Ministry of Justice

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

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

 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.

 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:

•  Council working groups on particular workstreams, including conducting research and analysis where needed and providing Secretariat support.
• Supporting the Master of the Rolls in his capacity as Chair of the Council, including providing regular updates on working group activity.
• Leading on Council member updates and correspondence.
• Leading on production of the Council’s annual report, and supporting the wider governance arrangements of the Council.
• Supporting e delivery of quarterly in-person Council meetings and the Council’s annual National Forum.
• Representing the work of the Council within government and the wider justice system.
• Supporting the wider work of the Master of the Rolls’ Private Office, including accompanying our principal judges to meetings as appropriate.
• There may be opportunities for line management.

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.

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. 

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.