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal in England and Wales. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service and pride ourselves on a supportive, inclusive culture.

Case Management is central to the Agency. The team handles legal aid applications, processes case payments and deals with correspondence and inquiries for both civil and criminal matters. It enables 600,000 new clients to access justice each year and ensures legal‑aid lawyers are paid fairly.

Responsibilities

• Make accurate decisions on applications to determine eligibility based on the merits of the case and financial eligibility of the client.
• Make accurate decisions on claims for payments submitted by solicitors and barristers to ensure the correct spending of public funds.
• Deal effectively and professionally with enquiries from customers, both in writing and verbally.
• Interact regularly with solicitors, legal‑aid clients and colleagues across the LAA and MoJ.
• Achieve performance and quality targets in your work.
• Ensure information and data are recorded accurately on case‑management systems and that case records are kept up to date.

Being an AO caseworker within the LAA is an interesting and varied role, where you can make a real difference.

As part of our commitment to integrity and transparency, we ask all applicants to ensure that the experiences, achievements and examples shared in your application are entirely your own. Please do not use AI tools to fabricate or simulate personal experiences. AI may assist with formatting and grammar but must not generate stories, skills or accomplishments that you have not personally lived or earned. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open, inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce, reflecting and understanding the needs of the diverse society we serve. We offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role.

If you are responding to a role within the LAA and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long‑term condition and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, let us know through the application system or by emailing [e-mail] after you have applied.

If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing [e-mail] initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days. If you are dissatisfied with our response, we will forward your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

An 45‑minute webinar is scheduled on 2 December starting at 10 am to allow applicants to discuss the role further. If you are interested in attending, please register your interest within the link provided.

Working Arrangements

MoJ offers hybrid working arrangements where business need allows. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60 % of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Hybrid working may not suit everyone's circumstances; arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate and subject to regular review.

Flexible Working Hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week. We welcome part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Key Competencies

• Ability to work to deadlines.
• Ability to make decisions using evidence and information.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Ability to use computers and Microsoft 365.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Person Specification

• No prior experience is required, as full training will be provided.
• Works well both independently and as part of a team.
• Enjoys being part of a fast‑paced and rewarding work environment.
• Brings a positive, can‑do attitude and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.

Assessment Approach

If you are successful through the ability stage, you will be asked an experience question based on the essential skills and experience required of an administration officer and three strength‑based questions.

Written Exercise

Applicants who progress beyond the assessment stage will complete a written exercise relevant to the role.

Benefits

• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increased to 30 days after five years’ service. A scheme is available to buy or sell up to three days leave each year, plus paid public holidays and one privilege day. Leave for part‑time and job share posts is calculated on a pro‑rata basis.
• Flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
• Training: an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: opportunity to join employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disability, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTQ+ employees.
• Support: family‑friendly policies, reduced hours or job‑sharing options.