Legal Officer First-tier Tribunal

**General Information**:

- Salary
- £34,140 - £37,105
- Working Pattern
- Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
- Vacancy Approach
- External
- Location
- Birmingham
- Region
- West Midlands
- Closing Date
- 11-Jul-2025
- Post Type
- Permanent
- Civil Service Grade
- HEO
- Number of jobs available
- 1
- Reserve List
- 12 Months
- Job ID
- 7189

**Descriptions & requirements**:

- Job description

**Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.**

Our Legal Officers play a critical role in helping deliver justice. If you’re intent on serving the public by delivering excellent service, and are enthusiastic about working with the judiciary, then this role gives you the opportunity to play a pivotal role within HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

**About us**
- As part of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)’ the Tribunals directorate is responsible for the effective administration of Tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved Tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We work with an independent judiciary across a wide range of jurisdictions to provide a fair, efficient and effective justice system.
- HMCTS is undertaking an ambitious reform programme. The programme will enhance the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all.
- The programme includes creating high quality services, modernising the court estate, updating and replacing its technology, speeding up and streamlining working practices, refurbishing buildings to reduce maintenance costs and provide much improved services for service users, especially vulnerable witnesses and victims.

**Your role**
- Working within a Courts & Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) or Regional Hearing Centre (RHC), you will support the effective administration of Tribunals business by undertaking a range of complex case work and assessment activity in order to determine how best to advance caseloads and remove any barriers to effective and timely case progression.
- Working as part of a team as well as independently, under the supervision of a Senior Legal Officer and leadership judiciary, the Legal Officer will make case management decisions as part of their delegated judicial powers. A Legal Officer will liaise with key stakeholders and HMCTS colleagues to ensure the effective administration of justice.

**The key purpose of the role**:
The Legal Officer will be expected to evidence a strong understanding of functioning across tribunals and may be required to provide cross jurisdictional expertise.

**Development**:
**Customer service and standards**
- Promotes user focussed activity and standards - has strong written and interpersonal skills utilising principles of Human Voice of Justice.
- Contributes to SOC (Standard Operating Controls), SAF (Service Assurance Framework)- leads on maintaining standards of service and identifies areas for improvement
- takes forward solutions using ‘continuous improvement’ techniques.
- Management of complaints and services failures.

**The key objectives of the role include**:
**Initial Case**

**Assessment**

The Legal Officer will be required to undertake initial assessment on incoming tribunals documentation and liaise with various stakeholders, including service users, to ensure effective case progression. This will include:

- Identifying that claims / appeals have been lodged within the relevant timelines.
- Ensuring that claims / appeals are being addressed by the correct tribunal and at the correct tribunal tier.
- Ensuring any relevant fees have been paid by claimants / appellants.
- Ensuring claims / appeals are made on the correct. documentation and that all of the information necessary to progress the case is present.
- Ensuring claims and appeals are allocated to the correct appeal type and w appropriate listing track.
- Triaging of referrals to appropriate authority.
- Providing instructions to administrative staff.

**Case Management**

Operating under delegated judicial functions, manage the case by removing barriers to its progression and ensuring efficient allocation of tribunal resources. This will include:

- Drafting and issuing directions to parties to file evidence and other documents.
- Providing listing instructions to administrative staff.
- Ensuring the panel composition is appropriate to the case.
- Ensuring interpreter requirements are identified.
- Undertaking case management appointments.
- Checking cases for readiness ahead of hearings.
- Communicating and engaging with parties to an appeal to ensure effective case progression.
- Undertaking a range of high-quality casework, including complex casework.
- Providing flexible technical case support as required.

**Applications from parties to the appeal*