Job Title: Legal Adviser
Post requires candidate to be entitled for work: Yes
Salary Range: £88,734.00 to £93,530.00
Contract Type: Permanent
Full time/Part Time: Full Time
Term Time only post: No
Advert Closing Date:06/01/2025
By joining the Government of Jersey and wider Jersey Public Services, you'll be proud of what you can achieve – both for yourself and the people of Jersey. You'll enjoy a broader scope that allows you to express yourself, in a smaller setting that means you see the positive results of your impact every day. You'll have a diversity of opportunities that stretch and challenge you, with all the personal and professional support you need. Most of all, in our open, welcoming environment, your voice matters, enabling you to build a rewarding career.
Job Overview
A lawyer is required in the Safeguarding Team to deal primarily with public law children’s matters. A thorough knowledge of children’s public law and practice is required, with the ability to manage a varied caseload. In particular the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate knowledge, and experience in the following areas.
- Pre-proceedings,
- Care proceedings,
- Adoption,
- Disclosure into and between different sets of proceedings and,
- Advocacy skills.
A Jersey qualified advocate is desirable. Exceptional candidates who are qualified as either a solicitor or barrister and who can demonstrate a commitment to qualifying as a Jersey Advocate may be considered.
To arrange an informal discussion or for further information relating to this role, please contact the Safeguarding Team Manager, Sarah Brace - s.brace@lawofficers.je
The Law Officers’ Department is officially recognised by Best Companies UK as a ‘very good organisation to work for’. Search for ‘law officers best companies to work for’ to see the independent review of the Department
Job Purpose
Specialising in low risk matters, the Legal Adviser (Band1) provides advice and comprehensive legal guidance in order to meet the objectives of the Law Officers’ Department.
The post holder represents the Attorney General, Minister or States Body in Courts, Tribunals and other forums.
Statutory Responsibilities
Active engagement, participation, and compliance with any other statutory responsibilities applicable to the role, as amended from time to time.
This role is politically restricted. The post holder is not permitted to undertake political activity involving standing for election to the States or as a Parish Constable, or publicly supporting someone who is standing for election or playing a public part in any political manner.
Job Specific Outcomes
- Represent the Attorney General before Courts, Tribunals, and other forums.
- Supervise, research, and analyse the implications of case law, legislation and regulatory matters and provide reports as appropriate. This will include supporting senior officers with research and reasoned advice.
- Assist other Legal Advisers as required.
- Supervise assistant legal advisers and support staff, providing advice and guidance as appropriate.
- Support the team to plan and deliver their workload in line with LOD and States of Jersey (SoJ) priorities.
- Ensure adherence to LOD, and SoJ administrative procedures and policies and Lexcel Standards, including time recording, working within delegated authorities, monitoring progress and file reviews.
- Carry out such other duties as the LOD may reasonably request.
Qualifications
Essential:
- Qualified advocate/solicitor/ barrister.
Desirable:
- Jersey-qualified advocate or ecrivain.
Knowledge
- Professional knowledge and experience, which demonstrates the ability to develop, articulate and defend conclusions and recommendations mainly on low risk cases.
- General knowledge of Jersey’s system of government, its legal system, its constitutional position, and status in international matters.
- An understanding of how the law works and able to demonstrate a willingness to stay abreast of current developments in legal practice, Jersey laws and Jersey Court procedures
Technical Work Based Skills
- Technical competence in more than one specialism of Civil Law; and a sufficient understanding of the technical aspects of other areas.
- General advocacy and litigation knowledge.
- Highly proficient use of Microsoft 365, and electronic Case Management software.
General skills / attributes
- Advocacy skills with a sound understanding of court proceedings including proceedings before the Court of Appeal.
- Able confidently and effectively to take decisions on low risk cases.
- Good time management. Acts on own initiative on low risk matters, only referring to others in more complex cases.
Experience
- Experience of dealing with the preparation and presentation of cases in Court
- Experience of advocacy or the ability and willingness to quickly develop advocacy experience.
- Experience of preparing and presenting advice on cases, with the ability to demonstrate an aptitude for applying legal theory to practice.
- Possesses the ability to absorb and interpret information quickly and accurately.
- Experience of working within a team of one or more lawyers to achieve high professional and technical standards
Across the Government of Jersey and public service, the scope of our work means our people enjoy a wider range of opportunities – to work with recognised experts across teams, learn new skills and develop their careers. We actively look to recruit people from different backgrounds, with diverse perspectives. This creates a richer, more varied environment, where you’re exposed to new ideas, new ways of thinking and new opportunities, so you can develop an exciting and rewarding career.
Extraordinary, Everyday.
