We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
The Judicial and Legal Services Directorate is recruiting permanently for up to three HEO Legal Services Trade Policy Advisors. This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.
Location:
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)
In order for Policy Group to meet its evolving business needs and for us to continue to progress towards our pre-pandemic levels of attendance, all Policy Group staff are expected to attend their base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing over 80,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
The Work of the Legal Services Trade Team
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for the legal services’ regulatory framework in England and Wales; the Legal Services Act 2007 enshrines the independence of the sector, and regulation thereof, from Government. MoJ are also responsible for representing UK legal services’ interests in Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and the promotion of UK legal services globallyÂ
Legal services are a strong contributor to the economy and have a strong record of growth, as well as playing a vital role in facilitating global trade and investment. The sector generated revenue of over £36bn in 2019 and £17.8bn in the first half of 2020, much of which was generated by the top 100 UK law firms, who netted nearly £29bn in 2020. The UK’s position in legal services is helped by the international prestige of English common law, and London’s position as a global centre for dispute resolution.Â
As a Legal Services Trade Policy Advisor in the of the Legal Services Trade Team, you will play a central role in the Government’s work to ensure UK legal services, courts and English and Welsh law remain world-leading, and will be responsible for leading the development, delivery and implementation of the Department’s legal services policy objectives in the context of HMG’s trade strategy and negotiations with key trade partners.
Legal Services Trade Policy Advisor - the role
There are up to two HEO vacancies available in the Legal Services Trade Team. One is in the Europe, Strategy and Special Projects branch of the Legal Services Trade Team, and the other is in the Americas and Mobility branch. In both roles you will support the delivery of MoJ objectives in the context of HMG’s trade strategy, with an opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders within the department, across Whitehall, and in the legal sector to deliver challenging policy objectives in an area which has quickly risen up national and international policy agendas.
You will play a central role in the Government’s work to ensure UK legal services, courts and English and Welsh law remain world leading. You will be responsible for leading the development, delivery and implementation of the department’s legal services policy objectives in the context of HMG’s trade strategy and negotiations with key trade partners.
The posts differ in geographical focus and the cross-cutting policy areas covered, but both offer excellent opportunities to get involved in some of the following activities:
- Leading on the development and implementation of a legal services trade promotional programme.
- Responsibility for one or more cross-cutting policy areas in Free Trade Agreements such as Digital, Good Regulatory Practice, Investment, Mobility; and
- Securing market access rights for UK lawyers through bilateral trade work and in up-and-coming FTAs with trading partners.
You will need to work confidently with colleagues across the department (both legal and analytical colleagues) and Whitehall (in particular BEIS, DIT and FCDO), and with external stakeholders to develop and advance the department’s legal services objectives.
The role offers an excellent opportunity for high performing, self-motivated policy professionals to lead an exciting and challenging programme of work, as the UK continues to build an independent trading relationship with trade partners around the world.
Skills and Experience
You are required to have:
Essential:
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build relationships quickly across Government and externally.
- Demonstrable capability for strategic thinking and policy development, and ability to make sound judgements.
- The ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
- The ability to manage a varied workload, and to identify priorities proactively.
- Grasp complex issues quickly and manage competing views within policy development.Â
Desirable:
- Previous policy/international trade experience.
- Knowledge of the justice system and legal services sector.
Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Behaviours
During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviour (see Annex A for more information):
- Communicating and influencing (lead behaviour)
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework.
You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details:Â Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Interviews are expected to take place early November 2022.
Contact information Â
Please do get in touch with Joshua Horsman (Joshua.horsman@justice.gov.uk)
if you would like to know more about the roles or what it is like working in our team.
Annex A - The STAR method
Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.
Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.
- Where are you?
- Who was there with you?
- What had happened?
Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.
- What was the task that you had to complete and why?
- What did you have to achieve?
Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.
Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.
- What results did the actions produce?
- What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
- Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?
Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.
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