This position is based at LAA Stephenson House FLR 3, DL1 4WB Job Summary Please refer to Job Description Job Description Job Title: Duty Solicitor Contract Type: Permanent Grade: SEO Salary range: Pay Band: £41,463-45,276 plus a £4,000 per annum specialist pay allowance Location: PDS Offices Directorate/Team: Public Defender Service Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc. The Public Defender Service The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market. Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements. PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice. Job Summary Provision of advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence. Key Responsibilities: Provide a high volume of advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence, Be an effective team member who supports colleagues, Contribute personally to the continuous improvement of PDS service and the development of PDS as a great place to work, Participation in office out of hours rota Provide expert input, as and when required, to various projects within the Agency and wider Government’. Essential Criteria: Solicitor, Barrister or CFilex fully qualified to practice as a Duty Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure. Effective communication skills and personal presence that enables rapport-building with criminal defence clients, a broad range of external stakeholders and with own team members and colleagues, with the ability to challenge police and other prosecution authorities in a manner that is effective, professional and in the best interests of the client. Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts, and, as a manager, the ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery of own team by applying PDS Standard Operating Procedures. Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy. Sound IT skills (particularly Microsoft Office), and the willingness to self-create the majority of own documentation. Ability and willingness to work flexibly including where appropriate during unsociable hours Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required. Assessment approach Application and Assessment Process If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview, via MS Teams. Behaviours assessed at interview are Communicating & Influencing, Working Together and Delivering at Pace. As well as the above behaviours, experience, technical skills and strengths applicable to the role will also be assessed at interview. If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact pds.businessteamjustice.gov.uk Job Title: Duty Solicitor Contract Type: Permanent Grade: SEO Salary range: Pay Band: £41,463-45,276 plus a £4,000 per annum specialist pay allowance Location: PDS Offices Directorate/Team: Public Defender Service Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc. The Public Defender Service The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market. Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements. PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice. Essential Criteria: Solicitor, Barrister or CFilex fully qualified to practice as a Duty Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure. Effective communication skills and personal presence that enables rapport-building with criminal defence clients, a broad range of external stakeholders and with own team members and colleagues, with the ability to challenge police and other prosecution authorities in a manner that is effective, professional and in the best interests of the client. Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts, and, as a manager, the ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery of own team by applying PDS Standard Operating Procedures. Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy. Sound IT skills (particularly Microsoft Office), and the willingness to self-create the majority of own documentation. Ability and willingness to work flexibly including where appropriate during unsociable hours Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required. Assessment approach Application and Assessment Process If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview, via MS Teams. Behaviours assessed at interview are Communicating & Influencing, Working Together and Delivering at Pace. As well as the above behaviours, experience, technical skills and strengths applicable to the role will also be assessed at interview. If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact pds.businessteamjustice.gov.uk Person specification Please Refer To Job Description Licences Driving Licence Memberships Candidate must be a qualified duty solicitor, who has passed both the Police Station Accreditation and the Magistrates Court Qualification. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Working Together Delivering at Pace Alongside your salary of £41,463, Legal Aid Agency contributes £12,011 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Access to learning and development A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Annual Leave Public Holidays Season Ticket Advance For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page. Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience. https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact : Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiriesresourcing.soprasteria.co.uk Telephone : 0345 241 5359 Recruitment team Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiriesresourcing.soprasteria.co.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. I you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiriesgov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/ https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/4869?entityId4869