Paralegal

The AGO is a ministerial department serving the Attorney General and the Solicitor General (the Law Officers). The Law Officers are the Government’s chief legal advisers.

The Law Officers make important decisions that affect public life. Among other things, they decide whether to send criminal sentences that may be too low to the Court of Appeal; whether to open inquests into deaths (for example, the Attorney General made the decision to open new inquests into the deaths at Hillsborough); are the Government’s chief legal advisors, providing advice to both the Prime Minister and Secretaries of State on a range of pressing issues touching on every aspect of daily life in the UK; and they represent the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office in Parliament.

The Office comprises around 63 multidisciplinary, engaged and high performing team members advising and supporting the Law Officers in all aspects of their work. We pride ourselves on our problem-solving creativity, sophisticated political and handling awareness, and smart ways of working.

Further information about the work of the Law Officers and the Office can be found at www.gov.uk/ago

• Candidates should have attention to detail, the ability to follow processes and ensure compliance with them, as well as the ability to analyse large volumes of information, to produce clear and concise summaries conveying only the key facts, and a reasoned and explicable recommendation. The AGO is a fast-paced department and candidates should be confident working at pace and advising on a wide range of legal issues.
• It is desirable but not essential that candidates have experience of criminal law and/or public law.
• The role primarily involves supporting the AGO’s work in relation to public interest casework, including, but not limited to, unduly lenient sentences, charity law, inquests and family law. This involves managing a busy caseload, interacting with external organisations, litigants in person and courts on behalf of the AGO, and drafting written submissions to the Law Officers. The postholder will conduct legal research across a range of issues including constitutional law and devolution and will support the AGO’s parliamentary and legislative work.
• The postholder will need to work to short deadlines, briefing the Law Officers orally and in writing as necessary. The postholder will provide clear, concise, high quality and timely advice in relation to their allocated casework and ensure that there are full audit trials for casework decision making on all cases.
• We are looking for an enthusiastic, adaptable paralegal officer with a law degree or equivalent legal qualification who can master new areas of law quickly and has the potential to handle complex advice and command the confidence of Ministers and senior officials.
• This is a valuable opportunity to gain an understanding of the workings of a Whitehall department, working directly with the Law Officers, senior lawyers and officials within AGO and across Government. The job holder will be required to adopt a proactive and flexible approach across their range of responsibilities.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on the behaviour and strength elements of the success profile framework. Candidates will be asked to complete a technical exercise as part of the interview process.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Contract Terms

The successful candidate will need to hold or be in the process of gaining security clearance before being in post. Exceptional circumstances where SC may not be confirmed at time of starting will be dealt with on a case by case basis, but the continuation of post will rely on successful clearance being given.

The vacancy will be filled on loan or fixed-term appointment for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of an extension by mutual agreement. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will take up post in early September. If the incumbent is applying on temporary promotion, they will revert to their previous substantive grade and salary after the loan. There is the potential for permanent inward transfer, although this is by exception. Several criteria must be met concerning individual performance, business need and individual career development. A copy of AGO’s policy on secondment extensions and inward transfers can be made available upon request.

The transfer would be considered voluntary and so would not attract excess fares, travel costs or relocation costs.

Please note, due to the nature of loan agreements and the necessary release of staff into a new role, candidates will be required to discuss the loan and transfer with management at their home department prior to application. We will require confirmation that you have discussed this with management and they are content to release you into a new role, upon acceptance of any role.

Please note that any move across the Civil Service on or after October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible to claim tax free childcare.

Salary

Existing civil servants on level transfer will retain their current basic salary if it is within the AGO pay range. If your salary is higher than AGO maxima you will be placed on the maxima of the pay range and receive the difference as a mark-time allowance, if agreed by HR.

Where your salary is below AGO’s minima you will be raised to the minima of the pay range £33,309. Any reserved rights to London Weighting or associated London allowances, will be consolidated into basic salary before the uplift to AGO’s minima. Any other allowances will not be retained on moving to AGO. If this results in your salary exceeding the pay range maxima, you will retain the difference on a mark-time basis.

On promotion there will be an increase of 10% to your current basic salary, or move to the pay range minima, whichever is the highest. If you are in receipt of any reserved rights to London Weighting or associated London allowances, these will be consolidated after applying the 10% promotion calculation. After this calculation if your salary is below the minima of the pay range, you will be moved to the minima of the pay range. Any other allowances will not be retained on promotion.

Hours and Holiday

You will be expected to work a 5-day week of 37 hours (excluding lunch breaks).

AGO is committed to flexible working, but business needs for some roles may limit the scope for particular working patterns. You are encouraged to contact the relevant manager to discuss the position for specific roles.

The annual leave allowance for those who joined the Civil Service before 1st July 2013 is 26.5 days per annum, and then 31.5 days after 5 years’ service, plus 9 public and privilege days.

For those who joined the Civil Service on or after 1st July 2013, or those on modernised terms and conditions, the annual leave allowance is 25 days rising to 30 days, plus 9 public and privilege days.

Job contact :

Name :
Daniel Whitgrave
Email :
Recruitment@attorneygeneral.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
Recruitment@attorneygeneral.gov.uk