Background
The Legal Services Policy Division - which is part of the Ministry of Justice’s Policy, Communications & Analysis Group – is looking to recruit two highly motivated band C Policy Advisors into the UK Legal Services Policy Team and the Stakeholder Relations Team respectively.
The UK Legal Services Policy Team is responsible for advising Ministers on the domestic legal service policy agenda, supporting the Lord Chancellor in fulfilling his statutory duties under the Legal Services Act 2007, engaging with the legal services profession and leading on the Department’s strategic objective to maintain a flourishing legal sector.
The Stakeholder Relations team works across the Ministry of Justice, other government departments and with external stakeholders to help deliver the newly developed stakeholder engagement strategy for the legal services sector. This requires effective engagement with senior individuals from legal service representative bodies (Legal Services Board, Law Society, Bar Council, City of London Law Society etc) regulators and legal firms to ensure the strategy is bedded in and working well for all.
These posts offer an excellent opportunity for high performing policy officials to work at the centre of a policy area that has quickly risen up the national and international political agendas, and drive forward the Department’s strategic objectives. The successful candidates will be able to command the confidence of Ministers and senior stakeholders across Whitehall and in the legal profession, and have a track record in using those relationships to make an impact at pace.
Job Description
We’re looking for two self-motivated, enthusiastic and flexible individuals to lead on various aspects of the Division’s portfolio.
Subject to emerging priorities and changing responsibilities within the Division, the roles will focus on developing the wider domestic legal services policy agenda and supporting the Division’s engagement with legal services stakeholders.
The successful candidates will, under the supervision of a band B, undertake from the following as appropriate for their team:
- Work on projects designed to maintain the attractiveness of the UK legal services sector, including for example market and regulatory reform and diversity at senior levels of the profession and within the judicial pipeline;
- Work with colleagues across Whitehall to advance the Department’s legal services policy objectives, help coordinate the Department’s relationships with legal services representatives and regulators and provide support to embed the framework for the Division’s Stakeholder Relations Managers;
- Advise the Lord Chancellor and Ministers on the domestic legal service policy agenda, and implement policy reforms or measures as required;
- Support the Lord Chancellor in fulfilling his statutory duties under the Legal Services Act 2007, including advising the Lord Chancellor on recommendations made to him by the Legal Services Board;
- Regularly provide written and verbal advice and briefings to Ministers, senior officials and other colleagues in support of policy development and engagements with the legal profession;
- Monitor stakeholder activities and provide timely updates to the legal services policy team;
- Undertake other ad-hoc projects within the Division as required.
The roles will require the successful candidates to quickly build their understanding of the legal services sector and regulatory framework, and how it can be developed to deliver improved outcomes for society as a whole. The successful candidates will need to be able to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment during a time of momentous change.
Job skills
- Excellent communicator with strong writing and presentation skills
- Confidence presenting to a range of audiences including senior individuals and groups
- Ability to work collaboratively across a wide range of disciplines
- Experience in using data to inform your work
- Ability to make sound judgments and provide well-articulated advice
- Ability to develop proposals that understand and reflect the needs of users and the views of a wide range of stakeholders
- Confidence and skill to act independently
- Excellent IT skills
- Previous experience working with the legal or a similar professional sector is desirable but not essential
Selection process
This vacancy is being advertised using the Success Profiles Framework, and during the selection process we will assess your Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths.
Behaviours
We will assess you against these behaviours, at Level 3:
- Seeing the big picture (lead behaviour)
- Communicating and influencing
- Making effective decisions
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Experience
We will assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
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 and your Experience will be considered.
Candidates who pass the sift will be invited for interview, during which your Behaviours, Experience and Strengths will be assessed. You may also be asked to give a short presentation during the interview. The nature and content of any presentation will be notified when you are given the time and date for interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment, and then upon request. If your application falls just below the threshold, you may be offered a role at a lower grade. Expenses are not available for travel to interview.
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