Paralegal

Attorney General's Office; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental legal department in the UK is seeking a Paralegal Officer to join its Domestic Law Team. The role involves briefing law officers, conducting casework related to criminal and family law, and undertaking legal research on various issues. Ideal candidates will possess a law degree and exhibit strong analytical capabilities. This position offers a competitive salary of £36,758, along with comprehensive benefits including a retirement plan and a commitment to flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme

Learning and development tailored to role

Flexible working options

Inclusive culture

Qualifications

• Ability to follow processes and ensure compliance.
• Experience in analyzing large volumes of information.
• Desirable but not essential experience in criminal law.

Responsibilities

• Brief the Law Officers and conduct casework.
• Conduct legal research across a wide range of legal issues.
• Support the team with the unduly lenient sentencing scheme.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Experience of criminal law and/or public law

Enthusiastic and adaptable

Education

Law degree or equivalent legal qualification

Job description

The AGO is a ministerial department serving the Attorney General and the Solicitor General (the Law Officers). The Law Officers are the Government's chief legal advisers and make important decisions that affect public life, such as whether to send criminal sentences that may be too low to the Court of Appeal, whether to open inquests into deaths, provide advice to the Prime Minister and Secretaries of State, and represent the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office in Parliament. The Office comprises around 63 multidisciplinary, engaged and high‑performing team members who advise and support the Law Officers in all aspects of their work.

• legal professional excellence and creativity;
• role and reputation;
• team spirit, ethos, and values; and
• individual development and wellbeing.

While the workload can be demanding and there may be times of pressure, the AGO is committed to staff wellbeing and ensuring colleagues have all the support and resources they need to succeed and maintain a healthy work‑life balance.

AGO operates a hybrid working policy where there is a requirement of 60% office attendance.

AGO supports the Civil Service vision of being recognised as the UK's most inclusive employer, by setting stretching diversity and equality objectives for our organisation.

The successful candidate will work as a paralegal officer in the AGO's Domestic Law Team. This role involves briefing the Law Officers and conducting casework across the team's responsibilities, including the unduly lenient sentencing scheme, consents to prosecute, contempt of court, family law cases, charity law cases and inquests. The successful candidate will conduct legal research across a wide range of issues, including constitutional law and devolution.

Selection and Technical Assessment

• Making Effective Decisions – Lead Behaviour
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Candidates will be asked to complete a technical exercise as part of the interview process. Successful applicants must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before appointment.

Nationality Requirements

• 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)
• 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

Candidate Qualities and Experience

• Attention to detail and the ability to follow processes and ensure compliance with them.
• Analytical skills – ability to analyse large volumes of information and produce clear, concise summaries conveying only the key facts and a reasoned recommendation.
• Experience of criminal law and/or public law is desirable but not essential.
• Enthusiastic, adaptable paralegal officer with a law degree or equivalent legal qualification who can master new areas of law quickly and has the potential to handle complex advice and command the confidence of Ministers and senior officials.

Salary and Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,758, the Attorney General's Office contributes £10,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Terms

The successful candidate will need to hold or be in the process of gaining security clearance before being in post. The vacancy will be filled on loan or fixed‑term appointment for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of an extension by mutual agreement. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will take up post in early September. If the incumbent is applying on temporary promotion, they will revert to their previous substantive grade and salary after the loan.

Hours and Holiday

You will be expected to work a 5‑day week of 37 hours (excluding lunch breaks). AGO is committed to flexible working, but business needs for some roles may limit the scope for particular working patterns. The annual leave allowance for those who joined the Civil Service before 1st July 2013 is 26.5 days per annum, and then 31.5 days after 5 years' service, plus 9 public and privilege days. For those who joined the Civil Service on or after 1st July 2013, or those on modernised terms and conditions, the annual leave allowance is 25 days rising to 30 days, plus 9 public and privilege days.