G7 Criminal Lawyer

Details
Reference number

437997

Salary

£56,799

£56,799 to £63,319 (National).

£58,874 to £66,290 (London).

Candidates are advised to address any questions on rates of pay prior to applying for the post.

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Insolvency - Legal Services Directorate

Type of role

Legal Services

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

London (Stratford and Croydon), Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Nottingham

About the job
Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join our expanding and dynamic criminal team within the Legal Services Directorate. We specialise in prosecuting offences concerning insolvency related fraud and corporate misconduct. Our work includes prosecutions for Covid -19 loan fraud, which are high profile in nature, as well as new criminal offences introduced under The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). The team also provides operational advice across the Service, with particular focus on criminal and statutory investigations.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career. Legal Services consists of approximately 82 staff who make up our Criminal and Civil Lawyer Teams and a Paralegal Team. We provide legal services to the Service, including advisory work as well as conducting criminal and civil litigation.

The Insolvency Service is a leading Government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 10 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include LGBT+, FACES, Disability & Health, Break the Stigma, Women's, The Shed, Carers, Part Time Workers, No Limits and Grass Roots.

We offer flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, though our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career

Job description

This role involves prosecuting a wide range of offences across England and Wales, concerned with insolvency related fraud and corporate misconduct. The successful applicants can look forward to a varied and stimulating caseload, alongside opportunities to advise on criminal investigations.

Responsibilities

Upon joining the team, you will become part of the Government Legal Profession, and a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities will be to:

• manage a caseload of varying complexity from the decision whether to prosecute through to trial
• give clear, accurate and timely advice where required on the conduct of criminal investigations
• instruct Counsel or agent solicitors where appropriate
• build effective working relationships with colleagues involved in the Service's enforcement work, particularly with our investigators to develop and pursue focused case strategies
• attend court and undertake advocacy in the Magistrates' Court as appropriate
• work on cross-Whitehall initiatives as part of the Government Legal Profession
• contribute to knowledge management and sharing best practice
• deliver training across the Service and potential to supervise paralegals undertaking CILEx
• potentially manage a Legal Officer or Legal Officers within the Criminal Lawyer Team
• travel to senior leader conferences and other regional centres as and when required

Person specification

We are looking for intellectually capable and highly motivated lawyers with strong interpersonal skills and who are able to work well within a team. You will need to have sound judgment and good analytical skills.

The successful candidate will have:

• a sound knowledge and experience of criminal law, including evidence, disclosure, procedure
• reliable legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk
• sound legal analysis and research skills
• good understanding of public law

Desirable critera will be considered for those applicants with:

• experience of fraud or financial crime litigation
• experience of advocacy in the Magistrates' court

Mandatory Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx. Barristers and Solicitors qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales will be subject to the rules of the professional bodies and must have completed the Bar Transfer Test or Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed and a score of 50% or above achieved, at CILEx Level 6*, in all the following foundation subjects:

• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Equity and Trusts Law
• European Union Law
• Land Law
• Public Law
• Law of Tort
• Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1-degree equivalence as set out below.

Academic qualifications

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree.

However, the Insolvency Service will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree (or above) (e.g. where a lower degree classification is held, or, where applicants have (under the rules of the professional bodies) qualified as a Solicitor/Barrister/ Chartered Legal Executives without a degree) but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).

Chartered Legal Executives should note that the department will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held)

Please note: This vacancy is advertised across 7 locations. The advertised salary includes London weighting.

Qualifications

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a barrister, solicitor or chartered legal executive in England and Wales (CILEX).

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Legal Skills - A written test of legal skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,799, Insolvency Service contributes £16,454 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We want you to have a good work-life balance and want to support you in all that you do, so we offer a great benefits package including:

• flexible working arrangements and flexi-time
• full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions will be entitled to 25 days leave increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years' service
• in addition to this you are entitled to 8 public/bank holidays plus an additional day of privilege leave
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• 5 days paid leave for learning and development
• 5 days paid for volunteering
• a Cycle to work scheme
• staff have access to an employee assistance programme, Workplace Wellness, for confidential, independent support and advice during difficult times in either their professional or personal life

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where the employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. For more information, visit

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement
• Behaviours
• Behaviour 1 – Making Effective Decisions

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and Personal Statement, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed.

CV Guidance

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you've gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and must demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria and, where possible, the desirable criteria listed below:

Essential Criteria:

• a sound knowledge and experience of criminal law, including evidence, disclosure, procedure
• reliable legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk
• sound legal analysis and research skills
• good understanding of public law

Desirable Criteria:

• experience of fraud or financial crime litigation
• experience of advocacy in the Magistrates' court

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

• Behaviours - assessed through:
• Behaviour 1 - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour 2 - Working Together
• Behaviour 3 - Delivering at Pace
• Technical Skills - Written Test
• Additional Assessment - Questions in relation to legal skills and experience.

The interview will include a written test in relation to legal skills. There will also be additional questions asked at interview in relation to legal skills and experience.

Please note: If you are not successful at the interview stage but are assessed as suitable for appointment at a lower grade, you may be considered for future vacancies at that level.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – TBC

Interview – TBC

Location - All interviews will be held in person in London (Stratford) 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, London, E20 1HZ

Your interview will be conducted face to face. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process. If you need any adjustments during the interview process, please contact us before your scheduled interview date.

Use of AI

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the 'Assistance required' section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Francesca Lewington
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel there have been procedural irregularities at any stage of the recruitment process or that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission.

---