We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
Background
The Trade Team in the Legal Services Policy Division (LSPD) is responsible for delivering the second objective of the Ministry of Justice single departmental plan (2019 – 2022), namely - “Supporting a flourishing legal services sector”.
Legal services primarily refers to any legal professional (“lawyer”) or firm in the UK providing advice or services to consumers. That covers a whole range of providers – from city law firms to high street solicitors, barristers, notaries, patent attorneys and many more. The UK legal sector employs around 350,000 people and it contributes over £22 billion gross value added to the economy.
To achieve this, the Trade Team’s main objectives are to: a) maintain market access, b) improve market access (including supporting Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, leading or supporting the sector to deliver mutual recognition agreements and supporting wider liberalisation in priority markets) and c) grow market share in a number of legal services markets across the world. Priority jurisdictions have been identified and categorised by these three objectives.
There are three HEO vacancies available in the Trade Team, one in each of the following sub-teams: Asia and Australasia; the Americas; and Europe. The roles focus on 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.
These roles offer an excellent opportunity for high performing, self-motivated policy professionals to lead an exciting and challenging programme of work, as the UK begins its new independent trading relationship with the EU and other trade partners.
Job description
As a Trade Policy Advisor in the Legal Services Policy Division, you will play a central role in the Government’s work to ensure UK legal services, courts and English 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.
You will be specifically responsible for leading the development and implementation of a legal services trade programme in one or more jurisdictions and emerging markets, as well as leading on one or more cross-cutting policy areas. You will be required to use policy skills to deliver on our trade objectives within a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly.
You will need to work confidently with colleagues across the department and Whitehall (in particular BEIS, DIT and FCDO colleagues) and with external stakeholders to develop and advance the department’s legal services objectives.
You will also need to be flexible and support the division’s wider programme of activity as priorities develop over the next 12 months.
Skills and experience
You are required to have:
- 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 provide clear, evidence-based briefings in both written and oral formats on complex policy areas to senior stakeholders and Ministers.
- Strong prioritisation skills and the ability to make effective decisions on how to make best use of your resources to handle time-sensitive work to achieve both short and long-term results.
It would be desirable, but not essential, to have:
- An understanding of government.
- Knowledge of the justice system and legal services sector.
- An understanding of trade policy-making in an international context.
Selection process
This vacancy is being advertised using the Success Profiles Framework, and during the selection process we will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.
Behaviours
- Communicating and influencing (lead behaviour)
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Strengths
We will assess your Strengths that are relevant to the role, particularly those that map into the key Behaviours applicable to the role.
Selection process details
An initial sift based on the lead Behaviour may be held if a large number of applications are received.
If your application progresses to a full sift, all Behaviours will be considered. Candidates who pass the sift will be invited for interview, during which your Behaviours and Strengths will be assessed.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment, and then upon request.
Please note, external candidates will be expected to start at the bottom of the salary band.
TOP