Trainee Legal Adviser FAQs
What Qualifications do you need to work as a Trainee Legal Adviser?
To be eligible to apply for this post, candidates must have passed the academic stage of qualification to become a barrister in England and Wales, or a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) or CILEX Lawyer. For clarification;
The Legal Practice Course (LPC) for Solicitors, or BOTH the SQE1 and SQE2 stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam; or
• The Bar Training Course; or equivalent for Barristers; or
• The CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice; or
• The CILEx Graduate Fast Track Diploma; or equivalent for Graduate Membership of CILEx.
How many hours does a Trainee Legal Adviser work?
Your contracted hours are 37 hours excluding lunch breaks. You will be required to work those hours over five days, including Saturdays and Public Holidays and due to the nature of this post you may be required to work additional hours to enable the courts to perform their statutory tasks and duties.
Is this role suitable for part time working?
This is a full-time role, 37 hours per week. Requests for part time or flexible working arrangements may be considered 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.
What nationality do I need to hold to apply?
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules.
Does the role involve travel?
Travel will be expected across the region, and base location could change after completion of the training period dependant on business needs.
Can I apply if I am not a civil servant?
Yes. This role is open to suitably qualified people in the external market and to existing civil servants.
Is security clearance required?
Yes. If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to DBS level. Certain areas may also require a higher level of SC or DV clearance. More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security
I am having problems submitting my application who do I contact?
If you have submitted an application or are having issues uploading any documents, and you require assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com quoting the job reference ID.
There are currently TLA roles being advertised across a number of different regions. Can I submit applications for more than region?
No, only one application should be submitted for your preferred location. The first application will be considered. Any duplicate applications time stamped at a later date and time will be disregarded.
What reasonable adjustments can be made if I have a disability?
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide support to all applicants wherever required, to ensure that no one is at a disadvantage during the recruitment and assessment process. Our application form asks if you require any reasonable adjustments and allows you to note these down at application stage, should you wish, alternatively you can notify the recruitment team of any requirements you may have. Reasonable adjustments could include using closed captions or typing questions in the chat in a video interview or ensuring that information is provided in an accessible format.
Can I receive feedback on my application?
Due to the high volume of applications, we are only able to provide feedback to those candidates that make it through to the final interview stages.
If I am currently working as a Civil Servant, can I transfer across on the same salary?
Existing Civil Servants will be transferred in line with the MoJ pay and reward policy.