Tier 3 Legal Team
Manager
Job profile
August 2023
Contents
Overview
Page 3
Job Description
Page 4, 5 & 6
Success Profile
Page 7 & 8
Page | 2
Position:
Tier 3 Legal Team Manager
Directorate: HMCTS
Location:
National
Band:
Grade 7
Salary:
National salary starting scale £54,358 pa, London salary starting £58,847
Contract type: Permanent
Reserve List: Yes (12 months)
Overview
Why we exist
Magistrates’ Courts deal with approximately 95% of criminal cases, 70% of civil cases, and 60% of
family cases. Dealing with cases justly and speedily, and in ways that meet the needs of our court
users, is at the heart of what we do.
The role of a Legal Adviser is pivotal to the smooth running of the court.
As a Legal Adviser to magistrates, you are responsible for ensuring that those attending court,
whether as defendant, victim or witness are treated with humanity and respect. Good legal
knowledge and the ability to communicate that clearly to magistrates and court users is vital to the
courts ability to deal with cases justly. Success in the role will enable you to make a positive
difference to your community and your society.
We are here to ensure everyone in need of our courts and tribunals receives a service that suits
their needs.
What are we doing?
We are completing a £1bn, six-year Reform Programme to completely change what we do and
make our services better for the society we serve. The Reform Programme is one of the most
ambitious of its kind in the world.
How are we going to fulfil our vision?
Every year, millions of people seek justice in our courts and tribunals.
We are focused on radically improving the customer’s experience by:
• Employing digital technology to enable access to justice by enabling victims and witnesses
to give evidence in a less intimidating way via video link
• Enabling self-service, where appropriate, to ensure people can get fast and easy access to
simple judicial services
• Streamlining processes so we can reinvest in improvements that benefit our customers
• Progressing cases efficiently and effectively through the court by maximising the use of
new digital processes.
As a Tier 3 Legal Adviser, you will be at the forefront of delivering this improved service and
experience to our customers both in and outside the court room.
Job Description
The key purpose of the role
The purpose of the role is to represent the Head of Legal Operations as Legal Adviser to the
Magistrates and District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in accordance with legislation and the
Criminal and Family Practice Directions.
To enable a Legal Adviser to progress to Tier 3, all of the requirements to satisfy the roles,
responsibilities and competences for a fully competent Tier 2 Legal Adviser must have been met
and continue to be met.
To function as a Tier 3 Legal Adviser, the role holder is required to undertake the additional
responsibilities as set out in the Legal Adviser Career Structure and to achieve and maintain
competence in this (or these) practice areas.
The Tier 3 Legal Team Manager post covers a range of different functions and those appointed to
the role can be expected to undertake any of those functions, including the provision for a level of
specialisation.
The roles and responsibilities for a Tier 3 Legal Adviser should contribute and impact on the work
of the courts across their assigned cluster or region as directed by the Head of Legal Operations
and/or Senior Legal Manager, and not just be limited to their local court. To achieve this, a Tier 3
Legal Adviser will demonstrate leadership within HMCTS and in the relationship with the
Magistracy, the Judiciary and partner organisations. A tier 3 Legal Adviser would be expected to
demonstrate effective team working with colleagues through-out HMCTS (including colleagues
working in other jurisdictions/disciplines) and particularly with Operations and Delivery Managers.
A Tier 3 Legal Adviser will, in conjunction with the Head of Legal Operations and Tier 4 Senior
Legal Manager provide support to Bench and Panel Chairs in their advice and support capacity.
Technical
To be eligible for this post candidates must be an experienced T2 Legal Adviser in England &
Wales.
• For Applicants applying for a specialist Tier 3 Role such as the following, additional eligibility
requirements apply:
• For the role of Family Legal Team Manager, experience of taking Family Courts at tier 2
level is required.
• For the role of Advisory and Training Senior Legal Manager, a relevant training qualification
such as a NVQ Level 3 Certificate in Training Practice or HMCTS Judicial College Training,
CTP must have been completed.
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The key objectives of the role are contained within the Legal Adviser Competence
Framework.
In addition to the Tier 2 main activities, with the exception of the specialist Advisory and Training
roles, Tier 3 Legal Advisers are required to undertake the following roles and key responsibilities
plus expected legal specialism:
People Management - Managing a Legal Team (including a specialist family team, or across
another legal jurisdiction e.g. tribunals) and bench/panel support
A Tier 3 Legal Adviser who is appointed into the management stream, will have day to day
management responsibility of a team of legal advisers.
Key responsibilities include:
• First line management responsibility for managing a legal team
• Full responsibility for the professional development of the members of their legal team to
include pro-active management of the Legal Adviser Career Structure in the context of the
wider organisation and across various legal jurisdictions
• Carrying out individual performance reviews and agree with each team member work
responsibilities and performance objectives
• The responsibility to motivate and manage the on-going performance of the team in
accordance with MoJ and HMCTS policies and procedures
• Ensuring that regular team information meetings are held
• Ensuring that continuous improvement activity is undertaken by each team member to
resolve issues and improve processes
• Pro-actively manage sickness, grievance and disciplinary issues in accordance with MoJ
and HMCTS policies and procedures
• Working with other managers to ensure the achievement of business and performance
objectives
• Working with court users to ensure effective service delivery
• Responsibility for appropriate panel and bench support including deputising for the Tier 4
Senior Legal Manager
Those managing a specialist family team would be expected to develop and maintain an effective
working relationship with the Designated Family Judge, supporting the development of the Family
Jurisdiction.
Customer service and standards:
• Promotes user focussed activity and standards - has strong written and interpersonal skills
utilising principles of Human Voice of Justice
• Contributes to SOC, SAF - leads on maintaining standards of service and identifies areas
for improvement - takes forward solutions using ‘continuous improvement’ techniques.
• Management of complaints and services failures, and competent in use of OPTIC.
And /Or
Education and Training Stream
Tier 3 Legal Advisers assigned to this stream of the Legal Adviser Career Structure will be
regularly involved with Training.
It is likely that a Tier 3 Legal Adviser in this stream will have progressed within the education and
training route from Tiers 1 and 2 and will have extensive experience of working within the training
arena. This previous experience and training will have equipped them to take on the responsibility
for training delivery and a training management position.
A Tier 3 assigned to this area will have a high level of involvement with the outputs from JTAAAC
meetings and will work closely with the Head of Legal Operations and/or the Tier 4 Senior Legal
Manager assigned to Training in assisting with the development of Learning and Development
Plans for the Region.
The key responsibilities will include:
• Working with a team of trainers and allocating them to relevant training events
• Working with line managers to release trainers to deliver training
• Evaluating the effectiveness of training interventions
• Developing links with other stakeholder learning and development personnel
• Working with JTAAACs to identify training needs for Magistrates
• Providing reports for the Judicial College ‘s Training Committee
• Programme planning for magistrates and staff training
• Managing the ongoing training development for Trainee Legal Advisers and Legal Advisers
in Training to ensure their training needs are being met including those undertaking
training contracts with the Law Society.
Additional Tier 3 practice areas:
• Regional/Area Expert
• Regional/Area Committee Responsibility
• Managing a Family Legal team
• Regional/Area Programme Management
• Education, Training Learning and Development Management for magistrates and legal
advisers
• Business Support and Performance/Project Management
• Supporting Advisory Committees (recruitment and conduct)
Knowledge and Skills
Additional skills required to meet the requirements of the Tier 3 practice areas include:
• Knowledge and skills relevant to the role-holders specialist expertise in legal practice area l
• Knowledge of rules and procedures relating to committees and panels
• The ability to manage a legal team
• The ability to lead and motivate others during periods of change
• The ability to manage a designated project using project management procedures
• The ability to manage a local/regional Training Programme
• Time management
• Leadership skills and role modelling behaviour
• The capability to work across different legal jurisdictions in HMCTS
• Mentoring and Coaching
Decision-Making
The ability to advise on and make objective and impartial decisions is an important part of the role.
Sometimes those decisions will involve complex issues and competing interests and you will be
required to not only be able to make sound decisions but also give clear reasons for any decision.
When not in court, the Tier 3 will be required to make administrative decisions relating to the
progression of cases swiftly and effectively through the court process. This includes having
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oversight of the court rota and listing patterns to ensure the best use of court time coupled with the
available resources of the judiciary and legal team.
Management Decisions
These will include decisions related to managing the legal team such as recruitment, selection,
discipline, grievance and other areas covered by key HR policies that require decision making by
anybody responsible for others.
The HMCTS Success Profile for a Tier 3 Legal Team Manager Role includes a number of
Civil Service Behaviours:
Changing and Improving
You are always seeking to innovate and drive improvement and you encourage others to do the
same, creating a culture of continuous improvement. You embrace and drive change whilst being
mindful of the wider risks and implications that need to be considered. You monitor and review all
change initiatives, making adjustments where required.
Communicating and Influencing
You communicate clearly and concisely, listening to others and adapting your style to suit the
audience. You have excellent facilitation and presentation skills and challenge others in a
constructive and confident manner. You keep others informed at all times and easily develop
mutual trust and respect.
Delivering at Pace
You take personal responsibility for ensuring you and your team produce high quality work,
showing excellent organisation and time management skills. You work effectively under pressure
and show resilience in challenging situations. You are flexible and quickly adapt to unexpected
events, delegating effectively to ensure work is completed on time and to a high standard.
Developing Self and others
You identify both individual and team development areas and empower others to take ownership
for their development, whilst also providing the necessary support, encouragement and feedback.
You show empathy for others’ development journeys yet can confidently manage poor
performance when required.
Leadership
You are a confident and inclusive leader who leads by example and acts as a role model for
others. You communicate the strategy to your team, setting clear individual and team targets. You
create a strong performance culture and inspire others to deliver the vision.
Making Effective Decisions
You make confident, timely and fair decisions. You are aware of the bigger picture when making
decisions, analysing business needs and considering the impacts on the full range of stakeholders.
You provide a clear rational for the decisions you make, ensuring you gain others’ buy-in and
support.
Strengths
(As part of the Success Profile Framework, strengths applicable to the role will be assessed at
interview).
Ability
1) Legal Knowledge and Skills - you maintain relevant and up-to-date legal knowledge and
skills (e.g. you have an enthusiasm for the law and conduct regular legal research; you
show highly effective legal reasoning skills and an understanding of the sources of law).
2) IT Skills - you are confident and competent in the use of Information Technology (e.g. you
have experience using Word, Excel, Outlook, Skype, PowerPoint, OneNote, legal research
applications etc).
3) Verbal and Written English Skills - you have a high level of verbal and written English,
including presentation/briefing skills and the ability to write reports and formal responses.
Training
HMCTS provides a twelve-month Legal Team Management Development Programme for new Tier
3 Legal Team Managers which covers a wide range of areas to provide a breadth of knowledge
and skill.
Understanding of the work of other managers within HMCTS is essential for Legal Team Managers
and where possible opportunities will be provided for job shadowing, project work or secondments
to increase exposure to the variety of roles within HMCTS.
It is expected that a legal adviser appointed to a Tier 3 role will be competent within 12 months of
appointment.
Career Development
Within Role
The Tier 3 Legal Team Manager post covers a range of different functions and those appointed to
the role can be expected to undertake any of those functions. Whilst individuals may be assigned
to a role which favours a particular area of work there may be opportunities to develop skills in
other areas either through discrete projects or through temporary assignment to a different role.
Promotion
Permanent promotion beyond Tier 3 will be to roles offered under open competition. Career
progression to Tier 4 will depend upon the ongoing performance of the role holder and business
need. It is not expected that a Tier 3 Legal Adviser will be able to demonstrate competence in both
Youth and Family courts, in addition to competence in Adult Courts before securing appointment to
a Tier 4 post unless the role is advertised as a specialist post e.g. Family Tier 4 post.
Secondments/Transfers/Work Shadowing
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Opportunities may arise for the Tier 3 Legal Team Manager to gain more experience and
contribute to MoJ through secondment, transfer and work shadowing experiences.
Judicial Appointment
A Tier 3 Legal Adviser has the opportunity to apply for and be considered for Judicial Appointment.
HMCTS is supportive of such applications and a number of legal advisers within HMCTS sit as fee
paid judiciary in tribunals, county courts and magistrates’ courts.
Learning & Development Opportunities
There are a range of learning opportunities available to support progression which are contained in
the “HMCTS Legal Advisers’ Learning and Development Compendium".
Base
A successful candidate will be offered a post at a base court house. However, there are
requirements to travel to different locations across business areas, within reasonable distance and
travel time on a non-permanent basis.
This job description is a guide to the principal current duties of the post. It is not an exhaustive list
of the duties and responsibilities of the post and the postholder may be required to undertake any
other duties from time that are commensurate with the seniority and nature of the post.