THELAWPAGES.COM

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 Legal Services Division is recruiting permanently for up to 3 SEO roles. This campaign is open to external candidates, 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:

1. 102 Petty France, London
2. 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19) 

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. 

Successful candidates will be expected to work from the office a minimum of 2 days a week. 

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. 

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 

Job Description overview 

The Legal Services Trade Policy team is responsible for representing UK legal services internationally. On a day-to-day basis this can range from bilateral meetings with foreign governments to briefing ministers to representing MoJ in Free Trade Agreement negotiations. 

There are three SEO vacancies available in the Legal Services Trade Policy Team;

• Arbitration policy and Strategy lead
• Europe and Trade Promotion policy lead
• Asia Pacific Trade Policy lead 

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. 

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing over 77,000 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 

What we do

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 globally

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.

As a Senior Policy Advisor in the Trade Team of the Legal Services Policy Division, 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. These roles will also likely have line management responsibilities. 

Senior Policy Advisor – the roles 

Arbitration Policy and Strategy Lead

The UK is the leading hub internationally for arbitration, with London handling over 80% of global maritime arbitrations. In this role, you will lead policy development on arbitration, which may include a review of key legislation. You will also lead on developing a coherent policy position for future trade negotiations for arbitration. As part of this you will manage relationships with key stakeholders, both externally and other government departments, as well as supporting ministers at international events promoting the UK. You will also lead the strategy for the broader division, providing leadership on prioritisation exercises and managing a grant supporting the sectors international work. 

Promotion and Europe Lead

Europe is a key market for UK legal services providers. You will lead on maintaining and increasing market access in Europe, with the EU, EEA-EFTA states and Switzerland. This will involve supporting DIT and BEIS on international trade negotiations. You will also lead on the development and implementation of a programme of engagement and events focused on promoting UK legal services exports, English and Welsh Law and the UK as a global centre for dispute resolution. This will involve working closely both with the legal services sector, communications colleagues and other government departments. This is key to supporting the sector to maintain its competitiveness and attract business to the UK. You will also lead on a number of cross cutting policy areas, with the opportunity to shape provisions for Free Trade Agreements. 

Indo- Pacific Trade Policy Lead

The Indo-Pacific region is made up of many of the fastest growing economies in the world. Increasing opportunities and cooperation in the region is a priority for the government, the MoJ and the legal sector. As Indo-Pacific Trade Policy lead, you will work with the Department of International Trade to develop policy in relation to ongoing trade negotiations in the region, in particular the UK-India FTA negotiations, support the implementation of existing agreements (such as the UK-Australia FTA) and lead on bilateral market access workstreams with priority jurisdictions, such as Malaysia and Singapore. In addition to the above you will work with others in the Ministry of Justice, the Department of International Trade and the legal sector to identify opportunities to promote UK legal services and English Law in the region. 

You will also need to be flexible and support the Division’s wider programme of activity as priorities and opportunities 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, evidenced briefing 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 the justice system and legal services sector.
• An understanding of international trade policy or trade promotion.
• Previous experience of working with the legal services sector and/or similar professional business and services sector.
• Line management experience or experience of developing/ coaching colleagues. 

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Experience

You will be asked to provide work history during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. 

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information): 

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Delivering at Pace 

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 – HEO/SEO or equivalent):

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:  Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk) 

Interviews are expected to take place April 2022. 

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. 

Strong candidates who are not successful at interview may be offered a role at a lower grade. 

Contact information  

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team.

Megan Waring, megan.waring@justice.gov.uk