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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £29,303 - £31,061, London salary range is £33,551 - £35,564. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Leeds, London, Loughborough
Region
East Midlands, London, Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
01-Sep-2026
Post Type
Fixed Term
Civil Service Grade
EO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
20989

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job advertisement – Legal Researcher

Salary: £27,233 - £32,760

Number of jobs available: 1

Detail of reserve list: 12 months

Region: London, Midlands, or, North-East

City: London, Loughborough, or Leeds

Grade: EO

Post Type: Fixed Term (up to 2 years)

Working pattern: Full Time, with flexible options available

Role Type: Legal Services

Job Description:

This is an existing, fixed term, role within the Judicial College Legal Team and presents an exciting opportunity for the post holder to develop and build a portfolio of interesting and varied legal experience. The post of Legal Researcher was created by the Judicial College in recognition of the volume and quality of training required by an ever growing and more diverse magistracy. It is intended to provide those considering a legal career with a unique opportunity to work at the very heart of the judiciary, gaining a distinctive perspective on the legal system and what it takes to deliver justice for a period of 2 years.

You will be a self-motivated, enthusiastic, and flexible person with excellent legal research and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and succinctly. You will have excellent organisational skills, be able to prioritise workstreams and deliver at pace, with strong interpersonal qualities that create good working relationships with a diverse range of people.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: 

Job Title / Group / Directorate

Legal Researcher, Judicial College, Judicial Office 

Reports To

Legal Training Developer, Judicial College

Location & Terms of appointment

This is an FTC and can be based in any one of the Judicial Office locations in London, Loughborough or Leeds, however travel would be expected to attend meetings and training events. The main office is Judicial College, 9th Floor Thomas More Building, The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL

Salary and Grade

This post is Grade EO 

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

The Judicial College

The principal role of the Judicial College is to support the Lady Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals in fulfilling their responsibilities for the arrangements for training the judiciary in an ever-evolving justice system.

The Judicial College is part of the Judicial Office (JO), an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice. Our purpose is to strengthen the rule of law and improve the administration of justice through delivery of essential training for the judiciary in courts and tribunals, as well as a framework of training for magistrates.

We are a unique branch of the civil service, independent from Government, dedicated to supporting the judiciary and promoting judicial independence, to maintain confidence in the rule of law. The Judicial Office reports to, and is accountable to, the Lady Chief Justice and was set up in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland. We support some 26,000 judicial office holders, providing policy, legal and handling advice and operational support.

Role Purpose 

You will be joining the Judicial College Legal Team, who are a supportive, dynamic, and committed team. Legal team members assume personal responsibility for national delivery of projects, in all jurisdictions including adult crime, youth crime and the Family Court for both legal advisers and magistrates.

Legal team members advise the relevant Judicial College training committees, supporting them to identify where national training is required and then work with stakeholder groups to develop, draft, update and deliver training material for magistrates and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) legal advisers. 

Within each jurisdiction, the legal team are also responsible on a national basis for the development and delivery of mentor training to those HMCTS legal advisers appointed as mentors to trainee legal advisers.

The Legal Researcher will be line managed by the Legal Training Developer and will work closely with the rest of the legal team, the publications team and the digital learning design team by aiding in the preparation and review of training materials for magistrates and legal advisers, updating those materials and ensuring that they remain current. You will have excellent relationship-building, organisational, planning, drafting, formatting, I.T. and research skills. You will also possess a sound understanding of the legal systems and processes in England and Wales and be able to examine and interpret complex legal information. You will keep up to date with relevant legislative and case law changes in order to identify those materials that require updating. You will provide legal research into specific areas of law as requested by the legal team. You will support a wide range of governance groups and in doing so will gain excellent secretariat experience. 

Duties and responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

  • To assist the legal team with updating the current training materials by keeping up to date with legal changes and their effects on training material.
  • To work with the publications and the digital learning design teams to ensure new and current training materials are in line with Judicial College branding and house style guidelines.
  • To support the legal team to achieve and maintain the required accessibility standards in materials published on Judicial College Learning, the learning management site for judicial office holders.
  • To complete legal research into discrete areas of the law as requested by the legal team.
  • To attend face to face training with the team and work with the Planning and Operational Support Teams as required.
  • To support the secretariat function for the Judicial College magistrates and legal adviser training committees.
  • To attend face to face team meetings and training events.

Other Duties

The post holder will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the legal team or their line manager which are commensurate with the level or responsibility of this post.

Person specification

Technical skills/qualifications

Candidates for this post must be able to demonstrate rigorous and sound legal research and analysis skills at degree level or equivalent.

You will be asked to provide a CV.

Experience

Experience of practical, contemporary and robust methods of legal research is essential. Whilst you do not require a specific area of expertise, you must be able to demonstrate sound and competent legal research ability and will be selected to provide cover for the range of work handled by the legal team.

Behaviours

  • Delivering at pace
  • Developing self and others
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Managing a quality service

Qualifications

A minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree, in law, or, with law as the primary subject.

Selection process details

At the application stage you will be asked to provide a CV, statement of suitability and 250-word statements evidencing the required behaviours (above). Applications will be sifted based on this information. If a large number of applications are received, they will be sifted on the basis of the primary behaviour, namely, delivering at pace.

At interview stage candidates will be asked questions on the behaviours above and also asked strength-based questions, but those strengths are not shared in advance. You will also be asked for a short presentation on a point of legal research on a topic to be notified.

Interviews will take place between 22/9/26 – 6/10/26.

Reserve list

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.



Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 20989

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected - Week commencing 21/09/2026
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.