Legal Officer (Immigration and Asylum) (Ref: 891)

Working within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will support the effective administration of Tribunals business by undertaking a range of complex case work and assessment activity in order to determine how best to advance caseloads and remove any barriers to effective and timely case progression. Working as part of a team as well as independently, under the supervision of a Senior Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker and leadership judiciary, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will make decisions as part of their delegated judicial powers and determine cases/holding some hearings – dependant on jurisdiction. A Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will liaise with key stakeholders and HMCTS colleagues to ensure the effective administration of justice.
The key purpose of the role, Working closely with judiciary, legal professionals and tribunal administration teams, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will undertake initial assessments on a range of incoming tribunals work, including case files, applications and correspondence in order to establish the level of authority and expertise needed to address the case and determine the most effective route for case progression. Working to delegated judicial functions and working to directions from the judiciary, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will provide ongoing and proactive management of caseloads, identifying any barriers or risks to effective case progression and developing interventions or actions to resolve these, liaising with a range of stakeholders and the public. The Legal Officer will be expected to gain a strong understanding of functioning across a range of jurisdictions to provide flexible, cross tribunal expertise.
Customer service and standards
· Promotes user focussed activity and standards - has strong written and interpersonal skills utilising principles of Human Voice of Justice
· Contributes to the Service Assurance Framework (SAF) -- Leads on maintaining standards of service and identifies areas for improvement and takes forward solutions using ‘continuous improvement’ techniques.
· Management of complaints and services failures and use of OPTIC. (The complaints recording system)
The key objectives of the role include:
Initial Case Assessment
The Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will be required to undertake initial assessment on incoming tribunals documentation and liaise with various stakeholders, including service users, to ensure effective case progression. This will include:
· Identify that claims / appeals have been lodged within the relevant timelines
· Ensure that claims / appeals are being addressed by the correct tribunal and at correct tribunal tier
· Ensuring any relevant fees have been paid by claimants / appellants
· Ensuring claims / appeals are made on the correct documentation and that all of the information necessary to progress the case is present
· Ensuring claims and appeals are allocated to the correct appeal type and where appropriate listing track
· Triage of referrals to appropriate authority
· Giving of instructions to administrative staff
Case Management
Operating under delegated judicial functions, manage the case by removing barriers to its progression and ensuring efficient allocation of tribunal resources.
This will include:
· Drafting and issuing directions to parties to file evidence and other documents
· Giving of listing instructions to administrative staff
· Ensuring the panel composition is appropriate to the case
· Ensuring interpreter requirements are identified
· Undertaking case management appointments
· Checking cases for readiness ahead of hearings
· Undertake a range of high-quality casework, including complex casework.
· Provide flexible technical case support as required.
Applications from parties to the claim/ appeal
Working to delegated judicial powers, Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworkers will be expected to identify and sift applications, making decisions on:
· Postponing hearings
· Transferring proceedings to another region or jurisdiction
· Requests to withdraw proceedings
· Extensions and variations of time to comply with an aspect of procedure rules
· Requests to vary directions
Multi-Jurisdictional Expertise
Operating within a regional cluster, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworkers will be expected to develop expertise across a number of tribunal jurisdictions in order to provide flexible technical case support across tribunals business
Communicating with key stakeholders
• Ensuring effective engagement with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations in order to progress tribunals work effectively
• Think beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues
Administration
Undertake any administration necessary to support the effective delivery of the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker role, ensuring:
• All relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in timely manner
• All physical and electronic tribunal case files and records are properly and tidily maintained
Accountability
The Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will report to a manager within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre. In working under delegated judicial functions, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will receive significant technical input and direction from the relevant tribunal judiciary., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together
+ Delivering at Pace

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Case management & decision making skills will be assessed in a 30 minute exercise in the interview., This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Technical skills.
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.
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)

Alongside your salary of £34,140, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £9,890 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