Location: Royal Courts of Justice
Job Title: Case Worker, High Court Family Division
Grade: EO
Background
Based within the Queens Building in the main Royal Courts of Justice estate, this is a busy court that deals with both complex and sensitive family and medical matters including Forced Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, Public and Private Law cases, High Value Financial Remedy, Child Abduction, Court of Protection matters and appeals. The President is the head of the Family Division and sits alongside 20 High Court Judges who sit both at the Royal Courts of Justice and on Circuit outside of London.
Due to the time sensitive nature of the work that is heard within the Court, we often sit Courts throughout the traditional vacation period.
Role Purpose
This is an exciting opportunity for a caseworker to work within the High Court Family Division appeals team, to provide pro-active case management in relation to applications for permission to appeal to ensure that cases are managed both effectively and expeditiously.
The post holder will work closely with the appeals team, lawyers and judges and will need to demonstrate a high level of initiative. The ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at a senior level and with court users, including litigants in person, is essential.
Main Activities / Key Responsibilities
To promote and practise proactive case management to ensure that appeal cases are progressed in accordance with the Family Procedure Rules with a view to minimising delay.
To check the quality and content of applications lodged by parties and in particular to: assess urgency; identify any jurisdictional issues (seeking advice from lawyers or others where necessary); ensure the documents /information necessary for the effective disposal of the application are obtained from the parties; ensure compliance with judicial directions.
To prepare cases for hearing
To oversee the appeal caseload and monitor trends, identifying opportunities to improve process and procedures, including use of CE file.
To update guidance and templates as necessary.
To draft orders with the outcome of appeal hearings.
To liaise with parties and the listings team to ensure cases are promptly listed.
To liaise with the lower courts and the Court of Appeal as necessary to facilitate effective working.
The post holder will report to the Delivery Manager.
Further details
New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.