Head Judicial Assistant

This is a rare opportunity for a UK qualified lawyer to lead the team of Judicial Assistants to the Justices of the Supreme Court, to act as a Judicial Assistant to one of the Justices, and to contribute to the leadership and management of the Court. This provides the Head Judicial Assistant with a unique insight into judicial decision-making at the highest level.

The Supreme Court and JCPC hear many of the most important cases of the day. The appeals are very varied and generally raise an arguable point of law of general importance, so the work is both interesting and impactful.

The UKSC is a small non-ministerial department. The vision of the Court is to uphold the rule of law with independence, integrity and impartiality, serving the public transparently and accessibly, and the staff (known as the administration) support the Supreme Court Justices to deliver the highest quality judgments in a unique and high-profile location on Parliament Square, which is open to the public. We are a values driven organisation which puts our users at the heart of everything we do.

The Head Judicial Assistant also works closely with the Courts Justices, Chief Executive and Registrars. This is a pivotal role for the Court, which requires a combination of excellent legal ability and strong organisational and leadership skills.

What you will get from the role:

The Court is an exciting place to work for any lawyer. It offers a rare vantage point at the apex of the judicial system. You wont just be observing the law, you will be contributing to its development through complex legal research and drafting lectures and speeches for Justices. This work demands the highest intellectual rigour and offers an unparalleled opportunity to see the law through the eyes of those who interpret and develop it.

You will actively participate in the Courts education and outreach programmes. This programme forms an important part of our diversity and inclusion strategy and will sharpen your ability to create engaging legal narratives to non legal audiences. You will also participate in the Courts international programmes, with an opportunity to attend the annual Judicial Assistants exchange visit to Washington DC.

Beyond the technical legal expertise, this position provides an opportunity to develop your management and leadership skills. By managing a team of judicial assistants and contributing to the Courts administration, you will hone your strategic and leadership skills essential for any future legal role. Working as a Judicial Assistant is regarded highly by law firms, chambers and other employers - Judicial Assistants typically go on to have successful careers at the Bar, top law firms, academia, the Government Legal Department or in policy.

The Head Judicial Assistant is responsible for:

Legal work

• Serving as Judicial Assistant to one of the Courts Justices;
• Drafting bench memos on applications for permission to appeal, conducting legal research, and drafting legally accurate, plain English press summaries of judgments; Preparing extra-judicial speeches and articles and preparing the Justices for international and other external engagements;
• Keeping abreast of legal and policy developments affecting the operation of the Court and advising the Justices accordingly;
• Generally assisting the Justices, the Chief Executive and the Registrars as required, including by providing legal advice to the Court where appropriate, conducting legal research, and drafting instructions to external legal advisers.

Management responsibilities

• Recruiting, inducting and line-managing up to eleven Judicial Assistants each year;
• Acting as a member of the Courts Management Board, which is responsible for the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the Court

External engagement

• Representing the Court at meetings with external stakeholders;
• Supporting the Courts educational and outreach activity, including the annual mooting, Debate Days, and Ask a Justice programmes;
• Organising and leading the annual paid Bridging the Bar internship programme;
• Managing and responding to information requests from international judicial and comparative law networks, including by acting as the UKs Liaison Officer to the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe in the field of constitutional law;
• Coordinating arrangements for the annual Judicial Assistants exchange visit to Washington DC.

Essential criteria required for the role:

• Excellent academic record with a minimum of a 2.1 degree;
• Qualified to practise in one of the UK jurisdictions as a solicitor, barrister or advocate;
• Excellent legal research skills, including the ability to tackle unfamiliar areas of law;
• Excellent communication skills both orally and in writing;
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to lead and manage a team; and
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with an ability to produce work independently to tight deadlines with good attention to detail whilst managing competing priorities.

Desirable criteria for the role:

• Post-qualification experience working as a solicitor, barrister or advocate in one of the UK jurisdictions;
• Previous management experience;
• Previous experience as a Judicial Assistant or Research Assistant or other relevant legal research experience;
• A track record of building trust demonstrated by excellent professional relationships with senior people as well as colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels; and
• Good knowledge and experience of using MS Office suite including Outlook and SharePoint and experience of providing and presenting management information.