Ministry of Justice

Law Commission 1 X Grade 6 Senior Lawyer –Criminal Law Team

The Law Commission of England and Wales is recruiting a senior lawyer to work in the Criminal Law team. This is an opportunity for experienced lawyers to lead on challenging and high-profile law reform, to guide and support the work of law reform teams, and to contribute to the wider success of the organization.

About the Law Commission

The Law Commission offers an unrivalled opportunity to work on some of the most complex legal and policy questions facing our society.

The Commission has, for 60 years, had a unique role – independent, but at the heart of Government. Its aims are:

• To ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and cost-effective as possible.
• To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform.
• To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes.

The Law Commission is an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. It has a judicial Chair, four Commissioners, and around 80 members of staff. Its work is organised into four areas: Property, Family and Trust Law; Commercial and Common Law; Public Law and the Law in Wales; and Criminal Law.

The Criminal Law team, led by Professor Penney Lewis, conducts high profile work across multiple areas of criminal law and procedure. Current projects relate to the law of Homicide, Contempt of Court and Criminal Appeals. The next programme of law reform contains projects on Offences Against Dead Bodies, the Insanity Defence, and Consent in the Criminal Law.

Further information about the Law Commission and its work can found at www.lawcom.gov.uk/.

Ways Of Working

At the Law Commission, we believe in and promote alternative ways of working in order to recruit and retain the best talent, so this role is available as full-time, part-time or job-share (where an application is made by a job-share partnership). We also offer flexible working patterns including a flexi time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.

The way our projects are resourced means we plan in terms of full-time equivalents, but we welcome applications from job share partnerships, who may work more than 1 full time equivalent jointly. We also welcome applications from those wishing to work part-time, but if you wish to work fewer than four days / week then we would regard that as a job share and need to be satisfied that a second job share applicant was available. It would be helpful to know in advance if you wish to work in a job share arrangement. Contact details are set out below if you would like to discuss with us in advance of applying.

We are committed to treating people openly and with respect. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we

champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: Diversity and inclusion – Law Commission

Further information can be found at https://lawcom.gov.uk/working-at-law-commission/. The Role

Main duties:

The following duties will be undertaken in addition to and alongside the responsibilities of Team Lawyer in the supporting attachments in the job advert.

Using law reform expertise to support the successful law reform work of the team, including:

Leadership of complex law reform project work

Leading the project to which allocated autonomously, with minimal guidance from the Team Head – to include

• strategic planning
• resource planning
• risk management
• influencing and building relationships with key stakeholders inside and outside Government;
• Where working on a multi-lawyer project, managing the Grade 7 team lawyer(s) working on that project in addition to management responsibilities for any SEO Legal Assistants and HEO Research Assistants;
• Looking widely across Government, Parliament, the media and stakeholders to identify and manage major risks to the project or legislation to which allocated;
• Leading, or providing senior steer to team lawyers working on, particularly complex, high-risk, high-profile or otherwise challenging law reform work.

Using expertise to guide high-level delivery by the team

Working with the Team Head in:

• identifying the team's resource needs and allocating work appropriately across the team’s projects, switching resources as necessary to achieve goals;
• identifying and negotiating new projects and planning timetable, funding, resourcing, terms of reference and MOU;
• using influencing skills to negotiate on behalf of the Commission with Government, Office Parliamentary Counsel, Parliamentary authorities and others to secure implementation of law reform projects;
• Supporting and coaching team lawyers (particularly new lawyers) as required;
• Providing expert law reform guidance as required in respect of the other law reform work of the team – showing political awareness and an understanding of the Law Commission as an organisation;
• Providing expertise on good law reform practice to team lawyers.
• Seeking out new ways to deliver outstanding law reform, trialling and reviewing these.

Working alongside the Team Head and Commissioner in the leadership and management of the team. To include joint working with the Team Head on, or by delegation taking sole leadership of, agreed areas of responsibility such as:

Team reporting

• providing team updates and reports to the Board, Chair, CEOs and Head of Legal, as required;
• overseeing the production of briefings from the team for the Chair, CEOs etc;
• leading the team’s contribution to corporate publications (including Annual Report and Business Plan);
• leading responses to other requests for information eg in relation to the Lord Chancellor’s Statement to Parliament, the Welsh Advisory Committee etc.

Team HR:

• leading the successful recruitment of lawyers, legal assistants and research assistants;
• overseeing the design and delivery of appropriate induction for new team members;
• providing guidance to team lawyers on the management of the performance of Research Assistants and Legal Assistants.

Engagement

• providing oversight of the team's dealings with members of the public (including FOI requests), where relevant ensuring compliance with relevant law and Commission guidelines;
• leading the team’s provision of assistance with answers to Parliamentary questions and replies to Ministerial correspondence.

Visible and proactive leadership across the Law Commission including:

As an essential requirement, delivering a cross-Commission corporate initiative, to be agreed with the Chief Executives and Head of Legal. This may include:

• leading and delivering one of the PSAG strands on an ongoing basis, and being accountable to the Chief Executives for delivery;
• development of a programme of law reform;
• leading and delivering major HR changes;
• briefing and advising the Chair on Parliamentary appearances;
• Deputising for the Team Head to represent the team at meetings of Team Heads and SMT/SLT;
• Supporting external meetings of the Chair, Commissioners, Chief Executives Head of Legal and other members on SMT on high-profile/high-impact matters affecting the wider work of the organisation;
• Working with the Head of Legal in relation to the organisation and delivery of the Commission’s international work;
• Contributing material to, and encouraging and coordinating team members’ contributions to, the Law Reform Manual.

Role modelling

• Acting as a role model in respect of corporate work and encouraging team members to contribute to the wider success of the Commission;
• Acting as a leader and role model, supporting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practice;
• Role modelling inclusive leadership, being open to alternative views and ensuring that within teams and across the Law Commission we are providing an inclusive and respectful environment for all staff.

Skills and Experience

Essential qualifications:

Academic: You should usually hold a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree in any subject (or an overseas degree qualification equivalent to a 2.1 degree) but we will take into account subsequent experience if your degree class is lower than this; and

Professional: You must be:

a solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales; or

somebody who can demonstrate a comparable level of legal ability, for example:

• a legal academic;
• an overseas professionally qualified lawyer; or
• a legal policy expert.

Essential Experience

You should be a confident leader, with an ability to bring positive change within a small high-performing team

You must be able to show demonstrable skills in legal policy and law reform, including:

• Experience of project management and stakeholder management.
• Experience of complex legal analysis and/or dealing with complex legal argument – this may include drafting legal opinions, undertaking legal research and advising clients.
• Experience of drafting documents – this may include experience of: drafting documents that explain complex areas of law, advance complex legal arguments, or are for publication.
• Experience of supervising others – this could include overseeing trainee solicitors or pupils and/or other lawyers, supervising staff or postgraduate students, or leading a small team.
• Knowledge of and expertise in the Criminal law.

Location

Successful candidates will be based at 102 Petty France, London.

All full-time Law Commission staff are expected to attend their base location (or the London office) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Salary

This role is graded at Grade 6.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Duration

The posts are permanent. Successful applicants may join on loan from another Government Department, or on secondment.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework on Behaviours and Experience. Please also refer to the Civil Service Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Grade 6): Success Profiles - GOV.UK

At the sift stage you will be assessed on your Experience (see “Experience” below) and Behaviours (see “Behaviours” below). Applications may initially be sifted on their demonstration of meeting the Experience criteria.

Candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage will undertake an interview to gauge their suitability for the role. The interview will assess your Experience and Behaviours.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability during the application process in order to demonstrate your experience in law reform and legal policy, any elements of your career history or achievements that are relevant to this role (including those mentioned under Essential Experience above), and your technical knowledge of the criminal law.

Behaviours

You will be asked to demonstrate the following three behaviours:

• Delivering at pace – you must be able to take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive
• Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Changing and Improving – Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

Candidates Invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out in person. We will consider requests for an online interview if your circumstances require.

Interviews are expected to take place in January.

If your application is successful, you will receive a formal letter offering you an appointment that will explain your terms and conditions of service in detail. Your appointment will include a period of probation.

If appointed, you will become a civil servant and will be subject to the Civil Service Code and there will be restrictions on your ability to undertake private practice.

Suitable candidates who are not successful will be held on a reserve list for future posts; such posts may be available in the next 12 months and offered to suitable candidates on the reserve list.

Near Miss

At interview stage, if candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to the Grade 6 role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a Lawyer role at Grade 7.

Membership of the Government Legal Profession

The Government Legal Profession (GLP) networks together Government lawyers and trainees, who between them provide legal services across the whole spectrum of Government activities. Some are members of the Government Legal Department (GLD): others (like Law Commission lawyers) are part of the wider GLP network.

A solicitor or barrister qualified to practice in England and Wales will, on joining the Law Commission, have access to the networking benefits and opportunities of the wider GLP. This will also apply to overseas qualified lawyers who fulfil the nationality requirements and are eligible to practice in England and Wales under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Information about the QLTS can be obtained from the SRA (www.sra.org.uk).

Contact information

If you have any questions about the role or have any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@lawcommission.gov.uk. Please quote the Job Role in the subject line.

If you require any assistance, please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Annex A - The STAR method

Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.

Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.

• Where are you?
• Who was there with you?
• What had happened?

Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.

• What was the task that you had to complete and why?
• What did you have to achieve?

Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.

• What results did the actions produce?
• What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
• Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?

Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.