Legal Caseworker / Paralegal

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) assists the Public Guardian with her statutory function which protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities. The OPG has signed up to the 'Time to Change' pledge which supports mental health in the workplace, as well as recently receiving a health and wellbeing charter accreditation as we are committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is aiming to have a Digital Power of Attorney in place that meets our customer and stakeholder needs. We aim to have a multiskilled, flexible workforce, working within office/home based locations to meet civil service environment.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities

To ensure the Public Guardian's cases are fully prepared to proceed to Court.

The successful applicants will be required to;-

• Have good communication skills and a commitment to ensuring deadlines are met.


• Ensure attention to detail in written work.


• Capable of working flexibly and as part of a team, working with and maintain good relationships with all colleagues, particularly lawyers, investigators and case workers.


• To assist OPG lawyers in the preparation and progression of legal matters), with an early review of the case to ensure all documents are received from parties and COP.


• While the lawyer will have overall ownership of the case, you will also be responsible for the case from court application to closure.


Your responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• To ensure the Public Guardian (or those representing her) are fully prepared to present cases in Court.


• To assist OPG lawyers, in the preparation and progression of matters through the Court of Protection (COP), with an early review of the case to ensure all documents are received from parties and COP. You will retain ownership of the case from court application to closure.


• This is a fast-paced environment, where you must be able to manage and prioritise your work, through the life of a case including regular reviews and closure.


• To provide administrative support to OPG Lawyers (including the wider Legal Team), to ensure effective delivery of all targets.


• Following instructions from client departments.


• Giving client departments and members of the public, legal information.


• Engaging with the legal team's client base, to improve and maintain positive working relationships.


• Managing a caseload.


• Inputting case information into the legal case management system and legacy systems accurately.


• Preparing, drafting and proof-reading court forms and witness statements to a consistently high standard.


• Conduct and review and decision making on severance cases.


• Gathering formal statements and evidence from parties and witnesses; and other important documents for Lawyers to review for use in Court.


• Independently considering incoming correspondence and draft responses to standard correspondence, with lawyer oversight.


• Collating and creating Court Bundles and an index following instructions from the lawyer with conduct.


• Filing and general administrative work.


• Interpreting court orders and determining next steps in the matter and actioning administrative steps.


• Providing administrative support to Lawyers which may include, accompanying them to Court, taking notes during Court Hearings or round table meetings.


• Working from lawyer's instructions, both written and verbal and managing their diaries.


• Carry out directed legal research for the lawyer with conduct.


• Arranging meetings such as case conferences, teleconferences and advocates meetings with respondents, investigators, Counsel, and external Solicitors.


• Liaising with parties to court proceedings, counsel, other external agencies, and members of the public by different methods of communication.


• Be able to identify and refer complex or potentially urgent matters requiring escalation.


• Be able to work both independently and in partnership with the lawyers to help progress and conclude matters. Including carrying out post-litigation tasks to ensure the full closure of a matter.


• Supporting and helping to deliver on projects towards the continuous improvement of the Legal Team's work.


• Meeting any relevant Impact Indicators and Service Standard targets in respect of the Legal Team.


• Taking part in the development and delivery of training materials to our client base to improve their legal knowledge.


• Keep up to date with any relevant changes in legislation, law, policies and procedures and align your practice with these so that you can continue delivering effective and professional service.


• This role requires the jobholder to travel to other OPG sites and other venues as/when required.


• There may be a requirement to manage staff.


• Handling and storing confidential information., Please provide a CV and a supporting personal statement of no more than 750 words setting out how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.


The CV and supporting statement should demonstrate your experience against the essential criteria, and if possible, the desirable criteria required for this role.

The supporting statement must provide evidence of: -

• Dealing with a changing nature of work.


• Planning and managing a caseload.


• Analysing physical data and using your own judgment to make decisions.


• Working to tight deadlines.


Interview:

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview candidates should expect strength-based questions and behaviour-based questions on the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Working Together (Level 2)


• Managing a Quality Service (Level 2)


• Delivering at Pace (Level 2)


Information relating to strength-based assessments are not given in advance of interviews.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Reasonable Adjustments: At OPG we are committed to ensuring our workplace remains diverse and inclusive place to work. We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the selection process, do not hesitate to get in contact with us., The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy.,
• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government


• You were studying abroad


• You were living overseas with parents


In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Success Profiles

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance
Supporting document 1 1
EO Legal Caseworker_Paralegal 2024- JD.pdf - 119KB
Supporting document 2 1
CIP - EO Legal Caseworker_Paralegal 2024- F_T.pdf - 681KB

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office computer packages i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, MS Teams, OneNote, Presentations and PowerPoint.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Flexible approach to dealing with the changing nature of the work.


• Ability to independently plan and manage a caseload, analyse physical data and use your own judgment to make decisions, whilst working to tight deadlines


• Accuracy and attention to detail.


• Ability to work across all grades and areas of OPG, MoJ and other government departments and to work to deliver competing priorities.


• Experience of working in a legal environment, Legal qualification, including but not limited to; law degree, qualifying law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law, CiLex, LPC, BPC.


• Experience in casework


• Knowledge of court procedures and government regulations.


• Knowledge of MCA, Code of Practice, LPA & EPA Regulations., To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.


For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.


• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.


• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.


• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.


• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.


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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);


• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);


• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)


The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns., Behaviours
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.
Any candidate who has been assessed as being appointable to the role they applied for may be offered a similar, lower grade role, if one is available. Furthermore, any candidate who has just missed meeting the criteria for a particular role, may be appointed to a similar role at a lower grade if such a role is available, and if they have been assessed as meeting the criteria for the lower grade role. These appointments will also be made in merit order.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.