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Ministry of Justice; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom is seeking a Court Associate to ensure Magistrates Court hearings run smoothly. The role requires confident public speaking and the ability to liaise with Judges, defence and prosecution, and other participants with calm professionalism.

You will work within a Legal Team, support daily sittings, and produce exact, time-critical court documents, take pleas, and record outcomes accurately.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills and ability to liaise with Judges, defence, prosecution, media and the public.
• Ability to work within a Legal Team and support court hearings and proceedings.
• Experience producing exact, time-critical court documents and ordering pleas.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn new systems and software.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the smooth running of Magistrates Courts sitting daily.
• Intervene in Court when required to maintain judicial sitting time.
• Produce and manage time-critical court documents and records accurately.
• Record hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.

Skills

Public speaking

Court liaison

Documentation accuracy

IT literacy

Job description

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Our Court Associates are essential to ensure Magistrates Court hearings run smoothly. They have the self‑assurance to communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents.

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.

About you

You’re a confident communicator; able to speak publicly, 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 within a Legal Team and with a Judge, you’ll ensure the smooth running of all the Magistrates 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 pleas, producing Court orders and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.

Resilient and keen to learn, 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 be a supportive team player delivering 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.

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

Please refer to the role profile attachment for more information.

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.

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

The nature of the role requires the postholder to be on‑site between 9:30am and the court finish time, therefore it is unlikely to be suitable for applicants seeking to work part‑days, and whilst applications for part time will be considered we are not able to consider less than 4 full working days per week for this specific role.

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.