20764 - Clerk to HM Judges

Locations: Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Duration: Permanent Contract

Pay Span or equivalent: EO

About HMCTS: HM Courts and Tribunals Service is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. We work with an independent judiciary to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system.

Overview: The role is to provide first line support to a Lord or Lady Justice of Appeal or High Court Judge by ensuring best use of the judge's time, to enable them to concentrate on the delivery of justice. Using your organisational skills, you will efficiently manage all aspects of your judge’s day; this involves administrative duties which may include typing documents including judgments or orders and diary management. You will also likely be required to liaise with internal and external stakeholders including legal representatives, members of the public and other members of the judiciary. The appointment to some Judges may require extensive travelling with overnight stays during the week for a considerable number of weeks at a time. This circuit work entails staying with the judge(s) and other clerks in judicial accommodation, returning home at weekends. This is a unique role within the justice system. If you are organised, adaptable and you care about ensuring the delivery of justice then working as a Judges’ Clerk can be incredibly rewarding. Full training will be given in the role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administration: Keep an up-to-date diary of your Judge’s court sittings/visits/meetings, maintenance of his/her robes and library, co-ordinating visits and assisting visitors plus other office functions. Domestic duties as required by the judge; e.g. tea/coffee preparation, lunch collection, washing up, dry cleaning and other ad hoc duties as agreed. Transportation of large court bundles around the building; trolleys are provided but some lifting will be required. When judges go on circuit, clerks are responsible for transporting books, bundles, files, computers, robes and other judicial requirements as well as their own, and judge’s, personal belongings.
• Communication: You will be responsible for the smooth running of the judge’s court commitments whether in London or on circuit. This will involve communicating by telephone, email and correspondence to ensure the resolution of many and varied queries and requests. On a regular basis you’ll be liaising with: Judges and senior figures, Litigants and members of the public, Court and Tribunal users, Representatives of other agencies and organisations. You will be representing your assigned judge at an operational level. Using your organisational skills, you will be expected to efficiently manage all aspects of your judge’s day. You will be required to make decisions regarding changing priorities as they occur, without reference to the judge, and work on your own initiative. In many instances you will be the first point of contact between your judge and others. The need for confidentiality, tact, courtesy and diplomacy is therefore paramount.

Working Arrangements:

Hours: Your actual working pattern is agreed with the judge and your line manager. Judges Clerks are not normally required to work more hours each week than the standard working week (37 hours) but there is an expectation that a clerk will work longer hours if a situation arises. Due to the travelling involved and the variety of court duties performed, this role is not suitable for part‑time working, job sharing or frequent working from home.

Location: The position is London based and therefore you should live within a reasonable daily commute of London. However, due to the nature of the role you could be required to travel within England and Wales. When in London, you will be based within the Royal Courts of Justice or other buildings within the immediate area. Any judge may undertake circuit work anywhere in England and Wales, on average 3 times in each legal year, for periods of around 2-6 weeks (or more depending on the case). On circuit you will stay at judges’ lodgings or hotels on weekdays (at no cost to you) and liaise with the housekeeper and lodgings manager on domestic matters that may include arrangement of dinner parties and visits. You will be expected to continue managing the judge’s other commitments while on circuit.

Annual leave: Annual leave may only be taken in accordance with the Judges Clerks’ supplemental working T&Cs. The minimum entitlement is 25 days rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

Security Level: Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC) To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment and residence history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre‑employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism Check (CTC), Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (the level of checks that are required are stated in the advert). If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example: You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government, You were studying abroad, You were living overseas with parents. In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account and a local police check carried out.