Trainee Legal Adviser – Crime (Ipswich) - (

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)

Nov 7

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Entry Level
Legal

Requirements

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.

Responsibilities

It is really important to visit a Magistrates' court prior to submitting your 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.
Part time requests may be accommodated depending on business needs with the expectation of the successful candidate working at least 3 days a week.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 in Ipswich?

The salary range for this position is £34,140 - £37,105.

What are the working patterns available for this role?

The working patterns available include flexible working, full-time, job share, and part-time options.

Is this position a permanent or temporary role?

This position is permanent.

What qualifications do I need to apply for this role?

Applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing the academic stage of qualification to become a barrister, a solicitor, or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).

Are there any specific behaviors assessed during the selection process?

Yes, candidates will be assessed on the following behaviors: Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, and Managing a Quality Service.

Will I need to undergo any security checks?

Yes, successful candidates will be required to undergo a criminal record check as part of the vetting process.

What kind of benefits does the Civil Service offer for this role?

Benefits include a Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, access to training and development, flexible working options, generous holiday entitlement, and a working culture that promotes inclusion and diversity.

How many trainee legal adviser positions are available?

There is one position available for the Trainee Legal Adviser role.

What is the location of the job?

This position is based at Ipswich Magistrates' Court, IP1 2AP.

Is it necessary to visit a Magistrates' Court before applying?

Yes, applicants are encouraged to visit a Magistrates' Court prior to submitting their application to familiarize themselves with the role and the work of a legal adviser in the Magistrates’ Court.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)

We're responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales.

Law

Industry

1001-5000

Employees

2011

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

This is the official LinkedIn page for the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. We are responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. We are also responsible for non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We work with an independent judiciary to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system. We employ around 17,000 staff and operate from locations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Through the courts and tribunals we give people and businesses access to justice, including: - victims and witnesses of crime - defendants accused of crimes - consumers in debt or with other disputes - people involved in the adoption or protection of children - businesses involved in commercial disputes - individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies - people affected by relationship breakdown We follow the Ministry of Justice’s strategic vision for reform, to create a more effective, less costly and more responsive justice system for the public. We’re responsible for: - providing the supporting administration for a fair, efficient and accessible courts and tribunal system - supporting an independent judiciary in the administration of justice - driving improvements across all aspects of the administration of the courts and tribunals - collaborating effectively with other justice organisations and agencies, including the legal professions, to improve access to justice - working with government departments and agencies to improve the quality and timeliness of their decision- making, which will reduce the number of cases coming before courts and tribunals All our commercial contract opportunities over £10,000 can be found on the GOV.UK Contract Finder service: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder For more information on how we use social media, visit: https://bit.ly/2TDvAUV