Trainee Legal Adviser

Ministry of Justice; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service pension

Free annual sight tests

Flexible benefits

Family friendly policies

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom offers a two-year Trainee Legal Adviser programme, rotating through court and office environments. You’ll be mentored, learn across cases from minor offences to serious crimes, and progress to SEO Tier 1 upon successful completion of training.

You’ll need a qualifying legal pathway (LPC/SQE/Bar/CILEX) and be prepared for a dual-site, hybrid role with formal induction and ongoing development within HMCTS.

Qualifications

• Must be a UK citizen or have a right to work in the UK.
• Must have passed the academic stage to become a solicitor or barrister of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, or a Fellow of CILEX, or a CILEX Lawyer.
• Bar-qualified candidates: Bar Training Course (BTC) or equivalent.
• Accepted routes: LPC for Solicitors, or SQE1/SQE2, Bar Training Course, CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma or equivalents.

Responsibilities

• Support frontline office/court based duties as a Trainee Legal Adviser.
• Assist with case management hearings and liaise with outside agencies.
• Progress to SEO Tier 1 Legal Adviser after completing the training framework.
• Provide impartial, professional legal advice to magistrates and staff.

Skills

Legal advisory skills

Case management

Education

Sol/Bar/CILEX qualification

BTC/SQE route knowledge

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.

Job Overview

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. 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.

Employment Details

• Contract type: Permanent
• Employment type: Full‑time

Working Hours

• Full‑time role (37 hours per week). Hours excluding lunch breaks.
• Normal working days: Monday‑Friday. 5 days over 6, including Saturdays and public holidays. Additional hours may be required.
• You will be required to work on Saturdays and public holidays within the terms of your contracted hours.

Location & Hybrid Working

• Dual‑site working. A base location will be assigned, with travel between designated court sites in line with operational requirements.
• Hybrid working arrangements are available where business need allows; up to 60% of working time in an office; only work in UK.
• All employees expected to spend a minimum of 60% of working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Progression & Training

Training HMCTS delivers a bespoke training programme for trainee legal advisers to develop the skills and knowledge for the legal adviser role. You will be supported by an allocated mentor, attend a two‑day Induction Programme run by the Judicial College, complete supplementary training and modules in the Judicial College's legal adviser Manual, observe relevant courts and attend local/regional training events with peers.

Progression

Upon successful completion of the full training and submission of your training portfolio (usually 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 will have access to a variety of legal careers in HMCTS and beyond.

Eligibility & Requirements

• Must be a UK citizen or have a right to work in the UK.
• 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 a CILEX Lawyer.
• If you have not evidence the correct certification at the point of offer, you will be removed from the process.
• For Bar‑qualified candidates: HMCTS welcomes applications from candidates who have completed the Bar Training Course (BTC) or an equivalent qualification.
• Qualifications: The following routes are accepted – The Legal Practice Course (LPC) for Solicitors, or BOTH the SQE1 and SQE2 stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam; The Bar Training Course; CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, Level 6 Diploma, Graduate Fast Track Diploma and equivalents.

Salary & Benefits

• Minimum salary for Skilled Worker route is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the role if higher.
• Minimum salary for New Entrant route is £33,400 per year or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher.
• External candidates join the MoJ at the band minima – London: £40,014.
• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service. A scheme allows qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year; public holidays and one privilege day; leave for part‑time and job share posts calculated on a pro‑rata basis.
• Childcare and travel allowances.
• Pension: Civil Service pension scheme available.
• Paid maternity, adoption and paternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
• Family Friendly policies: Opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Flexible benefits: Voluntary benefits, retail vouchers, discounts.
• Support: Networks for minority groups, disability‑confident workplace, cultural and other diversity groups.

Equal Opportunities & Diversity

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is 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 is able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including those from veterans. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

Interview Process

Interviews are scheduled to take place 9 November – 4 December 2026.

Other Details

This role is being offered on a Permanent basis. The minimum assignment duration is 3 years, in line with deliverables outlined within the advert. This is an 18‑month programme. You will be required to operate on the following working pattern in line with the Legal Adviser working pattern and contractual obligations.

Education and professional development opportunities include support for qualifying work experience for the SRA and CILEX, enabling legal professional qualification as a solicitor or CILEX.