Clerk to HM Judges (Ref: 1434)

The role is to provide first line support to a Lord or Lady Justice of Appeal or High Court Judge by ensuring best use of the judge's time, to enable them to concentrate on the delivery of justice. Using your organisational skills, you will efficiently manage all aspects of your judge’s day; this involves administrative duties which may include typing documents including judgments or orders and diary management. You will also likely be required to liaise with internal and external stakeholders including legal representatives, members of the public and other members of the judiciary.
The appointment to some Judges may require extensive travelling with overnight stays during the week for a considerable number of weeks at a time. This circuit work entails staying with the judge(s) and other clerks in judicial accommodation, returning home at weekends.
This is a unique role within the justice system. If you are organised, adaptable and you care about ensuring the delivery of justice then working as a Judges’ Clerk can be incredibly rewarding. Full training will be given in the role.
Key Responsibilities:
Administration
Keep an up-to-date diary of your Judge’s court sittings/visits/meetings, maintenance of his/her robes and library, co-ordinating visits and assisting visitors plus other office functions.
Domestic duties as required by the judge; e.g. tea/coffee preparation, lunch collection, washing up, dry cleaning and other ad hoc duties as agreed. Transportation of large court bundles around the building; trolleys are provided but some lifting will be required. When judges go on circuit, clerks are responsible for transporting books, bundles, files, computers, robes and other judicial requirements as well as their own, and judge’s, personal belongings.
Communication
You will be responsible for the smooth running of the judge’s court commitments whether in London or on circuit. This will involve communicating by telephone, email and correspondence to ensure the resolution of many and varied queries and requests. On a regular basis you’ll be liaising with:
+ judges and senior figure
+ litigants and members of the publi
+ jurors
+ court and tribunal user
+ representatives of other agencies and organisations
You will be representing your assigned judge at an operational level. Using your organisational skills, you will be expected to efficiently manage all aspects of your judge’s day. You will be required to make decisions regarding changing priorities as they occur, without reference to the judge, and work on your own initiative. In many instances you will be the first point of contact between your judge and others. The need for confidentiality, tact, courtesy and diplomacy is therefore paramount.
This short video will give you an insight to the role from some clerks currently in post – Clerk to HM Judges
Circuit work
Any judge may undertake circuit work anywhere in England and Wales up to 3 times annually for periods of around 2-6 weeks (or more depending on the case). On circuit you will stay at judges’ lodgings or hotels on weekdays (at no cost to you) and liaise with the housekeeper and lodging’s manager on domestic matters that may include arrangement of dinner parties and visits.
You will be expected to continue managing the judge’s other commitments while on circuit.
Essential Skills and Criteria:
Accurate typing speed of a minimum of 35 wpm, this is tested at the assessment day and will be tested in 3 parts, average speed will be calculated for part 1 & 2 below:
+ Speed test when copying from typed text and making correction
+ Speed test when copying from Manuscript and making correction
+ Drafting emails on behalf of Judges, in response to the correspondence received
Previous experience of using IT Microsoft Office applications., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

A high standard of spoken and written English. You need to be able to understand and assimilate information from various sources and accurately summarise it in a clear and concise written format, tested before proceeding to interview.
Desirable Skills Include:
A full driving licence

Alongside your salary of £32,416, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £9,390 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Access to learning and development
+ A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
+ A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
+ Annual Leave
+ Public Holidays
+ Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ