Lawyer Legal Research Unit (LRU)

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. Background His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. HMCTS aims to ensure that all citizens receive timely access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crime, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies. HMCTS is undertaking an ambitious reform programme. The programme will enhance the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK's position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all. The programme includes creating high quality digital services, modernising the court estate, updating and replacing its technology, speeding up and streamlining working practices, refurbishing buildings to reduce maintenance costs and provide much improved services for service users, especially vulnerable witnesses and victims. Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do, and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential. HMCTS senior management expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results., The LRU provides legal, research and secretariat services to the judiciary of both the First-tier and Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, producing publications, undertaking specialist legal research, supporting judicial committee work and maintaining physical and virtual libraries. This role is more than just assisting with Tribunal work but involves autonomy and responsibility for the relevant area of the Tribunal's work subject to normal line management direction. The post-holder will work closely with judiciary, the Head of the LRU (grade 7 lawyer), UTIAC lawyers, legal professionals and administration teams. The post holder will report to the Head of the LRU. The key objectives of the role include, Operations

• Work with the Head of the LRU to design and deliver a legal information strategy for IAC judiciary in consultation with the Presidents of the Upper Tribunal and First-Tier Tribunal and senior judiciary.
• Complete critical editing of all LRU publications.
• Research and monitor developments in UK, ECHR and EU jurisprudence and legislation.
• Research, write and produce materials for publication for the IAC judiciary.
• Write summaries of immigration and asylum cases from UK and EU courts, which will usually involve complex legal and policy research.
• Write headnotes for the Immigration Appeal Reports in consultation with senior members of the Upper Tribunal judiciary.
• Monitor case law and legislative developments, including the Immigration Rules, with a view to contributing to LRU publications, judicial resources and training events.
• Work across jurisdictions to provide legal research and case management services to other tribunals when necessary.
Managing resources
• Produce and oversee maintenance of legal research resources, in particular the LRU Electronic Library on eJudiciary and other judicial websites.
• Liaise with content managers for internal and external public websites to ensure materials are relevant and up-to-date.
• Deliver training to IAC judiciary on legal research methodologies and using electronic legal and country information databases.
Research & Analysis
• Respond to research requests from IAC judiciary regarding recent case law, legislation and country information.
• Provide research materials for judicial training events.
Communicating with the public, the judiciary, other court & tribunals users and representatives of other agencies and organisations
• Provide accurate, relevant and prompt research responses to IAC Judiciary.
• Provide prompt responses to requests for information from members of the public.
• Ensure all LRU publications are to the high standards required for internal and external subscribers (including judges, practitioners, academic institutions and other tribunals and courts).
Representation
• Represent the LRU at internal and external meetings, workshops and committees including at a senior level.
• Provide secretariat services for judicial committees including UTIAC Reporting Committee, Country Guidance Advisory Group and Editorial Board.
Team leadership
• Manage and support a small team of Legal Researchers.
• Ensure that Legal Researchers are properly trained in the jurisdiction and have the necessary legal research and writing skills to perform the role.
• Assist in identifying future training needs and developing solutions as to how best to meet those needs.
Small development projects The role of the SEO lawyer will include responsibility for small development projects. This would require the ability to organise and manage projects which have an impact on the Chamber and/or the impact on the legal process of the Tribunal or Chamber in the wider area. Responsibilities include:
• The ability to set up the management of a small development project, liaise effectively with all stakeholders, plan the required process and communicate information regarding the project.
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
• Ensure effective engagement with judiciary, other legal teams, administration staff, user groups and representative organisations in order to progress work effectively., It is expected that the SEO lawyer will work with a high level of autonomy. This will include organising their own workload, engaging in complex legal research and analysis, assisting to develop the practices of the Chamber to enhance the experience of stakeholders.
Behaviours You will be required to provide evidence on the following behaviours success profile at Level 3 at both sift and interview stages. Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on experience and on the lead behaviour of Managing a Quality Service. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, where they will be assessed against both behaviours and strengths. Managing a Quality Service Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure delivery of professional excellence. Work with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales. Successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers' needs and gives value for money. Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently. Involve a diverse range of colleagues, stakeholders and delivery partners in developing suggestions for improvements. Establish ways to find and respond to feedback from customers about the services provided. Communicating and Influencing Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact. Encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness. Ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people's individual needs. Share information as appropriate and check understanding. Show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same. Ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests. Seeing the Big Picture Understand the strategic drivers for your area of work. Align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities. Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area. Seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team's business area. Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders. Developing Self and Others Identify capability gaps for self and team. Ensure development objectives are set and achieved to address any gaps and enable delivery of current and future work. Take time to coach, mentor and develop other colleagues to support succession planning. Promote inclusiveness by respecting different personal needs in the team and use these to develop others. Reflect on own work, continuously seek and act on feedback to improve own and team's performance. Technical You will be required to provide evidence on the following Legal Professional Skills: Reliable Legal Judgement and Appreciation of Legal Risk Identify and explain legal options, giving a steer as appropriate. Extract key legal issues. Reach sound legal judgement based on available evidence. In-Depth Understanding of the Legal Issues that are Specific to the Post Identify the specialist aspects of the law relevant to the post. Identify the legal context within which clients work. Sound Analysis and Use of Secure Legal Research Identify where law is found and how to use it. Interpret statues, case law and other sources of law. Use evidence appropriately., The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks. Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made. MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer. All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet. Flexible working hours The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy.,
• 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. Success Profiles


• Knowledge of the legal and administrative functions of the Tribunal system and the relevant Chamber.
• Knowledge of relevant law and methodologies of legal research.
• Ability to acquire new specialist knowledge rapidly.
• Excellent legal reasoning, research and writing skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, both verbally and in writing.
• High level of interpersonal skills, to develop and maintain effective relationships with staff and stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to analyse problems and situations quickly and effectively.
• Competent IT use.
Autonomy An SEO lawyer works within the framework provided by the Ministry of Justice and HMCTS policies, case law and legal process. The post holder has an obligation to keep up to date with their knowledge and understanding of current law and legal practice. This can be achieved through access to a wide variety of legal authorities and reference works., An SEO Lawyer will be expected to have knowledge, skills and experience and provide evidence at both the sift and interview stages which include:
• Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of CILEx qualified to practise in England and Wales (i.e. having completed training contract, pupillage or qualifying period of employment).
• Significant experience in legal research and analysis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience of drafting and producing a range of documents that can be tailored to the needs of different audiences.
• Demonstration of attention to detail.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work successfully and managing own workload, using various techniques and systems, in order to meet deadlines.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with experience of working collaboratively as part of a diverse team and supporting others in the delivery of work.
• Demonstration of competent IT skills in the use of the Microsoft Office suite and legal research material.
• Line management or supervisory experience.
• Experience in Immigration and Asylum Law (desired)., The job holder must be able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in English or (when specified in Wales) Welsh., Solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales (i.e. having completed training contract or pupillage), or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (eligible where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the GDL/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved) at CILEx level6, in all of the seven foundations subjects in law).
• Post qualification experience with good working knowledge of public law and procedures.
• You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role., 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)., Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit Communicating and Influencing - 250 word limit Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit Experience CV Please tell us how your experience makes you a good fit for this role - 250 word limit A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits: Annual Leave Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis. Pension The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best. Training The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. Networks The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Support
• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are 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 are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns., Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture Delivering at Pace Technical Skills Demonstrate skills and knowledge Demonstrate skills and knowledge Demonstrate skills and knowledge Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance. Additional Assessment(s) Two examples of written work will be required one week prior to interview A Great Place to Work for Veterans The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.