Trainee Legal Adviser

Ministry of Justice

Oct 19

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Entry & Junior Level
Legal
Healthcare

Requirements

Qualifications At the time of application you must be in the process of completing or have completed and passed the academic stage of qualification to become a barrister in England and Wales, or a solicitor 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 (i) having passed the necessary examinations; (example of which are listed below) (ii) having been granted an exemption in relation to the necessary examinations (example of which are listed below) by the appropriate examining body; or (iii) any combination of the two.
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.
You can apply for this role whilst you are completing the final academic stage of qualification but must be able to evidence your final certification at the point of an offer being made, to be able to proceed to appointment. If you are unable to evidence the correct certification at the point of offer, you will be removed from the process.
It is really important to visit a Magistrates' court prior to submitting you application in order to better familiarise yourself with the role and the work of a legal adviser in Magistrates’ Court.
You must declare any previous or pending prosecutions or convictions, including those considered “spent” under this Act. You are also required to declare any cautions or bind-overs (parking offences and congestion charge fines are not required). A criminal record does not necessarily mean you will fail vetting; each case is considered on an individual basis and all relevant convictions are taken into account. If you are uncertain about whether the incident is relevant, please declare it, rather than leaving it out.
The successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Security Check for this post.
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
You were studying abroad
You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Responsibilities

Trainee Legal Adviser
The role of the legal adviser is vital to the smooth running of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and is a highly rewarding position within our organisation.
You’ll be surrounded by learning opportunities every day, so if you have a passion for law, this could be the right role for you.
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’ve passed the academic stage of qualification to become a barrister or solicitor in England or Wales, or you’re a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
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.
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.
Learn new legal skills as you develop your career
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.
Apply all your skills as you increase your knowledge of the law
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.
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.
You’ll 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.
The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities.
We support every individual, so you’ll always know you’re welcome and valued.
We have strong and proactive staff networks, reasonable adjustments for those who need them and diversity talent programmes to help everyone, irrespective of their background, to achieve their potential.
If this sounds like you, use our online application form to apply for the role of the trainee legal adviser.
If you have any queries about the role, then please contact: HQlegal@justice.gov.uk
Visit our microsite: https://hmctsjobs.co.uk/trainee-legal-adviser/ to view our attraction pack and see what our legal advisers have to say about the role.

FAQs

What is the salary range for the Trainee Legal Adviser position?

The salary range for the Trainee Legal Adviser position is £32,827 - £35,678.

How many positions are available for this role?

There are 2 positions available for the Trainee Legal Adviser role.

How long is the reserve list for this position?

The reserve list for this position is valid for 12 months.

Where is the job located?

The job is located in the West Midlands, specifically in Cannock and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

What is the working pattern for this role?

The working pattern for the Trainee Legal Adviser role is full time.

What qualifications are needed to apply for this role?

Applicants must have completed the academic stage of qualification to become a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales, or be a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).

Is prior court experience required before applying?

Yes, it is important to visit a Magistrates' court prior to submitting an application to better familiarize yourself with the role and the work of a legal adviser.

Will the successful applicant have line manager responsibilities?

No, the successful applicant will not have line manager responsibilities.

What type of training and support will be provided?

Training and mentoring will be provided throughout the two-year training period to develop the necessary skills to provide legal advice to magistrates.

What benefits come with the position?

Benefits include a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, a Civil Service pension, training opportunities, flexible working schemes, and excellent childcare benefits.

What are the interview dates for this position?

Interviews are expected to take place in November 2024, although this is subject to change.

What is the closing date for applications?

The closing date for applications is 04/11/2024, at 23:55 hours.

Is a Disclosure and Barring Security Check required for this post?

Yes, the successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Security Check for this position.

Can I apply if I have spent significant time abroad?

Yes, you can apply if you have spent significant time abroad, but you will need to provide a reasonable account of the reasons for your time abroad, as well as referee cover for those periods.

Are there flexible working arrangements available?

Yes, the Ministry of Justice offers hybrid working arrangements, which may include flexible working patterns, subject to business needs.

Ministry of Justice

We protect & advance the UK's principles of justice, working to deliver a world-class justice system for all.

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