Job Description (JD)
Group/Directorate/Team: Judicial Private Offices Directorate, Judicial Office
Role: Assistant Secretary to the Civil Justice Council
Grade: HEO
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Role title: |
Assistant Secretary to the Civil Justice Council |
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Team/Directorate: |
Judicial Private Offices Directorate, Judicial Office |
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Overview of the Judicial Office This is standardised wording and cannot be amended. |
The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions. We are an Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice. The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities. See JO staff talk about working here: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv |
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Overview of the team |
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Hybrid Working Requirement This is standardised wording and cannot be amended. |
This position is eligible for hybrid working (current minimum requirement for time spent at base location is 60%, which is subject to business requirements). The support provided by judicial Private Offices necessarily involves working before and after court, in keeping with the judge’s diary commitments and sitting patterns. Some early mornings and late evenings can be expected, though every effort will be made to accommodate flexibility where necessary. These roles are not suitable for reduced hours working. This post is based in the Royal Courts of Justice, London |
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Summary of the role |
A unique opportunity to help shape the future of the civil justice system and contribute to the work of the Civil Justice Council, a key advisory body to the government and judiciary. This role offers the scope to demonstrate and develop broad policy making skills in an area of significant impact; civil justice affects the lives of all, and its continued reform and improvement is integral to our society. You will facilitate, encourage, and lead thinking by supporting the delivery of a wide range of projects and research. The Civil Justice Council is a statutory advisory body, chaired by the Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice. The Council considers how to make the Civil Justice system more accessible, fair, and efficient. To fulfil its statutory functions, the Council operates primarily by establishing Working Groups to look at a particular issue, or part of the civil justice system. These Working Groups undertake consultations and research to make informed authoritative recommendations, usually in the form of a report, for others to take forward. The successful applicant will join the team at an exciting time for the Council. With our annual strategy cycle beginning in February, and greater than ever scrutiny and support from Government and Parliament. Our work regularly informs developments in the justice system; some examples of our recent work include a groundbreaking report examining how the Civil Courts approach mental capacity, a report on litigation funding that precipitated significant legislative reversal, and an interim report on the use of AI in the preparation of court documents. For more details about the Council’s current work, please visit our website: https://www.judiciary.uk/related-offices-and-bodies/advisory-bodies/cjc/. Our work truly reflects the breadth of the civil jurisdiction. You will occupy a critical position in helping the Council to operate. The Council has significant autonomy in fulfilling its role. You will need to make and maintain strong working relationships with members of the judiciary, officials, academics, lawyers, and other diverse stakeholders in the civil justice system, so that you can work with them to achieve the Council’s objectives. It is integral to the role that you are able to work with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
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Responsibilities, Activities & Duties: |
Your responsibilities will be varied and broad; they will include helping to plan Council meetings and events, undertaking research, drafting papers, and briefings. You will take the lead for the administration of specific Working Groups, helping them to report to the full Council. The previous job holder successfully supported projects on Litigation Funding, Digital Disadvantage and the Solicitor’s Act. Collaboration and teamwork are essential to this role. You will work closely with the other members of the Secretariat team to support the Council. Subject to the work of the Council, the role may offer the opportunity to task manage or line manage. You will become a recognised figure within Civil Justice, and you will be expected to develop and maintain your own knowledge of developments and trends across the wider Civil Justice system. As the lead official for Working Groups, you will help ensure that Council’s work engages appropriately across Government. The Secretariat, and this post, form a part of the wider Master of the Rolls’ Private Office. You will have access to the broader opportunities and experience that working as part of a busy Private Office brings. The role offers excellent opportunities to work on cutting edge projects alongside some of the country’s leading experts. The post offers significant exposure to policy making and delivery. This role offers an unrivalled opportunity to build a network across the breadth of Civil Justice. The Council is a unique organisation which brings together the civil service, judiciary, and wider legal world. Specific responsibilities: Your responsibilities will include:
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Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills |
The successful candidate will be organised, strategic and be able to prioritise and handle multiple issues concurrently. The best candidates are likely to be able to demonstrate experience of taking on an integral role within a similar small team. The role requires excellent and concise communication skills and the post holder must be able to perform this independently and at a high level. The best candidates are likely to be able to demonstrate that they can independently engage with senior officials and stakeholders. Part of the enjoyment and challenge of working in a Private Office is that work is occasionally fast paced and unpredictable. It will be important that the job holder is willing and able to be flexible in the tasks they take on and on occasion the hours that they work.
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Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills |
The strongest applicants are likely to have proven experience of drafting, committee work, teamwork, communication and influencing skills, and creative policy thinking. Knowledge of the Civil Justice System, and the work of the Civil Justice Council is desirable but not essential.
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Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles): |
This is a Success Profiles based recruitment and Civil Service Behaviours will be considered at application stage along with a candidate CV (not scored). We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page. Alongside a copy of your CV, you will be required to provide a 250 word statement describing your skills and experience relevant for each of the advertised behaviours. About the application process | Civil Service Careers
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Assessment process at application |
Behaviours to be assessed at application stage:
In the event of a high volume of applications, we will sift on the lead behaviour of Seeing the Big Picture and reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
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Assessment process at interview |
Candidates invited to interview will be assessed on these behaviours and on Civil Service Strengths. We anticipated that interviews for candidates successful at sift will be held during March 2026 For details about the role itself please contact Claire Lantsbury, Deputy Secretary to the Civil Justice Council, claire.lantsbury@judiciary.uk If you require any assistance with the application process please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk |
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Security clearance required: Select one of the below. (this will be determined by the location)
Please note: Central Government policy dictates that applicants for National Security Clearance must be a resident in the UK for these minimum periods:
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CTC |