Your base location can be in Swansea, Llanelli, Haverfordwest, Aberystwyth, Llandudno, Caernarfon, Wrexham or Mold. You will need to travel to smaller courts in the area as required.
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. If you have a passion for law, being a part of a team committed to providing a quality service and want to take your career in a new direction, this could be the right role for you.
Youre an excellent communicator with the ability to inspire confidence in everyone you work with and the self-assurance to speak in court. Youll need to be a qualified solicitor, barrister or fellow of CILEX, enthusiastic about the responsibility that comes with being on the front line of the justice system and you're now ready to develop your career further 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. Were looking for legal advisers to join our exceptional legal team in Suffolk 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. Youll also be required to exercise a range of authorised judicial functions. Not only will this draw on your sound legal skills, but youll need to demonstrate judicial independence, integrity and impartiality at all times.
Your role
When you join us as a legal adviser, youll quickly discover that this isnt your normal 9 to 5 role, as no two days are the same. Youll 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, or in family on parents disputes about their children or whether a child should be removed from their family by the state.
Your training will include enrolment on a 12 to 18 month national induction programme where you will acquire knowledge of law, practice and procedure and the court skills required to be a legal adviser. You will be supported by a mentor, manager and your colleagues. You will collect evidence throughout your training to support your promotion to a qualified Legal Adviser. Once you have completed your training, there is a wide range of career opportunities either within HMCTS, or your training will provide you with the knowledge and experience relevant for you to apply for judicial roles.
Work as the qualified, professional face of the courts
Rather than acting for a client youll be providing legal advice to magistrates and progressing cases to ensure they are dealt with justly, fairly and expeditiously.
If you work in the crime jurisdiction your role will be to advise magistrates on law practice, procedure and accurately record court decisions on the court system. With experience, you will be given authority to manage cases both in and outside the courtroom. You will be committed to providing a quality justice service to people in Suffolk.
Youll act as the professional face of the court, so well expect you to work with integrity, empathy and understanding, and ensure that everyone who attends is treated with humanity and respect at all times.
Apply all your skills as you increase your knowledge of the law
In addition to being legally qualified and having excellent communication skills, youll be committed to developing and practising your knowledge and skills in the jurisdiction to which you have been assigned. Open, approachable, professional and supportive, well 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, these can have a profound effect on the people who come to court, so youll 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 youll be faced with challenging situations. Youll 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. Youll be allocated to your work base location that has been agreed between yourself and line manager as part of the recruitment process.
All our employees have to be security cleared before being appointed so youll undergo a vetting process if your application is successful.
Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with our range of benefits
When you join us, youll 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, well 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 youll always know youre 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 legal adviser. If you have any queries about the role, then please contact: [email protected]
We currently have three Legal Adviser campaigns running for Wales covering Crime in South East Wales, Crime in Dyfed Powys and North Wales; and Family in Mid and West Wales
Technical Skills
To be eligible for entry to this post, candidates must be fully qualified to practice as a Solicitor or Barrister in England & Wales or hold the Qualifying Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) or be a Fellow of CILEX/CILEX Lawyer, including the completion of the relevant prescribed period of professional experience (e.g. training contract or pupillage).
