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HM 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.
The Court of Appeal Civil Division hears appeals across all civil jurisdictions. In the majority of cases it is the final court of appeal.
The post of judicial assistant is intended to provide entrants to the legal profession with a unique opportunity to work at close quarters with judicial members of the court, to view the appeals process and to appreciate appellate advocacy at close quarters. Candidates should note that a judicial assistant works full time. It is not possible to conduct professional practice or to devote significant time to external study while working as a judicial assistant.
Role purpose
Judicial assistants in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal are assigned to one or two justices of appeal. They assist in the preparation of cases for hearing before a constitution of the full court by analysis of the appeal papers, legal research and the drafting of summaries for the assistance of each member of the constitution of the court. They also prepare case papers and summaries for submission to a single justice for consideration of applications for permission to appeal. From time to time they are requested to assist with research into specific subjects of interest in the law or the administration of justice.
It is not essential that candidates should have a specific area of expertise but the team will be selected so as to provide cover for the range of work handled by the civil division of the Court of Appeal including general common law, public law and human rights, commercial law, chancery and tax law, employment law, family law and some criminal law. Candidates must be willing to undertake work in areas of law in which they have no previous experience.
Main activities / responsibilities
The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- To prepare case summaries for permission to appeal applications and bench memoranda for full appeals as requested by their supervising Lord or Lady Justice.
- To complete case summaries and bench memoranda for other members of the court who do not have an assigned judicial assistant.
- To complete legal research into specific subjects of interest in the law or administration of justice as requested by the supervising Lord or Lady Justice or any other justice of appeal.
- Occasionally to assist in the preparation of a speech to be given by their assigned judge or any other justice of appeal.
Other duties
The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by their assigned judge or line manager which are commensurate with the level or responsibility of this post.
About you
Experience
- Experience of practical legal research
Technical skills / qualifications
- A 2:1 undergraduate degree in law or better; or
- A 2:1 undergraduate degree in any other subject or better and a postgraduate law qualification
Please note that you are expected to hold this/these qualification(s) at the time that you apply for the post. Predicted degree grades will not be accepted.
Application process
To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following:
- A copy of your anonymised CV
- A 250-word statement of suitability against the required experience and technical skills/qualifications detailed above
- A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 3):
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested / assessed (Level 3).
Interviews will include one Strength and will also involve a test of legal technical skills, including a written test.
Please note, face to face interviews will be required for candidates progressed from sift stage and will take place between 15 and 26 April 2024.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
