This position is based at LAA Cheltenham Municipal Buildings RM 110, GL50 9SA Job Summary Please refer to Job Description Job Description Job Summary Key Responsibilities: The role holder is responsible for the leadership and management of performance of the PDS in the office(s) for which they are accountable, including: managing key business processes; managing the performance of the team, including using management information to improve service delivery; legal supervision of direct reports and the wider team; management of resources to ensure an efficient, cost-effective service; ensuring delivery of a quality cost-effective service; business development activities; health and safety and business continuity for the team; implementing the strategic PDS direction as set out by the Senior Management Team The Postholder Will Also Maintain a Legal Caseload Including: provision of advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence; equal participation on the office out of hours rota. The Postholder Will Also: use their legal expertise and experience to contribute to the development of policy and practice that will improve the quality and efficiency of the criminal defence market in England and Wales; provide input as and when required to various projects within the LAA and wider Government. Essential Criteria: Leadership experience and willingness to develop management competence by attending management training courses and working with management coach. Communication skills and personal presence that enable rapport-building with all stakeholders, line reports and teams. Financial and operational management skills including budget preparation, budget and performance profiling, execution, monitoring and review. Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with 5-7 years PQE, fully qualified to practice as a Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure. Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts. Excellent practical knowledge of current Criminal law, evidence and procedure. Ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery by applying the components of the PDS quality assurance framework. Personal resilience with a commitment to personal care, to maintain mental and physical wellbeing of self and line reports in a working environment that may present emotional and other challenges. Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy and its remit to act as a test-bed for innovation, increased efficiencies and quality improvements for the benefit of the wider criminal defence community. Sound IT hardware and Microsoft Office software skills, particularly in Word and Excel, and the ability and willingness to operate in a self-sufficient, efficient manner in the creation of high quality documentation and other business information Flexibility, where appropriate, to work unsociable hours. Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required. Essential Criteria: Leadership experience and willingness to develop management competence by attending management training courses and working with management coach. Communication skills and personal presence that enable rapport-building with all stakeholders, line reports and teams. Financial and operational management skills including budget preparation, budget and performance profiling, execution, monitoring and review. Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with 5-7 years PQE, fully qualified to practice as a Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure. Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts. Excellent practical knowledge of current Criminal law, evidence and procedure. Ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery by applying the components of the PDS quality assurance framework. Personal resilience with a commitment to personal care, to maintain mental and physical wellbeing of self and line reports in a working environment that may present emotional and other challenges. Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy and its remit to act as a test-bed for innovation, increased efficiencies and quality improvements for the benefit of the wider criminal defence community. Sound IT hardware and Microsoft Office software skills, particularly in Word and Excel, and the ability and willingness to operate in a self-sufficient, efficient manner in the creation of high quality documentation and other business information Flexibility, where appropriate, to work unsociable hours. Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required. Person specification Please Refer To Job Description Licences Driving Licence Memberships You must be CLAS (Criminal Litigation) accredited by The Law Society. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Alongside your salary of £58,511, Legal Aid Agency contributes £16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Access to learning and development A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Annual Leave Public Holidays Season Ticket Advance For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page. Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact : Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk Telephone : 0345 241 5359 Recruitment team Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/ https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/9295?entityId=9295