Lawyer - Criminal

Job summary

From time to time, a criminal case ends with a wrongful conviction or sentence. There may may have been errors at trial or fresh evidence may have emerged. Sometimes there are developments in the law that require matters to be reassessed in the light of modern standards of fairness.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission has a unique statutory role - reviewing such cases independently and deciding whether there is a real possibility that a conviction or sentence would not be upheld by the appeal courts.​​

• Can you research and advise on complex issues of criminal law and evidence?​
• Can you design and deliver training to keep colleagues updated on developments in the criminal justice system?​
• Can you manage a team of interns, and support their professional development?​

If the answers are yes, then this could be the start of an incredibly rewarding career – the work you do with us can transform lives and ensure justice is finally achieved.​​

Following the recent HMCPSI inspection of the CCRC’s casework, the legal team plays an important role in quality assurance by providing advice and constructive challenge to ensure the legal accuracy of CCRC casework and decisions​

We’re looking for a lawyer to join us on a permanent basis (although we can also consider secondments and loans). The role is varied and intellectually challenging. You’ll need to be analytical, articulate, resilient and proactive. You must be able to juggle competing priorities, planning your work to ensure you give reliable and practical advice.​​

You will be part of our legal team supporting Commissioners and Case Review Managers in the exercise of statutory powers, decision-making processes, and procedural fairness in line with public law relevant in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes designing and delivering a continuous learning programme that ensures colleagues are updated on key cases and new legislation through modules and resources that develop knowledge of the law and legal skills. ​​

Job description

Under the supervision of the In-House Counsel, you will be responsible for:

Legal Advice ​

• Undertake legal research and provide oral and written advice on legal matters within CCRC casework. ​
• Provide oral and written advice on the CCRC’s statutory powers. ​
• Provide advice and guidance to support the drafting of high-quality Statements of Reasons.​
• Source & instruct external legal advice where necessary.​

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Quality Assurance​

• Provide advice and constructive challenge to ensure the legal accuracy of CCRC casework and decisions​
• Peer-review the work of colleagues in the legal team​
• Quality assure and peer review legal elements of CCRC casework​

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Training and Development ​

• Develop, source and deliver internal training on legal matters relating to CCRC casework​
• Maintain and update internal legal guidance for the casework team, to ensure that material remains relevant, accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive ​
• Maintain the CCRC’s legal resources (including access to relevant electronic databases) ​
• Keep up to date with developing law, practice, and policy and maintain own CPD through internal and external events ​

Leadership and Management​

• Line-manage legal interns, including setting objectives, supporting professional development, and addressing performance or quality concerns.​
• Meet regularly with legal interns to review progress and wellbeing, and provide advice, guidance, support, and direction ​
• Provide first line assurance of interns’ work by reviewing progress, quality and timeliness, and including formal scrutiny and dip sampling​
• Lead on the recruitment and induction of legal interns​

Policy and Corporate Support​

• Assist in developing, reviewing and updating policy ​
• Assist in drafting submissions and responses to national consultations ​
• Ensure compliance with the CCRC’s obligations on disclosure, security and confidentiality of information. ​
• Ensure compliance with data protection and human rights legislation. ​
• Ensure compliance with the CCRC’s obligations under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime​

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Litigation (Judicial Review) ​

• When necessary, support the work of the Lawyer (Civil) by assessing legal challenges to the CCRC’s decisions, making recommendations as to the appropriate course of action, and drafting effective responses to pre-action correspondence and claims.​
• Work with colleagues in the legal team and wider casework to develop strategies to reduce instances of judicial review and identify any learning points ​

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Other​

• To undertake other duties which may be necessary to ensure the CCRC’s effective operation, which are in keeping with the nature of the post and business needs. ​

Person specification

​Essential:​

• Lead: Solicitor or Barrister, with a minimum of three years’ post-qualification experience in criminal law in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Authorised to conduct litigation ​
• Lead: Recent experience of providing legal advice on complex, novel and technical areas of criminal law in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.​
• Experience of managing, motivating and constructively challenging individuals to deliver results and improve quality and performance, demonstrating commitment to diversity and inclusion.​
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and accurately, both orally and in writing. Ability to draft to a high standard.​
• Strong analytical skills and experience of researching and analysing complex legal and evidential issues, quickly identifying the critical issues and identifying where there is insufficient information and taking appropriate action​

Desirable:​

• Higher rights of audience.​
• Experience of judicial review​
• Experience of training, coaching and mentoring. ​

Qualifications

Solicitor or Barrister, with a minimum of three years’ post-qualification experience in criminal law in England, Wales or
Northern Ireland. Authorised to conduct litigation ​

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,870, Criminal Cases Review Commission contributes £14,447 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

We offer a wide range of benefits, including flexible working options. You can also look forward to:

• A Civil Service pension - this will see us making a significant contribution to your pension fund
• 29 days' annual leave allowance (pro rata), in addition to eight statutory bank holidays and special leave allowance for your birthday
• Generous paid maternity, paternity and shared parental leave (SPL) which is in excess of the statutory minimum
• We have flexible working patterns, including access to a flexible working scheme;
• We also operate a flexi time system which m