Legal Vacancies

Criminal Division – Court Team - Assistant Legal Adviser

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Criminal Court team at the Law Officers’ Department in Jersey. The team is based at the Law Officers’ Department in Jersey and consists of four Crown Advocates, seven Legal Advisers, six Assistant Legal Advisers, and three Administrative Assistants. The Criminal Court team prosecutes all cases in the Magistrate’s Court, Royal Court and the Court of Appeal. The work is varied and covers all criminal offences in Jersey including assault, fraud, larceny, sexual offences, manslaughter and murder. In addition, the team prosecutes Health and Safety breaches, Environmental offences, Income Tax, Social Security and other regulatory offences with a criminal sanction. The work is interesting, challenging and varied, working with different government agencies both in Jersey and internationally. You will have the support of a friendly, inclusive and highly professional team at the Law Officers’ Department, under the leadership of the Attorney General for Jersey. To assist as required with the workload of the Law Officers of the Crown whose main functions and responsibilities are to provide a comprehensive legal service to the States and every Ministry and Department of the States, to advise and act on behalf of the Crown, to advise and direct the Honorary and States Police Forces in criminal matters and to prosecute offenders.

For an informal discussion please contact Howard Tobias, Director of the Criminal Division on 01534 441478.

Job accountabilities

1. Offering legal opinions to the Law Officers and legal advisers arising out of general enquiries from Ministers, States Members, States Departments, Honorary or States Police Forces and others in the public sector, which often deal with complex legal questions requiring detailed research.
2. Reviewing case files prepared by police and customs officers and drafting indictments and summaries of evidence for cases committed to the Royal Court on behalf of the Law Officers and Crown Advocates.
3. Assisting the Law Officers and legal advisers in the preparation of criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings. This includes the consideration and preparation of:
(a) Applications for saisies judiciaires under the Drug Trafficking Offences (Jersey) Law, 1988;
(b) Requests from United Kingdom and overseas authorities made under the Evidence (Proceedings in other Jurisdictions) (Jersey) Order, 1983, the Investigation of Fraud (Jersey) Law, 1991, the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law 1999 and the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation)(Jersey) Law 2001, including liaising and corresponding at length directly with officers of the relevant authorities (often in conjunction with local officers of the States of Jersey Police), taking detailed instructions, arranging for the translation of documents as required, arranging and attending visits to local banks and business houses to effect compliance with the said requests with representatives of the relevant authorities.
4. Preparing opinions for the Law Officers on matters concerning the identification of and need for new legislation in various matters of public importance including changes to existing legislation if required or thought suitable.
5. Assisting the Law Officers and legal advisers in civil proceedings, including administrative appeals and judicial reviews, brought by or against the States. This includes taking instructions and analysing all papers, preparing for the Law Officers’ and legal advisers’ consideration Orders of Justice, Pleadings, Summonses, Further and Better Particulars, Interrogatories and other documentation as required in any particular case; offering opinions to the Law Officers and legal advisers on legal points arising out of any particular case; preparing detailed opinions as to quantum; offering advice to the Law Officers as to claims and settlements; dealing with discovery; preparing documentation for the use of the Court/Law Officers at hearings before Courts or Tribunals in the Island; interviewing of witnesses and the taking of proofs of evidence; attending sittings of the Courts in civil matters to offer assistance to the Law Officers as required.

Job context / dimensions

To provide support to the Magistrates Court team and Crown Advocates in the preparation of cases digitally from commencement to finalisation. Attending court to assist Crown Advocates with trials. To draft case summaries, indictments and applications for Court under the supervision of either a Crown Advocate or Legal Adviser. To manage cases under supervision which will include instructing expert witnesses, liaising with Witness Care, providing External Crown Advocates, Defence, Probation and the Court with digital evidence. 
Training in the use of the Criminal Division computer systems will be given, as well as regular training on case preparation and criminal law.

Qualification requirements

Applicants will have a law degree or have completed a law conversion course. Possession of a professional legal qualification would be an advantage.

Experience requirements

The post holder will:
- have relevant experience, obtained either in the public law sector or in private practice and knowledge of and an interest in the government of Jersey would also be an advantage;
- be have experience in preparing and presenting legal arguments, with the ability to demonstrate an aptitude for applying legal theory to practice;
- have some understanding of general advocacy and litigation;
- have experience of handling specific areas of law, with the ability to absorb and interpret information quickly and accurately.

Skills, knowledge and competency requirements

The post holder will have:
- technical competence in at least one of the areas of Law/expertise performed in the Criminal Division;
- the ability to present a point of view convincingly and persuasively through rational argument;
- the ability to work effectively in a team of lawyers to achieve high levels of professional and technical standards, providing a high level of support to the Legal Adviser or Senior Legal Adviser;
- the ability to confidently and effectively make recommendations to a Legal Adviser or Senior Legal Adviser. Decisions made within clearly established guidelines following the supervision of the Legal Adviser or Senior Legal Adviser;
- an understanding of how the law works and be able to demonstrate a willingness to stay abreast of current developments in legal practice, Jersey laws and Jersey court procedures.

Additional information
For a newly qualified and inexperienced candidate, salary will be on a training progression starting at Grade 7 (range £32,087 – £36,125) or Grade 8 (range £36,125– £40,951) and rising, subject to satisfactory progress, to Grade 11 (range £52,297 to £58,257) for a 37 hour working week. For a more experienced candidate, immediate appointment at Grade 11 is possible.

For further information including how to apply, click https://www.gov.je/Working/JobCareerAdvice/Pages/details.aspx?nPostingId=31961&nPostingTargetId=72058

Closing date: 17 May 2019