The Public Defender Service

The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market.

Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements.

PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice.

Key purpose of this role

As a Trainee Solicitor, you will commence a training programme designed to enable you to provide legal advice and representation in the Police Station, Magistrates’ and Crown Court.

Job Summary

Successful candidates will be required to pass the Police Station Qualification (PSQ) and complete the period of recognised training.

Key Responsibilities:

Undertake training in order to conduct the following unaided:

• progressing legal cases from arrest through to sentence;

• taking instructions from clients, drafting statements and preparing attendance notes;

• develop and advise on relevant options, strategies and solutions;

• undertake police station representation (including active participation in our out of hours scheme);

• legal research and analysis of casework;

• negotiation, drafting, communicating orally and in writing;

• undertake effective spoken and written advocacy;

• establishing and maintaining effective and professional relationships with clients and other people;

• plan, manage and progress legal matters and transactions;

• initiate, plan, prioritise and manage work activities to ensure that they are completed efficiently, on time and to an appropriate standard;

• keep, use and maintain accurate, complete and clear records

Essential Criteria:

• excellent Microsoft Word and Excel skills;

• outstanding customer service and communication skills;

• experience of following processes, meeting deadlines and producing high quality work;

• organisational skills, including the ability to multitask;

• attention to detail;

• motivated and able to work as a team and individually;

• a full driving licence

Essential Qualifications:

You will need:

• A minimum of a 2:2 honours in an undergraduate qualifying law degree, or

• A minimum of a 2:2 honours undergraduate degree in a non-law subject (or overseas equivalent in any subject) and a minimum pass in a GDL/PGDL/CPE (law conversion course) that covers the foundational topics, or

• Equivalent qualifications at level 6 (e.g. a CILEx Level 6 qualification) that covers the seven foundational legal topics. Note: if your qualification does not cover all of the seven foundational areas of legal knowledge, you will normally be required to study the remaining legal topics on a PGDL or equivalent

• To have passed the LPC prior to the start of your training contract with the PDS

Your benefits with us 

• After you pass the PSQ, undergo a sustained period of independent working and providing you achieve competence in certain areas, you will progress to a HEO role (with the associated increase in pay)

• Upon successful completion of the full training programme, you will be a fully qualified solicitor.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and we positively promote flexible working, including job shares.

We will consider all applications on merit regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion, ethnicity, preferred working pattern and except for exceptional circumstances your working location.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please ensure that you attach the Disability Confident Scheme Form when you return your application. You can use the same form to let the recruiting manager know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

Assessment approach

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact pds.businessteam@justice.gov.uk