Background

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. HMCTS aims to ensure that all citizens receive timely access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crime, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies.

HMCTS is undertaking an ambitious reform programme. The programme will enhance the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all.

The programme includes creating high quality digital services, modernising the court estate, updating and replacing its technology, speeding up and streamlining working practices, refurbishing buildings to reduce maintenance costs and provide much improved services for service users, especially vulnerable witnesses and victims.

Consequently, there are high expectations of all staff regardless of the job they do, and high performance is expected from everybody. The organisation is continuously adopting new or better ways of working to ensure that it focuses on just that which is essential. HMCTS senior management expects all leaders to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

Role overview

The SEO Lawyer will play a key role in supporting the effective administration of justice in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (CACD) providing high quality legal casework, case management and procedural advice in support of judicial decision-making. The jurisdiction of the CACD is primarily to determine appeals from the Crown Court and to provide guidance on criminal legislation, case law and procedure. For the majority of defendants, it is the final court of appeal. The Criminal Appeal Office (CAO) provides administrative and legal support to the CACD and to the Court Martial Appeals Court.

The role is designed as a developmental legal position, offering exposure to appellate and tribunal work, complex procedural environments, and close working relationships with the judiciary, senior lawyers and operational colleagues.

Key responsibilities

Core responsibilities

• Case management:
  Manage and progress allocated cases effectively, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, procedural rules and practice directions, and supporting the timely and just determination of proceedings.

• Legal analysis and advice:
  Identify, analyse and clearly articulate legal and procedural issues arising in cases, including undertaking legal research and providing accurate, well‑reasoned advice to senior lawyers, judiciary and court users as appropriate.

• Preparation of legal materials:
  Prepare high‑quality written products such as case summaries, procedural notes, draft directions, recommendations or other materials to support judicial consideration and decision‑making.

• Procedural guidance:
  Provide advice and guidance on court or tribunal procedure to colleagues, professional court users and litigants in person, ensuring clarity, consistency and fairness.

• Judicial support:
  Work closely with the judiciary, senior legal managers and colleagues to ensure cases are ready for hearing or determination, and that issues are clearly identified and appropriately presented.

• Continuous professional development:
  Maintain and develop specialist legal knowledge and skills relevant to the jurisdiction, keeping up to date with changes in law, procedure and practice, and meeting applicable CPD requirements.

• Flexible contribution:
  Undertake such other duties as reasonably required which are commensurate with the grade and nature of the role.

Jurisdiction‑specific responsibilities

• Exercise delegated case management or decision‑making functions, where formally authorised and appropriately trained.

• Proactively identify risks, delays or barriers to effective case progression across a caseload or work area and take action to address these.

• Manage more complex, sensitive or high‑profile cases, with appropriate support and oversight.

• Contribute to training, guidance or knowledge‑sharing activity, including supporting the design or delivery of legal or procedural training.

• Participate in or lead small development or improvement projects that enhance the efficiency, quality or user experience of court or tribunal processes.

Working relationships

SEO Lawyers work closely with:

• Judiciary

• Senior Legal Managers and Grade 7 Lawyers

• Administrative teams

• Professional court users and litigants in person

The role requires strong collaboration, sound judgement and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Experience: A Lawyer will be expected to have knowledge, skills and experience and provide evidence at both the sift and interview stages which include:

Essential

• Legally qualified as a Solicitor or Barrister of England and Wales, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX/CILEX Lawyer), having completed the required training contract, pupillage or qualifying period of employment.

• Strong legal analytical skills, with the ability to identify key issues, apply relevant law and procedure, and exercise sound judgement.

• Clear and effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal or procedural matters concisely.

• Good organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.

• The ability to work collaboratively, professionally and with integrity in a judicial environment.

• IT competence and the ability to use legal research tools effectively.

Desirable

• Experience of appellate, tribunal or complex casework

• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure

• Experience of contributing to training or improvement projects

Decision‑making and autonomy

SEO Lawyers operate within HMCTS and Ministry of Justice policies, legal frameworks and procedural rules. The level of autonomy will vary according to jurisdiction, experience and role requirements. All role holders are expected to exercise appropriate professional judgement and seek guidance where required.

Where delegated functions are exercised, these will be subject to formal authorisation, training and assurance arrangements.

Interview

If invited to interview, this will include a 1 hour assessment (drafting and legal risk) followed by a 1 hour interview.

* The required reading for the drafting assessment will be sent to you via email one week prior to the interview. A set of questions will be provided at interview, and you will need to provide your answers in writing.

* At interview you will be provided with a set of legal risk scenarios and asked to consider your answers to the questions (to be discussed in interview).

* At the end of the hour, you will provide your written answers to the drafting assessment to the facilitator who will pass them on to the panel.

* You will then have a 10 - 15 minute break. During this time, the panel will review your answers to the drafting assessment.

* At the allotted time, you will join the panel in person for the remainder of the interview.

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.