Legal Officer - First-tier Mental Health Tribunal - Leicester

General Information Salary £34,140 – £37,105 Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach External Location Leicester Region East Midlands Closing Date 25-Jul-2025 Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade HEO Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 7696 Descriptions & requirements Job description
Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.
Our Legal Officers play a critical role in helping deliver justice. If youre intent on serving the public by delivering excellent service, and are enthusiastic about working with the judiciary, then this role gives you the opportunity to play a pivotal role within HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
About Us
As part of His Majestys Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) the Tribunals directorate is responsible for the effective administration of Tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved Tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We work with an independent judiciary across a wide range of jurisdictions to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system.
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 UKs 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 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.
Your role
Working within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) or Regional Hearing Centre (RHC), you will support the effective administration of Tribunals business by undertaking a range of complex case work and assessment activity in order to determine how best to advance caseloads and remove any barriers to effective and timely case progression.
Working as part of a team as well as independently, under the supervision of a Senior Legal Officer and leadership judiciary, the Legal Officer will make case management decisions as part of their delegated judicial powers. A Legal Officer will liaise with key stakeholders and HMCTS colleagues to ensure the effective administration of justice.
The key purpose of the role
Job Description
Working ly with judiciary, legal professionals and tribunal administration teams, the Legal Officer will undertake initial assessments on a range of incoming tribunals work, including case files, applications, and correspondence in order to establish the level of authority and expertise needed to address the case and determine the most effective route for case progression. Working to delegated judicial functions, the Legal Officer will provide ongoing and proactive management of caseloads, identifying any barriers or risks to effective case progression and developing interventions or actions to resolve these, liaising with a range of stakeholders and the public.
The Legal Officer will be expected to evidence a strong understanding of functioning across tribunals and may be required to provide cross jurisdictional expertise.
Development
HMCTS are committed to learning and development and aim to grow talent from within w possible. To this end, a key benefit for our Legal Officers/Tribunal Caseworkers is the opportunity to apply for entry to the HMCTS legal apprenticeship scheme which runs an internal intake annually. This apprenticeship scheme supports training of staff in this role to become fully qualified solicitors and career progression into the role of legal adviser in the magistrates court or legal team manager within tribunals. The legal apprenticeship is completed over a 3 6 year period depending on your previous qualifications and entry point to the scheme.
Customer service and standards

• Promotes user focussed activity and standards – has strong written and interpersonal skills utilising principles of Human Voice of Justice.
• Contributes to SOC (Standard Operating Controls), SAF (Service Assurance Framework)
• leads on maintaining standards of service and identifies areas for improvement
• takes forward solutions using continuous improvement techniques.
• Management of complaints and services failures.

The Key Objectives Of The Role Include
Initial Case
Assessment
Required
The Legal Officer will be required to undertake initial assessment on incoming tribunals documentation and liaise with various stakeholders, including service users, to ensure effective case progression. This will include:

• Identifying that claims / appeals have been lodged within the relevant timelines.
• Ensuring that claims / appeals are being addressed by the correct tribunal and at the correct tribunal tier.
• Ensuring any relevant fees have been paid by claimants / appellants.
• Ensuring claims / appeals are made on the correct. documentation and that all of the information necessary to progress the case is present.

Ensuring claims and appeals are allocated to the correct appeal type and w

• appropriate listing track.
• Triaging of referrals to appropriate authority.
• Providing instructions to administrative staff.

Case Management
Operating under delegated judicial functions, manage the case by removing barriers to its progression and ensuring efficient allocation of tribunal resources. This will include:

• Drafting and issuing directions to parties to file evidence and other documents.
• Providing listing instructions to administrative staff.
• Ensuring the panel composition is appropriate to the case.
• Ensuring interpreter requirements are identified.
• Undertaking case management appointments.
• Checking cases for readiness ahead of hearings.
• Communicating and engaging with parties to an appeal to ensure effective case progression.
• Undertaking a range of high-quality casework, including complex casework.
• Providing flexible technical case support as required.

Applications from parties to the appeal
Working to delegated judicial powers, Legal Officers/Tribunal Caseworkers will be expected to identify and sift applications, making decisions on:

• Postponing hearings.
• Transferring proceedings to another region or jurisdiction.
• Withdrawing proceedings.
• Extending and varying time to comply with an aspect of procedure rules.
• Varying directions.
• Expediting a hearing.
• Considering reasonable adjustments to make hearings more accessible to parties.

Multi-Jurisdictional Expertise
Operating within a regional cluster, the Legal Officers/Tribunal Caseworkers may be expected to develop expertise across a number of tribunal jurisdictions in order to provide flexible technical case support.
Communicating with key stakeholders

• Ensuring effective engagement with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations in order to progress tribunals work effectively.
• Thinking beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.

Administration
Undertake any administration necessary to support the effective delivery of the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker role, ensuring:

• All relevant documentation is completed fully, accurately and in timely manner.
• All physical and electronic tribunal case files and records are maintained in accordance with policy and data protection protocols.

Accountability
The Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will report to a manager within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre or Regional Hearing Centre. When working under delegated judicial functions, the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker will receive significant technical input and direction from the relevant tribunal judiciary.
Experience
A law degree or equivalent technical experience is desirable.
The Equivalent Technical Experience Has Been Defined As
The demonstration of a transferable decision-making aptitude, working within a set framework or guidance and previous precedents, under a form of supervision
Operational Delivery in HMCTS
Role
This role is part of the Legal Operational Delivery Profession. Operational delivery professionals are the outward face of government, providing essential services to the public in a variety of roles. They work in many different departments and agencies across the breadth of the UK, delivering service to customers in:

• Face-to face roles in HMCTS for example a court usher
• Contact Centre roles in HMCTS for example call centre advisers
• Processing roles in HMCTS for example staff at the County Courts Money-Claims Centre and Courts and Tribunal administration.

Being part of the operational delivery profession means belonging to a cross-government community of people. This will offer you access to information on professional standards, skills development and qualifications to help you continue to improve your development and performance and expand your career options.
Further details
New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.
These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Non-contractual hybrid working may be available, but we cannot facilitate requests for a particular work from home/working in the office schedule.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w 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 MoJs Flexible Working policy.
This role is based at Sovereign House, Leicester, LE1 6TR
Occasional Travel To Other Courts
For this post, occasional travel to other sites may be required
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w 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 everyones 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 locations respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJs 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, w 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 MoJs 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.
T 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. T 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 or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
• 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

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail );
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ();

To the Civil Service Commission (details available

• )

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 wver 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: 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)
• 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) 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
Please quote the job reference 7696
Hmpps
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail
Please quote the job reference 7696
Job Description Attachment

• HMCTS809 Legal Officer attraction pack May25 v5.pdf (Job Description Attachment)

Select new file Application form stage assessments Behaviours A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, 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, w all behaviours will then be considered. Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Interview stage assessments Interview Dates Interviews expected late August, dates to be confirmed Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Working Together Managing a Quality Service Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed . Other Assessments Which assessment methods will be used? Technical Test Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Level of security checks required DBS Enhanced
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