Legal Adviser

Ministry of Justice; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Justice in the United States seeks a Senior Legal Adviser to support the IMA’s EU citizens’ rights work. You will join a team of legal staff, report to the General Counsel, and shape senior decision-making, governance and risk management.

You will advise on complex issues across public and administrative law, lead directorate-wide initiatives, engage with external counsel, and help design training and guidance for colleagues.

Qualifications

• Qualified barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in England and Wales.
• Experience advising on Separation Agreement law and / or free movement law under EU law.
• Strong track record in public and administrative law.
• Sound legal judgement and ability to identify and escalate risk.
• Clear, pragmatic advisory style for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead on providing legal advice on complex, novel and contentious issues across IMA work.
• Provide leadership to Legal Directorate colleagues and oversee staff development.
• Advise operational colleagues to inform monitoring and promoting work.
• Ensure effective legal risk management and escalate high-risk matters.
• Contribute to design and delivery of internal training and guidance.
• Build relationships with senior colleagues, public authorities and external counsel.
• Lead directorate-wide initiatives aligned with statutory obligations and objectives.
• Represent the Legal Directorate at senior stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Barrister/solicitor

Separation Law

Public law

Administrative law

Risk management

Analytical skills

Communication

Influence

Leadership

Team development

Legal services

Job description

As Senior Legal Adviser, the post-holder will contribute to the provision of effective legal support at the IMA in the complex, challenging and wide-ranging area of EU citizens' rights.

They will play a pivotal role in the effective delivery of the IMA's work, joining a team of 10 legal staff within the Legal Directorate, and reporting to the General Counsel.

Working closely with the General Counsel, the post-holder will support leadership of the Directorate and the provision of legal services at the IMA. This is an influential role and one where you will help shape senior decision-making, including strategic planning, governance and organisational risk.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading on the provision of legal advice on complex, novel and contentious legal issues across all aspects of the IMA's work.
• Providing leadership and direction to Legal Directorate colleagues, supporting skills development and building future capability.
• Overseeing and advising operational colleagues to inform the IMA's monitoring and promoting work.
• Ensuring effective legal risk management and escalating high-risk matters appropriately.
• Contributing to the design and delivery of the internal training and guidance.
• Building strong relationships with senior colleagues, public authorities and external stakeholders.
• Working with external legal service providers and counsel when required, under the direction and oversight of the General Counsel.
• Leading directorate-wide initiatives aligned with the IMA's statutory obligations and strategic objectives.
• Contributing to strategy, organisational governance, operational planning, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Representing the Legal Directorate and the IMA at senior stakeholder meetings.

The work will involve advising on the Withdrawal Agreement, but may also engage the following areas of law:

• Public administrative law
• Judicial review
• International law
• EU law
• Immigration
• Health
• Education
• Social security
• Housing

The advice will be provided in the context of:

• A range of litigation: the IMA was successful in a landmark judicial review of elements of the EU Settlement Scheme, and has undertaken important interventions on novel and contentious questions of interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement before all courts of the UK, from the county court and tribunals, to the Supreme Court.
• IMA inquiries: the IMA has concluded its first inquiry on delays in the issuing of Certificates of Application under the EU Settlement Scheme and has commenced its second on delays in the determination of applications under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Compliance and intelligence work: the IMA carries out a range of compliance and intelligence work looking at the actions of public authorities, identifying where there are problems but also highlighting good practice. This includes looking at the experience of individuals entering the UK, accessing student finance, healthcare and housing assistance, the experience of looked after children and the rules which govern the immigration status of those citizens within our responsibility., The post-holder will have the support of experienced and dedicated colleagues across the IMA, with access to tailored learning and development to help them thrive in this role and progress their legal career.

A self-starter with proven experience of working under pressure, with an excellent record for delivering to deadlines and taking decisions, as well as the resilience to providing challenging advice and recommendations to peers and colleagues.

A strong communicator with strong influencing skills, including the ability to manage complex and senior relationships, to represent the organisation, and to distil complex technical messages.

An inspiring people leader and manager with the ability to attract, lead, motivate and develop colleagues at all levels to the highest standards.

An effective and strong team player

Essential skills:

• Qualified barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in England and Wales
• Experience on advising on Separation Agreement law and / or free movement law under EU law or demonstrable experience of advising on complex areas of law with the ability to quickly grasp and advise on new/evolving areas of law
• A strong track record of advising on the main features of public and administrative law
• Sound legal judgement, with the ability to identify, manage and escalating legal risk appropriately
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to distil complex legal and technical issues into clear, pragmatic advice
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and influence stakeholders at senior levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop legal professionals, contributing to a high performing and inclusive legal team
• Ability to contribute to the effective management, delivery and continuous improvement of legal services.

Behaviours

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the bigger picture
• Communicating and Influencing