Ministry of Justice UK
Lawyer (Ref: 19488)
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Grade 7 Lawyer – Full Time (Hybrid). Based: Buchanan Wharf, Glasgow
About CICA
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Each year, we receive over 40,000 applications for compensation from victims of violent crime—whether they have been injured or lost a loved one.
While financial compensation cannot fully restore what our clients have endured, our work is crucial in delivering justice for victims. We are proud that our payments help individuals move forward with their lives.
This role involves accessing upsetting personal accounts, including reports of sexual assaults and violence against children. We recognise the emotional impact of this work and provide resilience training to support wellbeing.
Based in Glasgow’s city centre (Buchanan Wharf, G5 8AQ) with excellent transport links, CICA employs around 300 people in a small, engaged, and collaborative workplace. We operate a 50% hybrid model, balancing office and remote work to meet public needs effectively.
Role Summary
As a Grade 7 Lawyer in the Legal & Policy Directorate, you will be integral to a small, flexible, and professional legal team—providing key legal advice, litigation support, and guidance for victims of crime. Reporting directly to the Director of Legal & Policy Services, this role forms part of CICA’s Senior Leadership Team.
Key Responsibilities
🔬 Litigation
- Conduct complex litigation, including judicial review claims in higher courts—ensuring CICA is well-represented.
- Draft submissions and instruct counsel as needed for proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal and higher courts.
- Collaborate with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Government Legal Department, the Advocate General’s Office, and Scotland’s legal jurisdiction.
- Procure external legal services (e.g., Trusts) in line with MoJ Commercial requirements.
- Ensure CICA remains compliant with legislative frameworks and provide law-ruled advice that supports our trauma-informed victim service.
- Provide legal input for Trusts (where compensation is paid via this mechanism).
📊 Advisory Work
- Deliver high-calibre legal advice on interpretive and procedural matters under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Schemes.
- Take urgent judicial review complaints quickly and effectively, prioritising against internal targets.
- Draft clear, responsive guidance tailored to non-legal audiences (roles, general public, stakeholders).
- Review policy documents, freedom of information responses, and parliamentary queries from MoJ perspectives.
- Support Ministerial briefings and data-driven policy development, ensuring operational cohesion with MoJ legislative proposals.
- Directly advise on Represented Persons’ submissions to Tribunals and Parliament.
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⚖️ Corporate Leadership
- Guide the legal training for CICA staff, assessing process and policy gaps among stakeholders.
- Engage with policy, operations, and leadership teams to strengthen CICA’s legal position.
- Represent CICA in First-tier Tribunal appeals, occasional Rev. Hearings, and by raising judicial review options where needed.
- Support Presenting Officers, oversee junior staff, and (if applicable) manage a trainee solicitor/administrative officer, including compliance with Law Society requirements.
- Lead in disciplinary matters, scheduling regular performance reviews for developmental growth.
- Deputise for the Director of Legal & Policy Services as necessary.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Solicitor qualification in Scotland and/or England & Wales (for training scholarship holders, eligible within the next three months).
- Former solicitors returning to practice with a current practising certificate are welcome.
- Must be an active practitioner or entitled to a practising certificate (Law Society of Scotland or England & Wales).
- Demonstrated ability to draft high-standard legal documents, guidance, and correspondence.
- Strong knowledge of public law and grounds for administrative review.
- Experience with criminal law, trusts, data protection, and freedom of information is essential.
- Proven skills in organisational management, time-prioritisation, and independent critical thinking.
- Dependable decision-making for high-impact litigation environments while functioning collaboratively.
Desirable (but not essential)
- Courtroom experience in Scottish court cases (such as scores paid in sparse communities).
- Aware of the current Criminal Injuries Compensation manual, including FAQs on Statute/Pre-state Scheme development.
Benefits & Working Conditions
Financial Benefits
- Salary: £58,511
- Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Placement: Employer contributes £16,950/year, with 28.97% total employer pension contribution.
- Pension Enrollment: Sopheon-modified Civil Service pension plan.
- Season Ticket Advance (for workers using public transport).
Non-Monetary Benefits
- Flexible Hybrid Model: 50% office work (Buchanan Wharf, Glasgow).
- Professional Development Pathways with training access for resilience.
- Strong uplifted employment culture, inclusive treaties in therapy, training and ongoing review practices.
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Schedule and Leave
- Absubseteq paid time off including: Public Holidays, punctual quarterly sick leave policy.
- Non-Bank Holiday: up to 30 days annual leave (25 full days + 5.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service embraces anti-discrimination policies and supports candidates through a robust Disability Confident Scheme—including reasonable adjustments.
This scheme runs through Balderton Global, which is an equal opportunities employer, and actively promotes diversity and lesbian-gay-bi-sexual human-rights. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and eligible urgency-motivated candidates can connect here: 🔗 Civil Service - Advantage Scheme
Security & Compliance Requirements
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Adhere to Civil Service security standards, including the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
Eligibility & Nationality
Ideal candidates must either:
- be a British national
- be EU/EEA nationals working in the UK with settled or pre-settled status (via EU Settlement Scheme, EUSS).
- have a right to live and work in the UK as a Refugee/Commonwealth citizen.
- have unlimited right to stay.
More information on eligibility: [English Civil Service Nationality Requirements]( opens-in-new-window https://www.gov.uk/working-united-kingdom/working-prospective-migrants ).
Selection and Behavioural Framework
This role assesses behaviours against our Civil Service Competency Model:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating & Influencing
- Optimising Service Quality
Application Links
Caution: AI-generated statements are NOT acceptable. All candidate submissions must be directly self-rendered without aid of any algorithm. Applicant Guidance.
Security eligibilities
Must complete the Professional Standards (weplead) baseline check before in-service approval. Citizenship Restriction: UK and EEA employees only. Full requirements noted here.
Contact
Job SupportAt: SSCL, Recruitment Hub Cindy Sarah
Email: moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Phone: UK: 0345 241 5359
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