About the job

Job summary

You will join the Litigation Team, conducting public law litigation brought by and against the Welsh Government. 

The Litigation Team plays a key role in delivering successful outcomes for the Welsh Ministers across a broad range of policy areas, by defending their decisions when challenged, and ensuring that the devolution settlement is protected. The Team’s work consists of core public law litigation including judicial reviews and references to the Supreme Court, where questions of constitutional importance will be determined.  The Team also has conduct of Tribunal cases,  and potentially civil litigation matters, and will support the Government in public inquiries.  The work is high-profile, challenging, involves attendance at court and tribunals, and often involves cases of which are of significant constitutional interest and/or which go to the heart of the programme for Government.

You will assist the Team’s Lawyers and Senior Lawyer in preparing and progressing major cases such as judicial reviews and Supreme Court references (e.g. by taking witness statements, preparing documentation for the court and liaising with external lawyers and Counsel). You will also be expected to handle some cases (e.g. First-Tier Tribunal matters) independently, and to be responsible for  your own case load. 

You will take responsibility for the implementation of a new case management system for the Team; designing, creating and implementing workflows for different types of matter, and liaising with external suppliers, internal stakeholders and lawyers in the Team as required.

Job description

What the organisation will expect

• You will use your specialist knowledge or experience to exercise sound judgment when interpreting complex or conflicting information’ weighing up all evidence to produce innovative solutions to problems.
• You will be adaptable, flexible, open to, and accepting of change affecting you and your area of work and deal with that change efficiently and professionally.
• You will show political awareness and an understanding of the political landscape when considering the impact of your decision and work on the wider business area and when formulating proposals for Senior Managers and Ministers.

What your team will expect

• You will value diversity and inclusion, contributing to an environment where individuals feel safe to challenge, share ideas and express concerns adopting an inclusive leadership style. 
• You will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining systems or processes ensuring excellence or value for money.

What key stakeholders will expect

• You will create, build and maintain constructive relationships at all levels.
• You will tailor and adapt your communication style (written and oral) to advise, guide, influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.  

Person specification

Main Responsibilities

Assisting the Team’s Lawyers and Senior Lawyer in preparing and progressing complex public law litigation; 

Managing an individual caseload, and conducting litigation on more routine matters

Each of the above involves:

• Taking instructions from, and providing updates to, clients.
• Liaising with external Counsel and clerks.
• Drafting Court/Tribunal forms, applications and pleadings for review.
• Collecting, and collating, evidence (e.g. witness statements, exhibits) for Court/Tribunal hearings.
• Conducting document review to assist with discharging the duty of candour.
• Preparation of hearing bundles.
• Taking timely and accurate notes of hearings, case conferences and meetings.
• Researching and reporting on matters of law and civil procedure.
• Recording and recovering costs, dealing with costs draftsmen, reviewing bills.
• Compliance with professional ethics and conduct rules.

Helping the team transition to a new case management system

This involves:

• Project managing the implementation of a new case management system for the Team.
• Working with external suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.
• Developing new workflows for different types of cases.
• Providing assistance and training on the system to others in Legal Services.

Other duties include, under the direction and supervision of the Team Leader:

• Contributing to the development of Team practice notes and procedures.
• Providing training in areas of expertise to client departments.
• Participation in governance and working groups across the Welsh Government.
• Other duties, responsibilities, tasks or projects specified by the Senior Lawyer, Deputy Director or Director of Legal Services.
• Support and cover for colleagues within the department as directed by the Senior Lawyer, Deputy Director or Director of Legal Services.

This advertisement contains the titles of the Behaviour criteria being assessed throughout. For further information on what is required at the application stage, you will need to press apply and view the full details on the application form. At interview, you may be tested on the overall Behaviours listed.

Please note that, in this role, travel and attendance at court or tribunals (occasionally involving overnight stays) will be required.

If you would like any additional information about these posts, you can:
contact LegalRecruitment.WG.Legal@gov.wales to request a link to our on-line information session which will be held on 13th December 2023, 17:00-18:00

Please set out in your application your personal, hands-on experience of conducting civil litigation.

Please set out in your application any relevant IT skills and/or experience you have for working with a case management system and for supporting others with its operation and maintenance.

A maximum of 3 candidates per post will be invited to interview.

In the case of more than one candidate scoring the same, the panel has agreed the following criteria will determine merit order:

1. Technical 

2. Experience

3. Changing and Improving 

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement
• Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:	2 stage process
Stage 1	Application Form
Stage 2	Interview

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.