Job description
Are you interested in supporting high quality legal work in Scotland?
The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is the UK Government's Scottish legal team, and the HMRC Division provides legal services to HMRC in Scotland. We place a strong emphasis on building good relationships with HMRC colleagues.
The Division
HMRC Division's work is litigation-focused and includes handling appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber), the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), the Outer House (Judicial Reviews), Inner House of the Court of Session and the Supreme Court, all on behalf of HMRC.
We undertake sheriff court actions associated with HMRC’s fraud inquiry function such as Account Freezing Orders. The Division also advises HMRC in relation to debt management, involving bankruptcies and liquidations, and National Minimum Wage enforcement involving sheriff court debt collection and employment tribunal appeals.
The work of the Division is challenging, varied, rewarding and, at times, high-profile.
The Division has nine solicitors and two legal executives (including this post), nominally split into three branches dealing respectively with:
- Direct Taxes (primarily Income, Corporation and Inheritance Taxes)
- Indirect Taxes (primarily VAT and excise duties)
- National Minimum Wage (enforcement and appeals)
There is a great deal of collaboration across the three branches and a Divisional mindset is required to allow the work to be progressed as efficiently as possible. In addition, there are opportunities to learn about and get involved in the work of the other divisions within the office (Devolution & General Litigation, Advisory & Legislation and Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General) and our Business Support Team. There may also be opportunities to gain experience in our office in London or in HMRC offices elsewhere. The Division has access to extensive training opportunities provided both by the UK and Scottish Government Departments.
The HMRC Division is a small, friendly and collegiate Division and you will be well supported by all colleagues.
Responsibilities
- Providing high-quality, proactive, and effective advice and support to HMRC Division solicitors in their conduct of litigation on behalf of HMRC in Scotland. This includes drafting supporting court documents, arranging for service of court documents, compiling documents for hearings in courts and tribunals and liaising with and instructing counsel to act on behalf of HMRC in some cases.
- Taking ownership of the timely and accurate completion of streamlined court processes such as petitions for liquidation in the Court of Session and simple procedure cases.
- Communicating in a timely and professional manner with clients, colleagues, court and tribunal clerks, and counsel in connection with litigation.
- Sharing responsibility for managing the office's Legal Services inbox. This will include proactively and effectively dealing with the items in the inbox, processing specifications of documents and other court orders served on UK government departments in Scotland, and assisting with the allocation of outsourced litigation work for UK government departments.
- Contributing to the review and continuous improvement of the Division's Knowledge Bank and assisting colleagues in its maintenance.
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Legal Executive employer: Work For Scotland
Work For Scotland is an excellent employer, offering a unique opportunity to grow within the Scottish Government Legal Directorate. With a strong focus on professional development, this apprenticeship provides comprehensive training in essential skills like Microsoft Office, all while fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture that values each team member's contributions.
