East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, Scotland, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber
Job Summary
This position is based nationally
Job Description
Public Defender Service
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers in delivering a full range of legal services within the criminal defence market. PDS provides critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales which enables the LAA to fulfil its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice. The PDS includes a number of solicitor offices, a team of barristers and Higher Courts Advocates and a management and support team based in various locations in England and Wales.
The Junior Clerk will be responsible for billing all cases completed by the PDS barristers and Higher Courts Advocates in accordance with the LAA billing schemes. The role holder will have responsibility for collating, analysing and presenting billing and other performance data.
The Junior Clerk will support the Senior Clerk and the management team with a range of duties to facilitate the smooth running of the PDS. Duties will include complex diary management, liaising with advocates, instructing parties and courts to ensure the efficient administration of case allocation and court listings, dealing with telephone enquiries and correspondence and providing day-to-day support to the PDS Kings Counsel and Higher Courts Advocates.
Our commitment to 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
Job Summary
Key responsibilities
* Produce bills for cases in accordance with crime billing schemes and work with PDS colleagues, case management and external stakeholders to resolve queries about fees and finalise bills by set deadlines.
* Monitor outstanding payments, raise invoices and track payments to the PDS and process payments to external providers ensuring compliance with financial systems and procedures.
* Maintain systems for recording and tracking PDS casework, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information on the advocates’ caseload and case progression is available.
* Compile, analyse and present accurate billing and other performance data for internal and external use.
* Cover a range of clerking duties including complex diary management, allocating cases to suitable advocates, contacting instructing parties to obtain documents and provide updates, liaising with courts to reschedule hearings and supporting the advocates day-to-day.
* Build and maintain good working relationships with PDS advocates and external stakeholders including courts, Crown Prosecution Service and instructing solicitors to ensure the smooth operation of the PDS advocacy unit.
* Detailed knowledge of the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).
* Experience of using Meridian Law Connected or an equivalent case management system.
* Some experience of clerking or supporting a senior clerk.
* Understanding of the criminal justice system.
* Excellent customer service skills.
* Well organised, able to prioritise own workload and work to tight deadlines.
* Good data analysis skills and attention to detail and accuracy.
* Experience of collating and reporting management information.
* Good understanding and respect for confidentiality.
Essential Criteria
Assessment approach
Application Process
At The Application Stage, You Will Be Required To:
* Provide a CV and statement of suitability showing how you demonstrate the essential criteria for the role.
* Respond to a question relating to the following Behaviour:
* Delivering At Pace
Interview Process
If You Are Successful Through The Application Stage, You Will Be Invited To An Interview Via Microsoft Teams Where You Will Be Assessed Against The Following:
* Strengths relevant to the role.
* The following Behaviours:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Experience of the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact pds.businessteam@justice.gov.uk
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAAPeopleTeam@justice.gov.uk. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
Public Defender Service
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers in delivering a full range of legal services within the criminal defence market. PDS provides critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales which enables the LAA to fulfil its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice. The PDS includes a number of solicitor offices, a team of barristers and Higher Courts Advocates and a management and support team based in various locations in England and Wales.
The Junior Clerk will be responsible for billing all cases completed by the PDS barristers and Higher Courts Advocates in accordance with the LAA billing schemes. The role holder will have responsibility for collating, analysing and presenting billing and other performance data.
The Junior Clerk will support the Senior Clerk and the management team with a range of duties to facilitate the smooth running of the PDS. Duties will include complex diary management, liaising with advocates, instructing parties and courts to ensure the efficient administration of case allocation and court listings, dealing with telephone enquiries and correspondence and providing day-to-day support to the PDS Kings Counsel and Higher Courts Advocates.
Our commitment to 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
If You Are Successful Through The Application Stage, You Will Be Invited To An Interview Via Microsoft Teams Where You Will Be Assessed Against The Following:
* Strengths relevant to the role.
* The following Behaviours:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Experience of the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS).
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact pds.businessteam@justice.gov.uk
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAAPeopleTeam@justice.gov.uk. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Delivering at Pace
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
Alongside your salary of £28,312, Legal Aid Agency contributes £8,201 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, Strengths 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, Strengths 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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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. I 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/7279?entityId=7279 #J-18808-Ljbffr