About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

Overview of the Judicial Office

The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions.

We are an Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice. The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities.

See JO staff talk about working here: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv

Overview of the team                  

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Judicial College’s Publications team during a period of expansion, following the transfer of magistrates’ training into the College.

The Publications team is a small, specialist department (based across our London, Leeds and Loughborough offices) responsible for supporting the production of a range of internal and external publications and training materials for the judiciary, ensuring that products are accurate, accessible, produced on schedule and are of high quality – an important part of the Judicial College Strategy. 

Hybrid Working Requirement

We operate a flexible hybrid working policy, with a current minimum requirement of 60% attendance in the office. This post can be based from our Leeds (Wellington Place), Loughborough (Loughborough Magistrates’ Court) or London (Royal Courts of Justice) offices. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Summary of the role                    

Reporting to the Publications Manager, the Publications Assistant will review, format and proofread a variety of high-profile legal publications (including the Equal Treatment Bench Book and Crown Court Compendium), assist in the production of face-to-face and digital learning resources, and work across a range of internal and public-facing communication and support materials, including journals, eLetters and the College’s annual training prospectus.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties: 

As Publications Assistant, you will:

• Use excellent spelling, grammar, writing and editing skills to help authors express their ideas clearly, concisely and creatively.
  
• Ensure consistency, accuracy and adherence to templates, formatting and house style across all publications.
  
• Build relationships with both internal colleagues and external stakeholders through strong communication skills.
  
• Ensure that all College publications comply with governance/approvals processes and meet accessibility regulations.
  
• Help produce diverse communications products to complement major workstreams (briefs, one-pagers, eLetters, notices).
  
• Support the Publications Manager in the implementation of new processes and best practice.
  
• Monitor and manage parts of the team budget.
  
• Handle internal/external enquiries regarding College publications.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Previous sub-editing or proofreading experience.
• Excellent attention to detail and understanding of written English, with first-rate spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously and work quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Strong team and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively, and on own initiative, with stakeholders at all levels.
• A flexible, can-do approach, and a willingness to learn and adapt to meet the current and future needs of the team.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of publication design/layout using Adobe InDesign.
  
• Proficiency in MS Word (in particular, using templates and working with tracked changes).
  
• Knowledge of accessibility best practice.
  
• An understanding of the judiciary, and/or the business of courts and tribunals.

Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):

• Managing a quality service
• Changing and improving
• Working together

Assessment process at application

• CV
• Statement of Suitability (500-word limit)
• Behaviours (250-word limit for each).

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a quality service, may be held if a large number of applications are received.

• Assessment process at interview Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams.
  
• There is one interview stage for this appointment.
  
• At interview, we will assess your Behaviours and Strengths. There will be a short (20 minute) editing/proofreading skills test at the end.
  

Security clearance required:

     CTC.

Please note:

Central Government policy dictates that applicants for National Security Clearance must be a resident in the UK for these minimum periods:

• CTC - 3 years
• SC - 5 years
• DV - 10 years

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,223, Ministry of Justice 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.