Ministry of Justice UK
Application Support Officer - National Magistrates Recruitment Taskforce (Ref: 22186)

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Summary
This position is based Nationally.
Job Description
Background
Magistrates form a key part of the justice system and play a critical role in supporting the government to tackle priorities including addressing the backlog of cases in the criminal courts. The vast majority of criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court and around 95% will be completed there.
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to join a newly formed cross-departmental team consisting of officials from HMCTS and Judicial Office. The National Magistrates Recruitment Taskforce has been established to deliver a fundamental transformation to the way magistrates are recruited across England and Wales. Working across HMCTS and the Judicial Office, the Taskforce is responsible for delivering a nationally consistent, accelerated recruitment pipeline to significantly increase magistrate capacity and support delivery of justice.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of courts and tribunals in England and Wales, supporting the delivery of justice by working with the judiciary, legal professionals and partner agencies. It governs and manages court buildings and hearing venues, provides administrative support for criminal, civil, family and tribunal cases, and ensures that people can access justice effectively, fairly and efficiently.
Job Description
Applications are invited for four Application Support Officer positions within the National Magistrates Recruitment Taskforce—a partnership between HMCTS and the Judicial Office focused on transforming the recruitment process for magistrates. The role is offered on an initial 12-month basis, with the option to extend to 24 months.
We are looking for committed, organised and delivery focused professionals with experience of working alongside magistrates and/or in judicial recruitment or operational environments to join our newly created cross-departmental team as an Application Support Officer, supporting the delivery of magistrates recruitment campaigns.
The Taskforce’s ambition is to reduce recruitment timescales from around 12 months to just 12 weeks, supporting the recruitment of up to 7,000 additional magistrates by 2028/29 and enabling a 20% increase in sitting days.
As an Application Support Officer, you will play a key role in supporting delivery of the Taskforce’s ambition by providing essential administrative and processing support across multiple magistrates recruitment campaigns.
You will ensure applications are accurately processed, eligibility checks are completed, interviews are scheduled effectively, and candidate communications are issued promptly and in line with agreed standards. You will handle detailed and sensitive information with care, ensuring records and trackers are kept accurate and up to date.
Working under the direction of an EO Campaign Lead, you will support candidates through to appointment, maintain accurate tracking information, and flag issues or delays early to ensure campaigns continue to progress smoothly.
Main Activities/Responsibilities
The postholder will have the following responsibilities;
- Process applications and complete eligibility and completeness checks
- Maintain accurate campaign tracking data and audit trails
- Support interview scheduling and panel logistics
- Issue standard candidate communications and outcome notifications
- Update systems and records in line with agreed processes
Person Specification
Ideal candidates will have experience of working in an operational or administrative environment. Experience of supporting recruitment, customer service, or process-driven activities would be advantageous.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Candidates should be organised, accurate and reliable, with strong attention to detail and the ability to follow structured processes consistently. You should be confident handling detailed and sensitive information, working to deadlines in regulated environments, and escalating issues appropriately to support the smooth progression of recruitment campaigns.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy. Applications for part-time working would be considered however due to the nature of the role the minimum of 30 hours over 5 days is required.
Skilled Worker Visa - This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.
From 22 July 2025, the Government increased the salary threshold and skills level for Skilled Worker visas. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship in accordance with the current immigration rules if you looking to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for the first time.
The Department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously since before 22 July 2025. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.
If you are applying for this role and you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship (or the transitional provisions), you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.
The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.
Person specification
Please Refer To The Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Alongside your salary of £25,582, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £7,411 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Benefits
- 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
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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)
- 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).
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
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Location