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Form of work
SalaryWe encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Job Title: Trainee Solicitor
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Grade: EO
Starting salary range: £27,223 – £28,613
Location: Cheltenham, Darlington, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea
Directorate/Team: Public Defender Service
Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc.
The Public Defender Service
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market.
Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements.
PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice.
Key purpose of this role
As a Trainee Solicitor, you will commence a training programme designed to enable you to provide legal advice and representation in the Police Station, Magistrates’ and Crown Court.
Job Summary
Successful candidates will be required to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)1 and SQE2 preparation course, and pass the Police Station Qualification (PSQ), SQE1 and SQE2 examinations. The designated period of qualifying work experience must also be signed off by a qualified solicitor.
Key Responsibilities:
Undertake training in order to conduct the following unaided:
• progressing legal cases from arrest through to sentence;
• taking instructions from clients, drafting statements and preparing attendance notes;
• develop and advise on relevant options, strategies and solutions;
• undertake police station representation (including active participation in our out of hours scheme);
• legal research and analysis of casework;
• negotiation, drafting, communicating orally and in writing;
• undertake effective spoken and written advocacy;
• establishing and maintaining effective and professional relationships with clients and other people;
• plan, manage and progress legal matters and transactions;
• initiate, plan, prioritise and manage work activities to ensure that they are completed efficiently, on time and to an appropriate standard;
• keep, use and maintain accurate, complete and clear records
Essential Criteria:
• excellent Microsoft Word and Excel skills;
• outstanding customer service and communication skills;
• experience of following processes, meeting deadlines and producing high quality work;
• organisational skills, including the ability to multitask;
• attention to detail;
• motivated and able to work as a team and individually;
• a full driving licence
Essential Qualifications:
You will need:
• A minimum of a 2:1 in a qualifying law degree[1] or
• A minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a non-law subject (or overseas equivalent in any subject) and a minimum of a pass in a GDL/PGDL/CPE (law conversion course) that covers the foundational topics[2]), or
• Equivalent qualifications (such as ILEx/CILEx) that cover the foundational topics[3]
[1] The qualifying law degree must be compliant with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) subject benchmark statement for law and cover the following seven foundational topics of legal knowledge
[2] Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Law of the European Union, Obligations 1 (Contract), Obligations 2 (Tort), Property/Land Law and Public Law (Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights Law)
[3] See point 2 above
