HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Directorate: Digital Technology Services (DTS)

Pay Band: SEO

Job Title: Legal Advisor & Analyst

Location: London / National

Successful applicants will be expected to be office based 3 days per week in any HMCTS Office (subject to business availability).

Term: Permanent

Interview: Video conference via Teams

Important salary details:

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion, will usually be appointed on the salary minimum of the new pay band, or receive an increase of 10 percent on the current base salary, whichever is higher (This is restricted to the pay maximum of the new band).

Existing civil servants on Level Transfer will retain the Legal Adviser specialist pay 

Reserve List:

HMCTS run a Reserve List, where candidates who are unsuccessful at interview by only a few points, can be offered other roles, at the same band, for up to 12 months. You will be able to view your status via the application screen. If you have been added to the Reserve List, your status will show either Merit or Reserve list.

Introduction:

These are exciting times at HM Court and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). As an agency of the MoJ, we support the judiciary across England and Wales to deliver justice by running courts and tribunals and processing outcomes, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve our ambitions. It will be challenging, important and rewarding.

HMCTS Digital and Technology Services (DTS) is a specialist technology directorate which provides support to HMCTS in the use of IT and Digital.

DTS is committed to being a great place to work and part of our offer is brilliant training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. As well as that you’ll find flexible working, an inclusive culture and a place where your opinion is valued.

Please follow the link below for further information about HMCTS. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service

Job Description:

In this role, you’ll provide expert legal and business insight to ensure the integrity and legal compliance of key court IT systems - including Libra, Xhibit, and Common Platform. You’ll work closely with the Legal Directorate, courts, and external stakeholders to ensure these systems reflect current legislation and align with wider Government and Criminal Justice System (CJS) data standards.

You’ll also support the Senior Legal Adviser in representing HMCTS on cross-departmental and government-wide working groups, helping shape the future of criminal justice delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Using your specialist knowledge of magistrates’ courts , you will:

• Ensure standing data across Libra, Libra MIS, ITS, Xhibit, and Common Platform is current and legally compliant.

• Oversee updates to standing data in line with HMCTS objectives, legislative changes, and strategic priorities.

• Assure supplier delivery of data changes and ensure compliance with CJS data standards (including Bichard 7).

• Provide legal advice on the impact of new initiatives and legislation on court systems and processes.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal procedures and legislation affecting magistrates’ courts.

• Represent HMCTS in cross-CJS working groups, influencing national business processes and data standards.

• Advise on proposed legislation, suggesting improvements to support smoother implementation in court systems.

• Ensure consistency and integrity of business requirements with legal and data standards.

• Liaise with suppliers on legal and data-related issues.

• Support IT colleagues with legal input on user and supplier queries.

• Contribute legal content to user communications, including newsletters and alerts.

• Produce and maintain legal guidance and advice notes for system users.

• Provide support to the Head of Crime IT as needed.

Skills & Experience

• Strong legal expertise, ideally with experience in criminal law or magistrates’ courts.

• Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal - with the ability to engage confidently with users, senior managers, and external stakeholders.

• Proven ability to deliver high-quality work under pressure and to tight deadlines.

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to complex challenges.

• Strong teamworking and relationship-building abilities.

• Proficiency in MS Outlook, Excel, and Word.

• A customer-focused mindset, with a commitment to supporting users in a fast-paced environment

Essential Criteria:

• Must be an experienced HMCTS Legal Advisor

• Must have practical experience of working within the magistrates’ courts and have detailed knowledge of the processes operated within courts

• Working knowledge of the Libra Application and Common Platform

• An understanding of MoJ policies and procedures

Application process:

The following areas of Success Profile Framework will be used to assess and score your application during the sift, and interview.

• Experience - As demonstrated in your application form.

• Behaviours - You will be required to provide evidence of the following key behaviours at SEO Level

• Making Effective Decisions

• Working Together

• Developing Self and Others

• Communicating and Influencing