Legal Officer - Glasgow, United Kingdom - Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Verified Company

Glasgow, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Legal Officer

£31,265 - £34,446

Glasgow:

Job Description/Person Specification

Legal Officer

Higher Executive Officer

1. The Role

Position:
Legal Officer

Directorate:
Tribunals

Location:

The role will be based within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre, although regular and routine working from other regional locations may be expected.

National travel will be an occasional requirement.

Band:
Pay span or equivalent: HEO

Contract Type:
Permanent

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.

2. Background
As part of His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) the Tribunals directorate is responsible for the effective administration of tribunals in England and Wales and non
- devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We work with an independent judiciary across a wide range of jurisdictions to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system.

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 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.

3. Role Overview

Working within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre, the Legal Officer 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.

4. The key purpose of the role Job Description

The Legal Officer will be expected to evidence a strong understanding of functioning across a range of jurisdictions to provide flexible, cross tribunal expertise.

5.

The key objectives of the role include:

Initial Case Assessment
The Legal Officer 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

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:

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

Applications from parties to the appeal

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 Officers 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 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 will report to a manager within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre. In working under delegated judicial functi