Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Research Assistant Post 2026
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in working at the Law Commission as a Research Assistant.
This guide contains essential information about how to apply for the post. For a complete
explanation of the Law Commission, legal teams and Research Assistant post, please see
the “Guide for Applicants - General".
Please read this document carefully. If you do not follow the guidance, you may disadvantage
your application or cause it to fail.
There is a separate recruitment campaign for each of our four legal teams. Please ensure you
submit your application to the correct team. Please only apply to one team as it is not our
practice to consider multiple applications.
The Law Commission welcomes applications from all sections of the community
and is committed to equality of opportunity in all our employment practices,
policies and procedures. This means that all applicants and employees are
treated fairly, irrespective of ethnic origin, race, gender, marital status, sex, sexual
orientation, religion, age or disability.
Law Commission
1st Floor, Tower
52 Queen Anne’s Gate
London
SW1H 9AG
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Contents
Chapter 1: Selection criteria
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Chapter 2: Application procedure
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Chapter 3: Selection procedure
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Chapter 4: Timetable of key events
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Chapter 5: Main terms of appointment
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Chapter 6: For more information
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
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Chapter 1: Selection criteria
We select candidates on the basis of the following criteria, which are rigorously observed. It is
not possible for us to consider requests to adjust our minimum criteria.
If you want us to make a reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010, please indicate
this in your application form.
Please note you must also meet the civil service requirements on nationality for this role.
Minimum requirements - Essential academic skills
You will be asked in your CV to detail your academic skills and to set out the basis on which
you satisfy the minimum academic requirements. If you do not satisfy the minimum academic
criteria and do not provide detail in your CV of how you satisfy the criteria, your application
will automatically fail. Your CV should include your current and previous employment history
and your individual module marks for any degrees or qualifications.
By your start date you should have completed a course/s involving two years’ full-time
substantive legal studies or the equivalent in part-time study. Your overall academic results
must be at, or at the equivalent of, first class or good 2:1 standard, with at least some
elements of first-class work, as detailed further below.
What counts as “two years’ legal studies"?
Most candidates will have a law degree or a combined degree, of which at least two-
thirds is in law.
Some will be completing a law degree and will need to show that they will have obtained their
degree by September 2025.
If you do not have an undergraduate degree in law, you may meet the minimum requirements
if you have at least two years’ post-graduate studies in law. This may be a single course (such
as a two-year MPhil) or a combination of courses (such as the Graduate Diploma in Law and
a one-year master’s).
If your only legal training consists of either a completed GDL/CPE (a law conversion course)
and a year’s professional qualification such as the LPC or BPC (whether taken separately or
combined into a two-year degree) or passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1
and 2 exams (whether or not you have also taken the SQE preparation courses), you should
apply only if you can demonstrate substantial additional skills or knowledge. These should
be relevant to the work of the Law Commission and achieved either by academic study or
work. Working in a legal environment is unlikely to be sufficient unless you can show that it
provided significant experience in areas core to the Research Assistant role, in particular,
research on difficult and complex legal topics. If you think you fall into this category, please
give details when you are asked during the online application to outline how you satisfy the
minimum academic criteria.
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
What counts as a degree at “good 2:1 standard"?
If you have completed an undergraduate law degree or a combined degree with at least two
years of legal study at a 2:1 standard, we will look at the marks of all the papers you have
taken that count towards your final degree:
At least three-quarters of these marks must be at or above 60% (2:1 standard), with
at least one of these marks at or above 70% (first class standard).
If you are currently undertaking a law degree or a combined degree, and have marks form at
least four papers, we will look at those marks and apply the same test.
If you do not have marks from at least four papers we will look at your previous academic
results, usually A-levels. We will expect you to have marks of at least one A* and two As.
If you took your A-levels before the introduction of the A* grade, we require three As.
Other ways of showing academic ability equivalent to “first or good
2:1 standard"?
If you do not satisfy our minimum requirements on the basis of your undergraduate
degree, you can demonstrate the academic standard through one or more of the following
completed qualifications:
A GDL (or CPE) at distinction, or at commendation with at least one mark at distinction.
(Please note that, however, a GDL or CPE will not - alone - satisfy the two years’ legal
studies requirement above).
A completed master’s degree in law (LLM, BCL, MA, Mphil or MSc) at 2:1 (merit) or above.
(Please note that, however, a one-year Master’s will not - alone - satisfy the two years’
legal studies requirement above).
A completed PhD or DPhil in law.
Some qualifications combine the GDL and professional qualifications into a two-year degree.
For this you must have achieved a first or distinction. If this is the total of your legal study, you
will still need to demonstrate relevant additional skills or knowledge as discussed above.
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Two years legal studies
At least good 2.1 standard
Undergraduate law degree including a
On completion of a degree: Three-quarters
combined degree with at least two-thirds
of these marks must be above 60%, with at
in law.
least one of these marks at or above 70%.
If still completing a degree: have marks
from at least four papers that match the
standard above.
If still completing a degree and you do not
have marks from a at least four papers at
degree level , at least one A* and two As (or
three As if before the introduction of A*s).
GDL/CPE + LPC/BPC/SQE prep course +
A GDL (or CPE) at distinction, or
substantial skills and knowledge e.g. relevant commendation with at least one mark
academic study and/or working on difficult
at distinction
and complex legal topics
Two-year MPhil in law, OR A GDL/CPE + a
A completed Masters in Law at 2:1/merit or
one-year master’s (LLM/ BCL/MA/MPhil/
above (this counts for academic standard,
MSc) A masters course means that on
not for two-year legal studies if taken alone)
successful completion of the programme
your provider awards you with an LLM/BCL/
MA/MPhil/MSc.
A completed PhD or DPhil in Law
If your qualification is a course that combines
the GDL and a professional qualification you
must have received a first or distinction in
that course.
If you do not have two years substantive legal studies, or your only legal training consists of
either a completed GDL/CPE (a law conversion course) and a professional qualification (such
as the LPC or BPC, whether taken separately or combined with the GDL/CPE) or passing the
Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1 and 2 exams (whether or not you have also taken
the SQE preparation courses), but believe you can show substantial relevant additional
skills or knowledge in accordance with the “Selection criteria" set out above, please make
this - and the relevant experience - clear in your CV.
Failure to clearly demonstrate how you meet the above criteria in your CV will result in
your application being withdrawn from the process.
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Other essential criteria
In addition to satisfying the essential academic skills minimum requirements, in your written
application you will be asked to demonstrate the following:
Behaviours:
• Communicating and Influencing (with communication skills also being assessed
throughout your application)
Experience:
• Legal Research
• Legal Skills
• CV
If a large number of applications are received, a sift based on the lead experience of
Legal Research may be held. If a large number of applications remain after the initial
sift, an additional sift of all the remaining criteria will be done on those applications
which passed the initial sift:
Further details are provided below on how to complete the online questions designed to test
your ability in these areas.
All the skills and behaviours tested at application will also be tested at interview, as well as
the two additional technical skills:
Technical:
• Motivational Fit
• Ability to work with Complex Information
Further details are provided below on how to complete the online questions designed to test
your ability in these areas. Later in this guide we will provide more details on how we assess
at the interview stage if you are successful in the application stage.
The application process begins with an online form.
Those who meet the criteria for interview will be invited for an in-person interview and will be
sent a written test to complete at home and submitted by email in advance of the interview.
Standard-rate travelling expenses (rail, tube or bus) from within the UK to the in-person
interview will be reimbursed. Please note that candidates will be required to bring with them
documents to prove their identity, address, right to work and qualifications.
This guide provides detail of the criteria and skills that will be tested at each stage.
Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
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Chapter 2: Application procedure
To apply, please follow the detailed instructions below. These explain how to apply using
the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) online recruitment system.
There is a separate recruitment campaign for each of our four legal teams. Please ensure that
you submit your application to the correct team. Please only apply to one team.
Please also take the time to review our useful tips relating to the recruitment process.
It is essential that you follow the instructions below. If you do not, your application
is likely to fail.
Closing date
Please refer to the job advert for the closing date and time. If you experience difficulties when
making your application, please contact us using the details at the end of this Guide. You are
strongly advised to complete your application well before the closing date as it may not be
possible to deal with last-minute enquiries or enquiries made outside of office hours. We will
not accept late applications.
Overview
Applications are made using the MOJ Recruitment Portal system. During the application
process you will be asked to answer behaviour and experience questions which require you
to demonstrate the skills necessary for this role. You will be asked to input a name-blind and
institution-blind CV, giving your qualifications and any relevant work experience. You will also
be asked to demonstrate how you meet the essential academic skills set out at the start
of this Guide.
If you require any reasonable adjustment at any stage of your application, please
contact: recruitment@lawcommission.gov.uk as soon as possible. Every effort is taken to
ensure fair and equal opportunity for all with regards to attendance at interview. The building
is fully accessible.
Ministry of Justice is a Disability Confident Committed employer. We will consider applicants
who meet the minimum criteria and have declared a disability under the Equality Act 2010
for interview, but this does not guarantee an interview for every eligible candidate: (Level 1:
Disability Confident Committed. Please note, you must still meet our minimum
requirements to be passed to interview as above.
Standard-rate travelling expenses (rail, tube or bus) from within the UK will be reimbursed.
Please note that candidates will be required to bring with them documents to prove their
identity, address, right to work and qualifications.
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Stage 1 - Read this Guide
Please read this guide carefully. It will help you understand the role for which you are applying
and the skills that we expect candidates to demonstrate in their applications.
Stage 2 - Navigate the online application system
Follow the online instructions, completing all the sections that you are asked to complete.
The guidance below gives further details of what we are looking for and what you need to
include in your application.
You must complete the behaviour, ability and experience questions within the specified word
limit of 250 words.
You will be asked specific questions in your application form. You will be expected to
describe one or more activities you have undertaken where you have demonstrated the
relevant skill. If possible, please refer to examples in the context of law-related activities and
be as specific as you can.
Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing
Please give evidence demonstrating your ability to communicate complex information, in
writing and orally, clearly, effectively and persuasively.
You should give examples of situations from your professional, academic or personal life of
how you have used communicating and influencing skills. We want you to emphasise what
you did and how you used these skills, rather than the content of your communication. We
want to understand how your communication skills were effective. We will also be looking
at your application form as an example of how you are able to communicate accurately and
effectively, using good syntax and structure.
Behaviour 2: Working Together
Please give evidence demonstrating your ability to co-operate with others in a team
environment and to work successfully independently.
Please give details of situations in which you have worked with others, explaining how you
cooperated effectively, and where you have worked successfully independently. Please
explain the context in which you gained that experience (for example, university, a vacation
scheme, a holiday job, full-time employment).
Experience 1: Legal Research (lead experience)
Please give evidence demonstrating your ability to conduct detailed and reliable research,
particularly into complex legal issues. We are particularly interested in how you did the
research and the sources you used, rather than telling us in detail about what you found.
Please tell us about your legal research skills explaining what the task was, (your research
methodology) and how that approach made your research successful. Give the context
in which the research was undertaken (for example, undergraduate dissertation).
Mention non-legal research if you think that it is relevant. Tell us about any training you have
received in conducting research.
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Experience 2: Legal Skills
Please give evidence demonstrating your knowledge of some or all of the areas of law
relevant to the work of your chosen team.
We want to hear about your knowledge and experience of areas of law relevant to the team
you are applying to. Primarily, this means the general areas of law covered by the team (for
example, criminal law). If you have specific knowledge of particular current team projects or
any future work identified in the General Guide for Applicants, please give details. You should
give details of the context in which you gained that knowledge (for example, the type of
course you took, or current or past employment) and explain how recent your experience is.
Where you do not have knowledge of the team’s work, please give evidence of your capacity
and willingness to acquire that knowledge quickly, for example, experience in similar areas or
evidence of coming up to speed quickly with comparable issues.
Experience 3: CV
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV - please follow the
structure outlined below. Applications are name-blind so please do not include any personal
information such as your name, date of birth or contact information. It is very important that
you do not include any personal information that could identify you, to ensure the recruitment
process remains fair, open and properly monitored.
The CV will be assessed in two parts: Qualification Details and Employment History/
Work Experience.
CV - education/qualification details
This section of your CV should be institution-blind, so please do not include names of
universities, colleges, or institutions. If you attended an overseas institution, please state the
country in which you studied to ensure we can account for variations in marking styles.
Postgraduate/professional qualifications (if applicable)
Please use the same format as your first degree (as set out below), giving marks for all
subjects or modules.
If you have more than one subsequent qualification, please list them in reverse chronological
order, with the most recent first.
Your degree
If you have more than one degree, please list them in reverse chronological order, with the
most recent first.
Please use the format: name of degree / start date - end date / class grade or mark awarded.
Then give details of each subject or module examined or assessed within your first degree,
and the grade or mark obtained. Please use the format: subject name / grade or mark
obtained expressed as a percentage / year of examination or assessment. For example:
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
LLB / 2018 - 2021 / 1st Class
Criminal Law / 70% / 2020
Public Law / 72% / 2020
Land Law / 69% / 2020
Intellectual Property Law / 64% / 2020
Equity and Trusts / 62% / 2021
Contract Law / 68% / 2021
If a mark did NOT count towards the overall result of your qualification, please add an asterisk
- for example: Legal Systems / 70% / 2020*.
Please list the subject/modules in chronological order and, at the end, list any subjects or
modules not yet examined or assessed in the same format, but replacing the mark obtained
with a dash. For example: Property Law / -.
Your A / AS levels or equivalent
Please use the format: year of examination / type of examination / subject / grade or mark
awarded. For example: 2011 / A level / Mathematics / A Grade.
Please provide details of any scholarships, awards or other distinctions awarded during your
academic career.
CV - employment history and work experience
Please provide details of any employment, including internships and voluntary or casual jobs
that you have had since age 18; and of any shorter-term employment that you think may be
relevant to your application. For each, please give the following details:
Name and business of employer;
Job title and nature of duties;
Start date and end date;
If you have undertaken a pupillage or training contract, please enter the details
here, specifying:
Barristers (pupillage): name and address of chambers; start date/end date; type of work
undertaken; name of Inn; date of call to the Bar.
Solicitors (training contract): name and address of firm; start date/end date; type of work
undertaken; date of admission as a solicitor.
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Essential academic skills - minimum requirements
In your CV you should outline the basis on which you believe you meet the minimum
academic eligibility requirements.
You need to show that by September 2025 you will have completed the required two years
of legal studies (“Requirement 1") and that your academic results for at least one law course
are at, or at the equivalent of first class or good 2:1 standard (“Requirement 2"), with at least
some elements of first-class work.
For example:
Requirement 1: I will have completed a full-time degree course involving two or more years’
full time substantive legal studies by September 2025: my undergraduate degree ran from
September 2021 - September 2024.
Requirement 2: My results from my completed undergraduate law degree meets the
minimum standard specified in the Guide for Applicants. The evidence for this is that I
received a 2:1 degree with first class marks in two subjects.
If you do not have two years substantive legal studies, or your only legal training consists of
either a completed GDL/CPE (a law conversion course) and a professional qualification (such
as the LPC or BPC, whether taken separately or combined with the GDL/CPE) or passing the
Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1 and 2 exams (whether or not you have also taken
the SQE preparation courses), but believe you can show substantial relevant additional
skills or knowledge in accordance with the “Selection criteria" set out above, please make
this - and the relevant experience - clear in your CV.
You must explain to us both how you meet these minimum requirements for essential
academic skills and provide evidence (for example, by giving the marks of modules or
courses as explained above). If you do not tell us how you meet the requirements, or fail to
provide evidence, then your application is likely to fail.
Welsh Language Skills
If you have any Welsh language skills, please clearly state them in your CV.
The Law Commission represents both England and Wales, so we are keen to encourage
applications from Welsh speakers to help us maintain and develop our relationship with the
people of Wales. Please let us know if you can speak Welsh and your level of proficiency
(written and spoken).
Any Welsh-speaking Research Assistant will play a key role in helping to support the
Commission’s Welsh language policy. They will act as an ambassador on issues affecting
Wales and the Welsh language, for example attending events in Wales, and provide oversight
to help ensure the Commission’s Welsh language publications and communications are
accurate and effective. The amount of work is variable and will be agreed with the Head of
Team when the Research Assistant starts. As an indication this and other corporate work on
the law in Wales can take up to 20% of an individual’s time.
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Chapter 3: Selection procedure
The sift process
Applications will be considered in detail by a selection panel on a team-by-team basis.
Applications that do not meet the minimum academic criteria will be rejected.
If we receive a high volume of applications, an initial sift may be carried out on
your answers on:
(1) Legal Research. If your application passes this initial sift, and a large number of
applications remain after the initial sift, an additional sift of all the remaining criteria will be
done on those applications which passed the initial sift.
Interviews
Each team’s selection panel will invite for interview those applicants whose applications
appear to best meet the essential skills, taking into account the number of vacancies
available in the team. The interview will involve questions on behaviours (Communicating
and Influencing and Working Together), experiences (Legal Research and Legal Skills), the
technical competencies (Motivational Fit) and ability (Working with Complex Information)
As part of this, you will be asked questions about one or more relevant areas of law. You
will be notified of the area(s) of law in your invitation to interview and sent any necessary
material in advance. We have prepared a short video guide to help you prepare for the
behaviours-based questions. This year we are not using strengths in the application process,
but otherwise this video guide can help you prepare for the behaviour questions and
interview process.
Below we provide further information about the competencies that will be assessed at
interview that are not covered above in the application stage.
Technical: Motivational Fit
You will be asked at interview to explain why you want to work for the Law Commission
and the reasons for selecting your chosen team. For example, why do you want to work
in a technical legal environment? Why do you want to work in the public sector and
with Government?
Please be clear about why you have a preference for your chosen team. Please describe your
longer-term career plans and the way in which you believe working as a Research Assistant
would contribute to them.
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Ability: Ability to work with complex information
Please provide evidence which you believe demonstrates your ability to work with
complex information.
Our assessment of this ability will be based on your responses to the legal analysis questions.
At interview you will be asked a question to probe your ability to understand, analyse, and
present information. You may also be asked to provide an example of your ability, so you
should think about scenarios where you have successfully analysed and interpreted a topic
that was particularly complex or challenging, and your approach to doing so.
Test
Applicants invited to interview will be emailed a written test to complete and return before
interviews commence. You will receive an email from a member of the team with further
instructions, including a list of potential dates to complete the test. On the day you select
for your test, you will receive the test at 10am and will be expected to return it by 4pm. If
you require reasonable adjustments to complete the written test, you must let us know in
advance. The test will be assessing your Communicating and Influencing Skills, your Legal
Skills, and your Ability to Work with Complex Information.
Appointment process
Candidates will be notified of the outcome of the interview process through the MOJ
Recruitment Portal system. Candidates may also receive an earlier phone call from a member
of the team if they have been successful at interview. We expect candidates who are notified
of success to give a firm indication of whether they will accept our offer of employment. It
is essential that successful candidates do not indicate acceptance and take up alternative
options at a later stage; this can make it difficult for the Commission to appoint a suitable
replacement and is unfair on other applicants. If your acceptance is contingent on the
outcome of other applications, please let us know and we can discuss options. Many
chambers, law firms and universities are sympathetic to requests to defer professional
training or post-graduate study.
Necessary pre-employment checks will be undertaken for successful applicants. If the
results of these checks are satisfactory, a formal offer of appointment will be made by the
Ministry of Justice usually around the beginning of August, depending on completion of the
vetting process.
Further details about pre-employment checks will be provided in a letter confirming success
at interview. Please note, however, that if at any stage during the application process
you are asked to complete forms you should do so accurately and in a timely manner,
providing all necessary supporting materials. Failure to do so can result in a delay to your
start dates, problems with pay or the withdrawal of your application. If you experience or
anticipate any problems in this regard, please contact us in advance so that we can make
appropriate arrangements.
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Please note that if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six months you will need
to provide a certificate of good conduct or an overseas police check translated into English
from the countries resided in or visited for your pre-employment checks - for guidance and
contacts about how to do this visit criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
The cost of this application will be met by you.
You must also meet the civil service requirements on nationality.
Reserves
If the number of successful applicants at interview exceeds the number of posts available,
some will be treated as reserves and contacted if posts become available.
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Chapter 4: Timetable of key events*
Dates
Events
Late December 2025
2026 RA application guidance live on
website to enable preparation
Start of January 2026
Opening date
End of January 2026
Closing date
February 2026
Sifting of applications
Early to mid-March 2026
Invitations to interview sent
Mid-March 2026
Test to be taken before interview
End of April and beginning of May 2026
Expected dates for interviews
May 2026
Conditional offer of appointment
notification sent
31st August 2026
Expected start date
31st August - 4th September 2026
Induction will take place for all RAs (including
those who join early) during this one week
period. New RAs are expected to attend the
office during this time.
*These dates are provisional and may be subject to change.
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Chapter 5: Main terms of appointment
These are the main terms but should not be regarded as a contract of employment, as the
formal terms and conditions will be notified upon completion of pre-appointment checks.
Annual leave
The annual leave allowance will be 25 days a year with pay, plus paid time off for public
holidays and 1 paid privilege day.
Hours of work
All posts are full time at 37 hours per week excluding meal breaks. The Law Commission
operates a flexi-time scheme enabling staff to adjust their hours of work subject to business
needs and attendance within core hours. We may also consider part-time working.
Notice
Details of submitting notice will be set out in your letter of appointment. This will only be
relevant to those currently in employment.
Outside activities
Employees of the Ministry of Justice, including the Law Commission, are subject to a number
of rules affecting the ability to undertake specified outside activities. If, for example, you
wish to publish material (in any form), teach, or engage in political activities during your time
at the Law Commission, you will need to consider whether these activities are consistent
with the duties of civil servants. In some cases, activities can only be undertaken with prior
authorisation. We are happy to provide you with the Law Commission’s guidance on outside
activities in advance of your application.
Pay
The salary will be paid monthly in arrears by credit transfer to your bank or building society.
New joiners will start on the minimum starting salary of £40,014. Details will be included in
your letter of appointment.
Pension
The employment will be pensionable under the Civil Service pension arrangements, subject
to certain health checks. Information on the scheme and the options available to you will
be sent to you shortly after your arrival. You will have three months from your start date to
make a choice.
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Period of employment
Research Assistant contracts will be offered from September 2026 to August 2028, with the
option of a one-year contract if preferred by the candidate.
Probation
The probation period is four months for year-long contracts, and six months for two years.
The appointment will be confirmed provided the normal requirements of the post, attendance
and conduct have been satisfactorily met during the probation period.
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Guide for Applicants - How to Apply
Chapter 6: For more information
If you have a technical question about the online application process or have trouble
submitting your application, please call the MoJ Recruitment Team on 0345 241 5359 (Option
1) (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) or email MOJ-Recruitment-Vetting-Enquiries@gov.sscl.com
quoting the job vacancy reference (reference numbers will be included once the vacancies go
live in January 2026):
{XXX} - Commercial and Common Law Team
{XXX} - Criminal Law Team
{XXX} - Property, Family and Trust Law Team
{XXX} - Public Law Team
If you require any assistance in relation to any other matter, such as your academic eligibility
for the post, please email recruitment@lawcommission.gov.uk. If you do have any
questions, please contact us as soon as you can
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