As a Paralegal Business Manager, you ensure the efficient and effective operation of casework handling and performance management systems within either the Magistrates Court Unit or the Crown Court Unit in accordance with guidance provided by Area manager. You are responsible for casework and administrative functions of the Magistrates or Crown Unit and management of Paralegal staff and/or Casework Admin Managers within the assigned team. You provide leadership in all aspects of Unit and Area Performance and management, including the implementation of major change initiatives.
You take a pivotal role within the local community and with Criminal Justice System (CJS) partners to drive through strategic change and improvements within the Unit and with key stakeholders, and to meet the needs of the Service, key stakeholders and the national framework.
You are responsible for casework and administrative functions of the Magistrates or Crown Unit and management of Paralegal staff and/or Casework Admin Managers within the assigned team.
You provide leadership in all aspects of Unit and Area Performance and management, including the implementation of major change initiatives.
You take a pivotal role within the local community and with Criminal Justice System (CJS) partners to drive through strategic change and improvements within the Unit and with key stakeholders, and to meet the needs of the Service, key stakeholders and the national framework.
You must be aged 18 before starting in this role. The start date is expected to be 8-12 weeks after the application deadline.
As part of this role, you are expected to undertake direct line management responsibilities.
Please note there are two positions available for this role: 1 temporary position up to 6 months, and 1 temporary position up to 12 months.
Depending on assigned unit there may be occasional travel to our Liverpool office - we have SE staff there. Occasional travel for our HQ in London for governance meetings.
We will be holding an information session via Microsoft Teams. This will be a live online chat where you can ask any questions you may have about your application, the recruitment process, or the role itself.
The session will take place on Friday 22 August 2025 at 09:00am and you can join using the following link: Join the meeting now, Your roles and responsibilities will be:
+ Setting, monitoring and reviewing the performance of direct reports, whilst implementing appropriate HR policies by setting appropriate targets and ensuring regular reviews with your team.
+ You are responsible for all the casework and administrative functions of the Magistrates Court or Crown Court Unit and management of Paralegal staff and/or Casework Admin Managers within the team. This may include the deployment of Paralegal Officers (PO) to court cover in line with national requirements and unit needs.
+ Providing advice and guidance on casework problems raised by POs and PAs across the Area.
+ Represent the Magistrates Court or Crown Court Unit with other agencies, to improve working relationships with strategic partners to enhance the performance of the CJS.
+ Monitoring, evaluating, and reporting upon the progress in delivery of performance targets and objectives relating to Unit's casework/file management
+ Refining systems when necessary to ensure resources are maximised and casework quality improved.
+ You undertake assurance checks to quality assure the accuracy and reliability of Unit's flagging, monitoring and performance information.
+ You oversee compliance with mandatory policies, guidance and national standard operating processes and procedures.
+ Operating efficient and effective casework handling systems within the Unit.
A copy of the full job description is available if requested from Ben.Savage@cps.gov.uk, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
+ Communicating and Influencing, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Recruitment process
The recruitment process consists of an online application and interview. These are expected to take place on 7th of August 2025.
A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with guidance. If you have any queries about this, contact Priya.Vickers@cps.gov.uk
You should keep this week free or notify us if you're not available. We'll make every effort to accommodate your date preferences but we can't guarantee it.
Behaviours
You are also asked to complete a statement of no more than 250 words for each behaviour setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience match the specified behaviours and requirements. In addition, you need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.
1. Leadership (lead behaviour)
2. Delivering at Pace
3. Communicating and Influencing
You also need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.
The panel has the right to assess the lead behaviour 'Leadership' first. If the standard on this behaviour isn't met, the other behaviours won't be considered and your application won't progress. The panel also has the right to raise the minimum standard pass mark.
The panel may also refer to the lead behaviour at the interview stage to determine merit order.
Interview
We use behaviours to help us understand your experience, to help you do a great job in this role. You are assessed against HEO in the Civil Service success profiles behaviours framework. We are assessing 4 behaviours at interview stage.
1. Delivering at Pace (Interview)
2. Leadership (Interview)
3. Communicating and Influencing (Interview)
4. Working Together (Interview)
CV
You're not required to upload your CV. However, when submitting your application there is a 'CV section'. You are required to provide information about your employment and/or academic history for the past three years.
It's your responsibility to provide the specified information in the requested format to ensure that you're considered for the post.
If you're unable to cover three years through employment or academic history, you must provide a character reference for clearance purposes.
Strengths
Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
Accuracy
You must ensure that your application, including your personal statement and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Other
This is a full-time post. We do consider requests for flexible, part-time working and job share, always considering the operational needs of the department.
The Crown Prosecution Service is based in England and Wales. If you're applying for this role and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must let us know when accepting this offer as you need permission to work from your home address if hybrid working is part of your role. There's no guarantee that we will grant this approval.
Reserve List
If you're recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy, you're put on a reserve list for 12 months. You may be offered another paralegal business manager post in CPS -South East if a vacancy comes up during this period. We may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other roles that require similar knowledge and experience.
Feedback
We only provide feedback if you attend an interview or assessment.
Fraud check
The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they've been successful at interview. These candidates are informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details - name, National Insurance number and date of birth - are checked against the Internal Fraud Database. We won't employ anyone included on the database unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
The Strategic Resourcing team in the Crown Prosecution Service will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud Database.
Current Civil Servants
Please note, as you are a current civil servant, if you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further;
+ Formal discipline action
+ Any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance
+ any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action
+ Currently subject to probation, + 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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
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).
+ be 18 years old or over
It is desirable that you have the below experience, but this is not required to apply:
+ Line management experience
GCSE and A-Level results won't hold you back. We know that some people find their skills and passions when they leave school, so we won't take these into account., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Alongside your salary of £36,360, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £10,533 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Join the Crown Prosecution Service and find your purpose.
Why we work for the Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service is passionate about ensuring that we're a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We're a committed equal opportunities employer, creating a culture where you can bring your whole self to work, and individuality is truly appreciated.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering disability, faith and belief, LGBTQI+, race, social mobility alongside our mental health first aiders programme and wellbeing sessions.
The Crown Prosecution Service commits to offer its employees the following experience.
+ You can do impactful, purposeful work that's making a difference to your local communities.
+ You are able to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources.
+ We care about your wellbeing.
+ We want you to feel valued, trusted and included.
We also offer the following range of benefits:
+ Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
+ 25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
+ £350 each year to spend on personal development
+ lawyer training programme for all new prosecutors
+ an extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
+ competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
+ flexible working including flexitime, and a family friendly approach to work
+ Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings.
Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service is about inclusion, embracing differences and ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. We want you to feel that you belong and can thrive, whatever your background, identity or culture. As a Disability Confident employer, we're happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments and improve your recruitment experience. If you'd like any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment process, let us know within your application or contact Priya.Vickers@cps.gov.uk.
The Crown Prosecution Service has fixed rates for its Higher Executive Officer grade - a developing rate (the starting salary) and a spot rate (the maximum salary). Applicants typically join us on the developing rate and, after completing a 18-month development period, move to the spot rate - this is subject to your line manager confirming that you're performing the role to a satisfactory standard.
We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. We offer a hybrid working policy. You must spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.
The Crown Prosecution Service also has a range of development programmes to support all aspiring, new and experienced managers with developing the skills, behaviours and knowledge to build their confidence and capability. Our Manager Induction Programme is mandatory for all newly appointed managers. This is a fantastic opportunity to support all our new Crown Prosecution Service managers with the tools required to perform effectively in their roles.
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