Legal Adviser (Family) - North East (Ref: 1587)

Your base location will be in Sheffield Magistrates Court. You may be required to travel to other court buildings within South Yorkshire and Humber as and when required to cover courts.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 Sheffield 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 roleWhen 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 courtsRather 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 family jurisdiction your role will be to advise magistrates on law practice, procedure and in consultation with the magistrates provide reasons for their decisions. With experience, you will also be given authority to manage cases both in an outside the courtroom and in some non-contested cases be able to make final orders for children. You will be committed to providing a quality service to families in Sheffield. 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.Apply all your skills as you increase your knowledge of the lawIn 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.Application ProcessTo apply for this role, you will be assessed on the following Civil Service Success Profile Behaviours (Level 3):Communicating & Influencing (Lead Behaviour)Working TogetherManaging a Quality ServiceIn the event of a high number of applications, the panel may carry out an initial sift based on information from the Lead Behaviour. InterviewIf successful at sift, you will be invited to a formal interview which will be comprised of three parts: Technical: Confirmation of your eligibility for this position, 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).Assessment of the following success profiles Civil Service behaviours· Communicating and Influencing· Working Together· Delivering at Pace· Changing and ImprovingAssessment of the success profiles Civil Service Strengths which will not be shared in advance.Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with our range of benefitsWhen 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 and can make reasonable adjustments for those who need them.Part time requests for this role will be considered on a case-by-case basis.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] Technical Skills and QualificationsTo 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).