Litigation and Investigation Strategy Lead - Legal Aid AgencyMinistry of Justice

22995

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title & Grade: Litigation and Investigation Strategy Lead, Grade 7

Contract Type: Temporary (24-months)

Salary range (depending on location):

National -£58,511 to £65,329

London - £63,343 to £70,725

Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.

Location: National (any LAA office)

Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Service staff, you can only apply for London, Cambridge and Brighton offices if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.

Important information for candidates choosing the Liverpool office (**remove if Liverpool is not an option**)

If you are successful and choose to be based in our Liverpool office, you will be required to complete Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance in addition to our standard pre-employment checks.

To obtain CTC clearance, you must meet the current National Security Vetting residency requirements. Under Central Government policy, applicants must normally have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years to be eligible for this level of clearance.

Please consider this requirement carefully when applying if Liverpool is your preferred location.

Minimum Working Pattern:

If you are applying for a part-time role, please note that to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 30 hours and to cover 4 days of the week

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.

Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.

Cyber-Attack Investigation and Litigation Team

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is leading the Ministry of Justice's response to the legal and regulatory consequences of the significant cyber-attack experienced in 2025. The incident presents one of the most complex operational, legal and reputational challenges faced by the department, requiring coordinated leadership across litigation, regulatory investigation, operational delivery and strategic governance.

Job Summary

We are recruiting a Grade 7 Litigation and Investigation Strategy Leads to play a key role in delivering the department's response. Reporting to the Head of Litigation Investigation Strategy and Response (Grade 6), postholders will lead significant and high-profile workstreams that support litigation, regulatory investigations and wider programme delivery.

The programme is expected to evolve over time and, as a result, successful candidates will be allocated to specific portfolios following appointment. Portfolios will be matched to individual skills, experience and development objectives, and may change as programme priorities evolve. Examples of portfolios include litigation strategy, regulatory engagement, governance and assurance, evidence and data, stakeholder management, operational delivery, communications and parliamentary business.

Working in a fast-paced and highly scrutinised environment, postholders will provide strategic leadership within their portfolio, delivering complex pieces of work, managing risk and ensuring high-quality outcomes that support the department's overall response.

This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to one of the most significant cross-government responses affecting the justice system while helping protect vulnerable service users and strengthen future organisational resilience.

This programme comprises several interconnected workstreams. The successful candidate will be allocated to a specific portfolio following appointment, taking account of business need, individual skills and experience, and development opportunities. Portfolios may evolve over time as programme priorities change, and postholders will be expected to work flexibly across the programme where required.

Key Responsibilities:

Depending on portfolio allocation, postholders will:

Strategic Delivery

Lead one or more significant workstreams within the Litigation Investigation Strategy and Response Programme, ensuring delivery of agreed objectives and priorities.

Translate strategic direction into effective delivery plans, monitoring progress and adapting to changing priorities and emerging risks.

Provide expert advice and recommendations to the Joint Heads and senior leaders on complex issues within their area of responsibility.

Litigation, Investigation and Regulatory Support

Lead delivery of work supporting litigation strategy, regulatory investigations or related operational activity.

Develop high-quality evidence, analysis and briefing to support legal proceedings, regulatory engagement and strategic decision-making.

Work closely with Government Legal Department, external legal providers and specialist colleagues to ensure coordinated delivery.

Governance, Risk and Assurance

Identify and manage risks within allocated portfolios, ensuring appropriate governance and timely escalation of significant issues.

Contribute to programme governance through high-quality reporting, assurance and performance management.

Support effective financial management and value for money across programme activities where appropriate.

Stakeholder Management

Build productive relationships across the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Agency, wider government and external organisations.

Represent the programme at meetings and working groups, influencing stakeholders and securing collaborative solutions.

Produce high-quality briefings, submissions, Parliamentary material and senior communications.

Leadership

Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.

Support the professional development of colleagues through coaching, mentoring and effective performance management.

Promote wellbeing and create an environment where people can perform at their best during a sustained period of high operational demand.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills

Experience leading delivery of complex programmes, projects or workstreams in legal, regulatory, operational or similarly complex environments.

Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex evidence to inform decisions and solve challenging problems.

Experience managing risks, priorities and competing demands while delivering high-quality outcomes to tight deadlines.

Effective communication skills, including preparing clear advice and briefings for senior leaders and a range of stakeholders.

Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience working collaboratively across organisational boundaries.

Experience leading, motivating and developing teams or multidisciplinary groups to deliver shared objectives.

The ability to adapt quickly, exercise sound judgement and respond effectively in a changing, high-profile environment.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills

Knowledge of litigation, investigations or regulatory processes.

Knowledge of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 or information rights legislation.

Experience responding to major incidents, cyber incidents or complex operational challenges.

Experience working within the Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Agency or wider Civil Service.

Experience managing external suppliers or professional service providers.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be:

A collaborative leader who can build strong relationships and deliver through partnership across organisational boundaries.

An effective communicator, able to explain complex issues clearly and influence a range of audiences.

A confident and resilient problem solver, exercising sound judgement under pressure and adapting to changing priorities.

Organised and delivery-focused, with the ability to balance competing demands while maintaining quality and attention to detail.

Committed to inclusive leadership, continuous improvement and delivering excellent public service.

Assessment approach

Application Process

To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more that 750 words.

Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.

Please note we do not require a CV.

Please note that we only require a Statement of Suitability for your application. The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary.

Interview / assessment Process

If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:

Strengths relevant to the role

The following Behaviours:

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Making Effective Decisions

Leadership

Communicating and Influencing

Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.

For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important in a work environment. We would also expect examples of action they have taken to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding for self or others) or improve inclusion at a departmental level.

Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 26th October.

Interviews are planned for week commencing 9th and 16th November.

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact Stewart McGill ([email protected]).

Our LAA commitment to Diversity and 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.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing [email protected] after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.

Complaints procedure

If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing [email protected] initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.