Legal Officer First-tier Tribunal (Residential Property) Manchester (Ref: 7327)

This position is based at Manchester AIT, M1 4AH.

Our Legal Officers play a critical role in helping deliver justice. If you’re 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).

As part of HM 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 to enhance the provision of a world-class justice system, improving user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all.

Your role involves supporting the effective administration of Tribunals business by undertaking a range of complex case work and assessment activity 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.

The key purpose of the role includes:

• Working closely with judiciary, legal professionals and tribunal administration teams to undertake initial assessments on incoming tribunals work, including case files, applications, and correspondence.
• Providing ongoing and proactive management of caseloads, identifying barriers or risks to effective case progression and developing interventions or actions to resolve these.
• Evidence a strong understanding of functioning across tribunals and may be required to provide cross jurisdictional expertise.

HMCTS is committed to learning and development and aims to grow talent from within where possible. A key benefit for our Legal Officers/Tribunal Caseworkers is the opportunity to apply for entry to the HMCTS legal apprenticeship scheme which 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 Key Objectives Of The Role Include:

• Initial Case Assessment: Undertake initial assessment on incoming tribunals documentation and liaise with various stakeholders, including service users, to ensure effective case progression.
• Case Management: Manage the case by removing barriers to its progression and ensuring efficient allocation of tribunal resources.
• Applications from parties to the appeal: Identify and sift applications, making decisions on various procedural aspects.
• Multi-Jurisdictional Expertise: Develop expertise across a number of tribunal jurisdictions to provide flexible technical case support.
• Communicating with key stakeholders: Ensure effective engagement with judiciary, user groups and representative organisations.
• Administration: Undertake necessary administration to support the effective delivery of the Legal Officer/Tribunal Caseworker role.

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.

Technical Skills: A law degree or equivalent technical experience is desirable.

Behaviours: We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service.

Alongside your salary of £34,140, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £9,890 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances, please refer to our Candidate Information Page.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth countries, EU nationals with settled status, and Turkish nationals with accrued rights.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.