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Overview
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a busy Judicial Private Office and to work with some of the most senior judiciary in the country as they affect change within the justice system. The postholder leads the Private Office of Sir Andrew McFarlane, the President of the Family Division (PFD), and is Secretary to the Family Justice Council. Based within the Grade 1 listed Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ), the postholder will work closely with the PFD to support the delivery of his delegated leadership responsibilities.
The Judicial Office
The Judicial Office is an Arm’s Length Body of the Ministry of Justice. We are a unique branch of the civil service, independent from Government, and dedicated to supporting judges, promoting judicial independence, strengthening the rule of law and improving the administration of justice by supporting the leadership and governance of the judiciary.
We ultimately report to the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals to enable them and the wider judicial leadership team, of which the PFD is a key part, to fulfil their leadership responsibilities to the judiciary (about 25,000 judicial office holders), and an ever-evolving justice system.
As a small organisation we offer distinctive opportunities. Staff at all grades have exposure to members of the senior judiciary and are encouraged to attend meetings of the Judicial Office Management Board.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/judicial-office/
President of the Family Division
The current President of the Family Division, and Head of Family Justice, is The Rt Hon. Sir Andrew McFarlane. The PFD is the fourth most senior judge in England and Wales.
As well as the PFD – who is an active member of the Court of Appeal – the Family Division consists of 19 High Court Judges. It deals with:
- Divorce, including disputes over children, property or money;
- Adoption, wardship and other matters involving children; and
- Judgments on behalf of those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, such as persistent vegetative state victims.
The Family Division also deals with undisputed matters of probate – the legal recognition of the validity of a will – in the Probate Registry of the Family Division in London, and the 11 probate registries in England and Wales.
The Family Justice Council
The primary role of the Family Justice Council is to promote an inter-disciplinary approach to family justice and to monitor the system. The Council, a non-statutory, advisory body, monitors how effectively the system, both as a whole, and through its component parts, delivers the service the Government and the public need. It advises on reforms necessary for continuous improvement.
Its secretariat is an important part of the group which directly supports the PFD, reflecting the Council’s role of providing expert inter-disciplinary advice directly to the Family Justice Board, and providing guidance documents and input to the implementation plan for the Single Family Court and judicial proposals for the modernisation of family justice.
Role
The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that the Office of the PFD provides high quality policy advice and support to the PFD. The office also provides legal advice through a G7 lawyer. The close working relationship which the Private Secretary has with the PFD offers a chance to communicate his views in a way that can have a very significant impact on a part of the justice system which directly affects the everyday lives of ordinary people.
The role involves maintaining an overview of developments in Family Justice and building strong relationships with peers and senior stakeholders across the Justice system, including within Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education. The postholder must also work closely with colleagues within Judicial Office and particularly those responsible for similar work in civil, where there are some overlaps with judicial resources.
Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the post include, but are not limited, to:
- Underpin the PFD’s leadership of the family judiciary through effective policy advice and administrative and secretariat support. To include:
- Supporting the PFD's participation in meetings and court visits (e.g. the Judicial Executive Board, the Family Division Liaison Judge meetings, the Family Justice Board).
- Supporting the PFD in managing relations with Government departments, agencies, Parliament, stakeholders and other external bodies.
- Supporting the PFD's statutory & constitutional functions delegated from the Lord Chief Justice for judicial appointments, discipline and pastoral care.
- Responding to requests for advice and briefing from Press Office on media enquiries and from other parts of the Judicial Office e.g. the Lord Chief Justice’s Private Office;
- Supporting the PFD with judicial appearances before Parliamentary committees.
- Supporting the PFD’s reform priorities by:
- Engaging with the Department for Education and Ministry of Justice officials to take forward the PFD’s priorities on securing action to drive down the number of public law cases being issued in the Family Court;
- Securing reform to private law cases, and;
- Increasing the supply of experts willing to give evidence in the Family Court.
- Managing secretariat support to judicially led working groups, taking forward work as required.
- Facilitating the provision of effective inter-disciplinary advice by the Family Justice Council to the Family Justice Board, judiciary and government departments and agencies and advising the Council and helping it to manage its workload.
Leadership responsibilities
The postholder will be supported in these responsibilities by the Private Office team consisting of 1x G7 lawyer, 1x G7 Policy/Strategy lead, 1x SEO Assistant Private Secretary, 2x HEO Family Policy and Projects Advisors and 1x EO Senior Personal Secretary to the PFD. The Secretariat to the Family Justice Council consists of 1x SEO Assistant Secretary to the FJC and 1x EO Executive Assistant to the FJC. The postholder will be responsible for the leadership and development of the team and ensuring a collaborative approach to support for the PFD.
The postholder is a member of the Senior Management Team of the Judicial Private Offices and as such will contribute to regular SMT meetings and be expected to support cross jurisdictional work for the benefit of the wider team. The postholder can also expect to contribute to wider Judicial Office projects as a senior leader in the organisation.
Working hours
Judicial Office staff have to work around the normal court sitting day. As such, meetings with judges are often held before and after normal court sitting hours of 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Overtime is payable where longer hours are unavoidable. We do operate a flexible working time policy and encourage that where possible but this can be more difficult in the Judicial Private Offices.
Some domestic travel around England and Wales may be required to support the PFD during visits.
Some flexibility to work from home is possible, however the work of the Private Secretary generally lends itself to face-to-face contact, particularly during the terms of the legal year.
For more information about the feasibility of any particular working pattern, please speak to the vacancy manager.
Person specification
The successful candidate must:
- Be able to influence and manage upwards and speak with authority when dealing with senior officials or judiciary;
- Have excellent communication and leadership skills;
- Have strong organisational skills
Experience of working with the judiciary would be an advantage but is by no means essential.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
- Seeing the big picture
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles , and the sift will assess the behaviours outlined above.
At interview we will be assessing experience, behaviours and strengths.
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