About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We 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.

Your base location will be South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court. You will be required to travel regularly to Newcastle Magistrates’ Court with occasional travel to the following courts: Sunderland Magistrates, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South-East Northumberland. Very occasional travel may be required to Berwick.

Applications for part-time working will be considered. The nature of the role requires the post holder to be on-site between 9:30am and the court finish time, therefore it is unlikely to be suitable for applicants seeking to work part-days.

When we sift you will need to meet the minimum requirement in the behaviour in order for your Statement of suitability to be considered.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going. 

Our Court Associates are essential to ensure Magistrates Court hearings run smoothly.  They have the self-assurance to communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents.  

About us   

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.   

About you 

You’re a confident communicator; able to speak publicly, with the self-assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner.  

A real team player, working within a Legal Team and with a Judge, you’ll ensure the smooth running of all the Magistrates Courts sitting daily, able to intervene in Court when required and maximise judicial sitting time.  With experience in producing exact and time critical documentation, your ability to focus will be key in taking pleas, producing Court orders, and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.  

Resilient and keen to learn, you’re familiar with working within process and have the IT skills to adapt to new systems and technologies as we’re constantly investing in digital solutions to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today’s world.   

 Your skills and experience 

• Ability to be a supportive team player delivering excellent customer service and achieve effective performance. 
• Able to speak publicly and within a court room environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to complete documents accurately and to deadlines.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages. 

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in delivering justice and gives you the benefits of developing your career in the Civil Service.  

HMCTS has recently launched a solicitor apprenticeship scheme. Individuals in qualifying roles (including court associate) can apply for this scheme annually, subject to the support of their business area. Successful candidates for the apprenticeship scheme receive support and training to enable them to qualify as a solicitor.

The apprenticeship has a separate competitive entry application process, and appointment as a court associate does not guarantee an apprenticeship place. More information about solicitor apprenticeships is available on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website SRA , Solicitor apprenticeships , Solicitors Regulation Authority

Further details: 

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.  

This role is advertised as full time but applications for part-time working will be considered. The nature of the role requires the postholder to be on-site between 9:30am and the court finish time, therefore it is unlikely to be suitable for applicants seeking to work part-days.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

For a full outline of tasks please see the Job Description attached 

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,223, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £7,377 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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.