Trainee Legal Adviser

Ministry of Justice; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension

Flexible working arrangements

Generous annual leave

Childcare and travel allowances

Staff networks and clubs

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is recruiting Trainee Legal Advisers to support magistrates with legal advice and case management across courts in the UK. The two-year training programme combines induction, mentoring, and court observations, with a view to progression to a Tier 1 Legal Adviser on successful completion.

Roles are office/court-based with hybrid working where possible, and a base location will be assigned near your home postcode.

Qualifications

• Pass the academic stage of qualification to become a solicitor or barrister of the Senior Courts of England and Wales or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) or CILEX Lawyer.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to inspire confidence in others.
• Willing to work on the front line of the justice system with a commitment to developing legal expertise.

Responsibilities

• Assist with case management hearings and liaise with outside agencies involved in specialist court work.
• Provide impartial legal advice to magistrates and support the drafting of judgments and reasons.
• Develop your learning portfolio during the two-year training programme and progress to Tier 1 Legal Adviser on completion.

Job description

When you join us as a trainee legal adviser, you'll quickly discover that this isn't your normal 9 to 5 role, as no two days are the same. You'll learn new skills every day as you work at pace in a fast-moving, fluid environment, and help to keep the courts running smoothly and efficiently. Working on everything from minor motoring offences to serious crimes, you'll be supported and mentored throughout your two-year training period. Once you've completed this, you'll then have the opportunity to further develop your legal career within HMCTS. Work as the qualified, professional face of the courts Rather than acting for a client you'll be offering impartial and objective legal advice, so you'll need to be passionate about the law and the issues that must be considered when magistrates are delivering judgments and sentences. Helping to conduct case management hearings will be another key part of your role, as will liaising with outside agencies who are involved in specialist court work. Once you're qualified, you'll act as the professional face of the court, so we'll expect you to work with integrity, empathy and understanding, and ensure that everyone who attends is treated with humanity and respect at all times. This is an office based/court based frontline role. You'll be allocated to your work base location that has been agreed between yourself and line manager as part of the recruitment process. Upon successful completion of the full training and submission of your training portfolio (usually completed within two years), a Trainee legal adviser will then progress to a SEO Tier 1 Legal adviser role (with the associated increase in pay, in line with the HMCTS Legal adviser Tier Progression Framework). You'll have access to a variety of legal careers in HMCTS and beyond. As part of the Ministry of Justice, you'll be entitled to a range of benefits including a civil service pension, flexible working arrangements, generous annual leave, childcare and travel allowances and numerous staff networks and clubs. For further information on our benefits please select here Why join us - HM Courts & Tribunals service, If you are unable to evidence the correct certification at the point of offer, you will be removed from the process.

Training HMCTS delivers a bespoke training programme for trainee legal advisers to develop the skills, and knowledge for the legal adviser role. The training is delivered through a variety of methods, and you will be supported by an allocated mentor to guide them throughout the Induction and Training Programme. You will be required to attend a two-day Induction Programme run by the Judicial College which is followed by supplementary training in the workplace and the completion of modules contained in the Judicial College's legal adviser Manual. This learning will be enhanced by relevant court observations and additional local and regional training events with peers.

From that understanding tell us what you think that would mean for how you would approach your learning and development as a Trainee Legal Adviser. You may want to include examples of how you have:

• identified areas for your development and developed your knowledge or skills;
• used feedback to improve your performance;
• prepared for a new role, qualification or challenge.

Your educational and professional qualifications (including the universities or institutions attended).

Details of your legal qualifications and eligibility requirements relevant to the role.

Employment history and experience relevant to the Trainee Legal Adviser role.

Be clear and concise.

Ensure all information is accurate and your own.

Plagiarism includes presenting the ideas or experience of others, or content generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

This is a full-time role (37 hours per week). The training programme requires broad practical experience across different court settings to support qualification as a Tier 1 Legal Adviser. Flexible working requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis in line with business needs, programme requirements and MoJ policy.

This role may require you to work across more than one court location (dual-site working) and will require travel to other court venues in line with business needs. Wherever possible, reasonable notice will be provided for any travel or attendance requirements. Full details of location requirements, travel expectations and dual-site working arrangements can be found in the Locations and Important Information document.

These positions involve dual-site working. A base location will be assigned; however, post-holders should expect to travel between designated court sites in line with operational requirements, 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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. 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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended). 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. MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer. All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet. 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. MoJ welcomes 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.

To be eligible to apply for this post, you must have passed the academic stage of qualification to become a solicitor or Barrister of the Senior Courts of England and Wales or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) or CILEX Lawyer. Please refer to the entry requirement section for more information. You're an excellent communicator with the ability to inspire confidence in everyone you work with and the self-assurance to speak in court. You're enthusiastic about the responsibility that comes with being on the front line of the justice system. And now you're ready to take your career to the next level and make a positive difference to society and the communities we live in. Learn new legal skills as you develop your career, In addition to your academic qualifications and excellent communication skills, you'll be committed to increasing and maintaining your knowledge of the law. Open, approachable, professional and supportive, we'll expect you to have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think on your feet in a busy court. Important decisions will be made, and these can have a profound effect on the people who come to court, so you'll be confident, impartial and capable of considering a wide range of risks and implications. Flexible and adaptable, and with a high degree of personal responsibility, there are times when you'll be faced with challenging situations. With this in mind you'll be resilient and remain calm under pressure and have a diplomatic and tactful approach to everyone you work with.

To be eligible to apply for this post, you must have passed the academic stage of qualification to become a solicitor or Barrister of the Senior Courts of England and Wales or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) or CILEX Lawyer by virtue of

• having passed the necessary examinations; (example of which are listed below)
• having been granted an exemption in relation to the necessary examinations (example of which are listed below) by the appropriate examining body; or
• any combination of the two.

By way of example, the following list reflects the currently approved academic qualification routes.

• The Legal Practice Course (LPC) for Solicitors, or BOTH the SQE1 and SQE2 stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam; or
• The Bar Training Course; or equivalent for Barristers; or
• The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice; or
• The CILEx Graduate Fast Track Diploma; or equivalent for Graduate Membership of CILEx.

Important Information for Bar-Qualified Candidates HMCTS welcomes applications from candidates who have completed the Bar Training Course (BTC) or an equivalent qualification.

Our work at HMCTS is vitally important to the smooth running of a fair, accessible and efficient justice system, as we are responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Right now, we're looking for trainee legal advisers to join our exceptional legal team and develop the skills to provide magistrates with advice on points of law, practice and procedure, and assist with the formulation and drafting of the reasons behind their judgments, The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

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

You will be expected to spend the duration of your training at your agreed base location to fulfil the demands of the training and the business needs in that location. All our employees have to be security cleared before being appointed so you'll undergo a vetting process if your application is successful.

Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with our range of benefits When you join us, you'll be making an important contribution to HM Courts and Tribunals Service - but how will we help you in return? In addition to a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service pension, we'll support your development with training opportunities to help you advance your career with us. We also understand the importance of a healthy work/life balance and with this in mind we offer flexible working schemes, paid maternity and paternity leave and excellent childcare benefits.

Your benefits with us As part of our training we support qualifying work experience for the SRA and CILEX enabling legal professional qualification as a solicitor or CILEX. This role is being offered on a Permanent basis. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years - in line with the deliverables outlined within the advert. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something that is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by.

• Your contracted hours are 37 hours excluding lunch breaks. Your normal working days are Monday-Friday
• You will be required to work those hours five days over six, including Saturdays and Public Holidays and due to the nature of this post you may be required to work additional hours to enable the courts to perform their statutory tasks and duties.
• As a Trainee Legal Adviser, you are required to work on Saturdays and public holidays within the terms of your contracted hours. This may be on a rota basis or could be as directed by your management team. You will normally be given a minimum of one weeks' notice if required to work on a Saturday or Bank Holiday but should a business need arise you may be directed without such notice.

Locations and number of vacancies

There are 20 roles available across the South West. 13 Crime jurisdiction and 7 Family jurisdiction. This role may require you to work across more than one court location (dual-site working) and will require travel to other court venues in line with business needs. Wherever possible, reasonable notice will be provided for any travel or attendance requirements.

Visa Sponsorship

We may be able to offer visa sponsorship for eligible roles to applicants who meet the Home Office requirements for a Skilled Worker visa. From 31st March 26, the minimum salary for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the role if higher. For those eligible under the New Entrant route, the minimum salary is £33,400 per year or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher. External candidates join the MoJ at the band minima, currently:

• National: £35,335

Existing Civil Servants transferring into the MoJ will have their pay set in line with the MoJ Pay and Reward Policy.

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.
• Childcare: 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 www.GOV.UK or 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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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.