At a Glance
- Tasks: Support commissioning and procurement to maintain a sustainable legal aid market.
- Company: Join the Legal Aid Agency, part of the Ministry of Justice.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, competitive salary, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunities for growth and collaboration across various locations.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the legal aid sector while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Current Civil Servant or accredited NDPB employee with relevant experience.
The predicted salary is between 35335 - 37847 £ per year.
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
General Information
- The national salary range is £35,335- £37,847.
- London salary range is £40,014 - £42,859.
- Your salary will be dependent on your base location.
Working Pattern
- Full Time
- Part Time
- Part Time/Job Share
- Flexible Working
Location
- Birmingham
- Brighton and Hove
- Bristol
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Jarrow
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Nottingham
Region
- East Midlands
- East of England
- London
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West
- Wales
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date: 22-Sep-2026
Post Type: Permanent
HEO Number of jobs available: 2
Reserve List: 12 Months
Job ID: 21975
Descriptions & requirements
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary range (depending on location): Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.
Location: Any LAA office
Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Servants, you can only apply for London, Cambridge and Brighton offices if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.
Important information for candidates choosing the Liverpool office
If you are successful and choose to be based in our Liverpool office, you will be required to complete Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance in addition to our standard pre-employment checks. To obtain CTC clearance, you must meet the current National Security Vetting residency requirements. Under Central Government policy, applicants must normally have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years to be eligible for this level of clearance. Please consider this requirement carefully when applying if Liverpool is your preferred location.
If you are applying for a part time role, please note that to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 32 hours and to cover 4 days of the week.
The Legal Aid Agency
We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales. Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.
Commissioning and Contract Management
The Directorate is responsible for the design, procurement, delivery and management of legal aid contracts on behalf of the Lord Chancellor. Within this, the Commissioning Team leads procurement activity, develops tender processes, implements new contracts, and monitors service availability and capacity across the provider market. The Commissioning team work closely with operational and policy teams across the LAA and MoJ to inform future contracts and services. We develop and undertake procurement activity, including large, complex procurement processes; and ensure we are compliant with current public sector procurement legislation. Following implementation of the contracts, Commissioning monitor the availability and capacity of legal aid services and undertake further activity to increase or supplement supply as and when necessary. The team works closely with operational and policy teams across the Agency and Ministry of Justice to develop future contracts and services. It is responsible for the effective procurement of legal advice services in line with public sector procurement legislation. Contracts let by the team have an annual value of £1.4bn. The team leads procurement activity including large, complex procurement processes which lead to the award of over 1,000 contracts as well as smaller commercial contracts for contact centres and other support services. Following implementation of the contracts, the team monitors the availability and capacity of legal aid services and undertakes further procurement exercises to increase supplement supply as and when necessary. Team members are based in several locations including our head office in London. We offer flexible working options including from home or other suitable environments additional to the office. The postholder may be based in any Legal Aid Agency office though travel to other sites is required.
Job Summary
As a Commissioning Officer, you will support commissioning and procurement activity that helps maintain a sustainable and resilient legal aid market.
Commissioning Officer - Legal Aid Agency in Birmingham employer: Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice is an exceptional employer, dedicated to transforming lives through education and vocational training. With a strong emphasis on supportive relationships and personal development, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that prioritises safety and security while offering opportunities for professional growth and meaningful impact in the community. Working in this role not only allows you to make a difference but also provides a unique chance to contribute to the rehabilitation and resettlement of individuals in a dynamic environment.
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Justice
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Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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