About this role
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
### Salary
The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Job description
Head of Eligibility and Family Legal Aid Policy
Grade 6
Legal Aid and Legal Support Policy Directorate
The Legal Aid, Legal Support and Dispute Resolution Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for a G6 Head of Eligibility and Family Legal Aid Policy. This campaign is open to current Civil Servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.
Candidates are reminded that to be eligible for this campaign; you must still be employed as a civil servant at the point of accepting the role. If you resign or your FTA contract ends before you are made and accept an offer, you will become ineligible and you will be withdrawn from the process.
Location:
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds
Occasional travel between the two locations may be required. We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds) .
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
Salary
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
The Work of the Eligibility, Civil and Family Legal Aid Policy Division
Legal aid policy is an exciting, fast-paced and challenging policy area which has significant interest from our Ministerial Team, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury and the Judiciary, as well as a highly engaged and vocal stakeholder base. We work on a daily basis with lawyers, analysts, finance and other policy teams, particularly Legal Support, Legal Services, Digital Justice System, and Criminal, Civil and Family Justice Policy teams, as well as with operational colleagues in the Legal Aid Agency, to shape, develop and improve the legal aid system.
We are a friendly and highly motivated team who look out for each other and therefore maintain a high level of resilience even when the pressure is on. The Eligibility, Civil and Family Legal Aid Policy Division cuts across a wide range of departmental and cross-government policy areas, making a role in legal aid a great opportunity to better understand the wider strategic context. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and committed Grade 6 or Grade 7 on promotion to oversee the eligibility and family legal aid portfolio. The postholder will be responsible for the legal aid eligibility tests and drive reform in family justice as well as support the whole division in delivering key priorities for Ministers and other government departments.
This is a critical leadership role in a high profile, controversial policy area which is a priority for the Ministry of Justice and wider Government.
Head of Eligibility and Family Legal Aid Policy - the role
The Head of Eligibility and Family Legal Aid policy will lead two high-performing teams, the Eligibility team, which covers both civil and criminal legal aid means test and the family legal aid policy team. The team currently consists of four grade 7s, six SEOs, and two HEOs. It is a senior leadership role which will provide strategic direction and ownership of two high-profile policy areas with links to several other areas of the department and wider Government.
The postholder will give strategic direction to and set priorities for the teams; cultivate and manage relationships with teams across the Department/OGDs particularly in the context of priority projects/policies with upstream and downstream legal aid implications; and support and develop the team members.
Following the completion of the Review of Civil Legal Aid and the previous government’s Means Test Review, the postholder will be responsible for delivering reforms to eligibility policy and family legal aid. This includes finalising and implementing the department’s approach to legal aid means testing, inputting into the legal aid implications of the Courts and Tribunals Bill and reforms to family legal aid, working through the wider transformation agenda to modernise systems so they are fit for the 21st century with the aim of achieving a viable and sustainable legal aid market.
They will design and deliver policies to ensure the effectiveness of legal aid, in line with Ministerial priorities, to protect access to justice while ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.
They will lead the development and implementation of eligibility/means testing and family legal aid policy that supports the delivery of wider government and ministerial priorities, working across MoJ and with other Government departments, No.10 and HMT (e.g. on welfare reforms and kinship care).
The postholder will also oversee the strategy for, and handling of, means-related legal aid litigation, working with the Government Legal Department, legal, the Legal Aid Agency, First Treasury Counsel and analysts with a view to minimising reputational and financial risks.
In particular, the postholder will:
- lead the eligibility and family legal aid programmes of work, including: reviewing and proposing reforms on the way fees are set and structured in family legal aid; and
- delivering proposed changes to legal aid financial eligibility across civil and criminal legal aid.
- develop a litigation strategy in financial eligibility policy, which includes developing a sufficiently robust government position to defend our eligibility policy and to mitigate litigation risks which are assessed as high
- collaborate with Legal Aid Agency operational and digital colleagues in a multi-disciplinary team to transform the way legal aid services are delivered in the future
- ensure that fast-paced delivery nonetheless takes account of the potentially significant legal and reputational risks to the department
- work collaboratively and effectively with other parts of the department and other government departments, most notably with DfE and DWP
- create a culture to use evidence, data and information in an iterative, agile and innovative way to steer policy and delivery in this space
- ensure appropriate connections are made with other policy teams and with the Legal Aid Agency
- foster engagement and collaboration with legal aid stakeholders, including with representative bodies, third-sector organisations, and legal aid providers
The postholder will also be expected to play a wider leadership and pastoral role within the Division and the Directorate, both of which pride themselves on being open, inclusive and supportive places to work.
Skills and Experience
Essential:
- strong policy development and implementation skills, including the ability to develop policy proposals that are robust and defensible
- inclusive leadership skills, including the ability to lead a diverse team from different backgrounds across a number of deliverables
- excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build confidence and maintain relationships across Government and externally
- bring strategic thinking to complex policy and delivery challenges, exercising sound judgement and bringing together a wide perspective of views
- strong and clear communication skills, providing clear, evidenced advice and briefing, both written and oral, on complex policy areas to senior stakeholders and Ministers
- the ability to work in fast-paced environments, including delivering complex pieces of work at short notice
- the ability to use project and programme management skills in a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly
Additional Information
- If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
- Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
- The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework .
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
You will also be asked to upload a Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,000 words stating what you would bring to the role, with reference to the Skills and Experience listed above.
Behaviours
During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviours:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the Statement of Suitability. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
At interview you will be assessed against behaviours where you will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated them. In addition, you will also be asked strength-based questions.
Behaviours:
The following Behaviours will be tested at interview:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
- WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or
- STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Strengths:
It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. Further information on Civil Service Strengths can be found via this link Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK
Presentation:
Candidates will also be asked to give a short presentation as part of the interview that will test the behaviour – Leadership. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.
Interview Timeline:
Interviews are expected to take place mid to end of November 2026.
Contact information
If you would like to know more about this role, please contact Lizzie Checkley and Jonny Fitzpatrick: [email protected]
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www. www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 23466
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference
### Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
You will be asked to upload a Statement of Suitability (maximum 1,000 words) demonstrating how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the essential criteria for the role. Please refer to the Skills and Experience section in the job description and provide relevant examples to support your application.
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-strengths).
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.