Caseworker - Cardiff - Legal Aid Agency (Ref: 23046)JobsGoPublic

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

Job Title & Grade: Caseworker - AO

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary range (depending on location):

National - £25,582

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: Cardiff

Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Servants 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.

Minimum Working Pattern:

If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 21 hours and to cover 3 days of the week

To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16-18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training.

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). At the Legal Aid Agency (LAA), we have a vital purpose. We help eligible people meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal in England and Wales.

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

We’ll invest in you by providing structured training and development opportunities

This is a great chance to start your career with the LAA and we offer real opportunities to progress and develop your career, either with us or the wider Civil Service if you choose.

Case Management

The Case Management team is central to the Agency, it is responsible for handling legal aid applications, processing case payments and dealing with correspondence and enquiries received in both Civil and Criminal Legal aid matters. Our dedicated staff ensure that 600,000 new clients access justice each year, while ensuring that legal aid lawyers are paid fairly.

We listen and engage with all staff in case management, ensuring we always value the ‘caseworker voice’ and that this is represented when delivering change. We support all staff in our work, recognising success and promoting a positive and healthy work-life balance.

We have a culture where new ideas are encouraged and appreciated.

Job Summary

Our Administration Officers (AO) are responsible for processing applications for legal aid and assessing claims for payments in accordance with regulations and guidance.

Working as part of a team, you'll manage your own time while helping to achieve operational, performance and service standards within your work area.

Following training you will be required to maintain an up to date understanding of current guidance and regulations in either Criminal Court proceedings or Civil proceedings.

The role can include the following:

making accurate decisions on applications to determine eligibility based on the merits of the case and financial eligibility of the client

make accurate decisions on claims for payments submitted by Solicitors and Barristers to ensure the correct spending of public funds

dealing effectively and professionally with enquiries from customers both in writing and verbally

regular interaction with Solicitors, legal aid clients and colleagues across the LAA and MoJ

achieving performance and quality targets in your work

ensuring information and data is recorded accurately on case management systems and that case records are up to date

Being an AO caseworker within the LAA is an interesting and varied role, where you can make a real difference.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills

Ability to make decisions using evidence/information

Ability to use computers and Microsoft 365

Experience of working in a team

Ability to work to deadlines

Ability to communicate using written and verbal skills

Person Specification

No prior experience is required, as full training will be provided. However, we are looking for someone who:

Works well both independently and as part of a team.

Enjoys being part of a fast-paced and rewarding work environment.

Brings a positive, can-do attitude and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.

Assessment approach

Application Process

To apply please provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words. We require you to provide three paragraphs of 250 words each to address the following 3 requirements from the Essential Criteria separately:

IT skills: Ability to use computers and Microsoft 365

Teamwork: Experience of working in a team

Time Management: Ability to work to deadlines

To apply complete an application based of the following behaviour, in no more than 250 words:

Making Effective Decisions

When submitting an example of a behaviour remember to include the situation, what you did and why, and what was the outcome / result.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Making effective decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift of your statement.

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

Interview / assessment Process

If you are successful through the application stage, you will be asked an experience question based on the essential skills and experience required of an administration officer and 3 strength-based questions.

Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 19th October 2026

Interviews are planned for week commencing 23rd November 2026

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Owen McArdle, [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.

If you are dissatisfied with our response, we will forward your complaint to the Civil Service Commission, an independent body, for review.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

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

Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,582, Legal Aid Agency contributes £7,411 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).

Access to learning and development

A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance

A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity

A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Annual Leave

Public Holidays

Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team

Email : [email protected]

Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

Email : [email protected]

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL ([email protected]) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/23046?entityId=23046