Legal Officer (Crime)

About Us

We help the UK move forward, faster.

For nearly 150 years, we've protected the UK economy with deep expertise and rigour, building the confidence that helps businesses access lending, investment and opportunity.

We help people deal with personal insolvency. We make statutory redundancy payments when insolvent employers can't. We investigate director conduct and take action where it's needed.

And right now, we're changing how we do all of this, becoming faster, more digitally driven, and more focused on stopping problems before they escalate.

More than 2,000 of us work in offices across England, Scotland and Wales. It might be time for you to join us.

The Role

We're looking for a Legal Officer (Crime) who wants more than a job that ticks boxes. You will enforce confiscation orders against convicted defendants and handle straightforward confiscation matters under the Proceeds of Crime Act. This supports our aim to Return assets to productive use by recovering what criminals have taken.

This is a role for someone who wants to think bigger, challenge the way things have always been done, and take ownership of the outcomes that matter.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible working. We invest in your development and give our people the space to grow, take ownership and make decisions.

Reporting to a Managing Criminal Lawyer, you'll join the Proceeds of Crime team in Legal Services, part of the Enforcement Group as it continues to grow. You'll be part of a team that's central to how we return assets to productive use faster.

The Proceeds of Crime Legal Services team prosecutes under the Proceeds of Crime Act to obtain confiscation orders. These recover assets that convicted criminals obtained through criminal conduct. Legal Services has about 130 staff, who make up our Criminal and Civil Enforcement teams and a Paralegal team.

In this role, you will enforce confiscation orders against convicted defendants and handle straightforward confiscation matters. You will work with colleagues in the Enforcement Group, particularly financial investigators, and with the enforcement courts.

What you'll do (Responsibilities)

You'll use your expertise and judgement to:

• manage a mixed caseload of confiscation enforcement cases and straightforward confiscation matters, from deciding how to enforce a confiscation order to considering whether to start confiscation proceedings
• instruct Counsel or agent solicitors where appropriate
• work with colleagues in the Enforcement Group, particularly financial investigators, to develop and pursue focused case strategies, recognising that the best answers don't always sit within our own walls
• give clear, accurate and timely advice on the conduct of Proceeds of Crime proceedings
• build effective working relationships with external stakeholders, particularly the enforcement courts
• attend court and carry out advocacy in magistrates' courts as appropriate, for example at enforcement hearings
• take ownership of your casework, exercising the freedom to find the best route to a good outcome, while being clear and accountable for the results you achieve

Professional Qualifications

Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales as of 01 December 2026.

You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.

Barristers and Solicitors qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales will be subject to the rules of the professional bodies and must have completed the Bar Transfer Test or Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed and a score of 50% or above achieved, at CILEx Level 6*, in all the following foundation subjects:

1. Contract Law

2. Criminal Law

3. Equity and Trusts Law

4. European Union Law

5. Land Law

6. Public Law

7. Law of Tort

• Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1-degree equivalence as set out below.

Academic qualifications.

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree.

However, the Insolvency Service will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree (or above) (e.g. where a lower degree classification is held, or, where applicants have (under the rules of the professional bodies) qualified as a Solicitor/Barrister/ Chartered Legal Executives without a degree) but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).

Chartered Legal Executives should note that the department will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application and Sift

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement
• Behaviours Behaviour 1 - Making Effective Decisions

High volume applications and benchmark scoring

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Where high volumes of strong applications are expected or received, we may raise the ‘benchmark’ minimum score required at the sift stage. If a high volume of candidates meet the benchmark score, we may further raise the score required for interview selection. Scores will be applied fairly and consistently. Applicants eligible under a recruitment scheme may, where appropriate, continue to be considered against the agreed ‘benchmark’ score, to support the purpose of the scheme.

CV Guidance

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you’ve gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and must demonstrate how your personal skills, qualities, and experience align with the requirements of the role. Please ensure your statement references the essential criteria outlined in the person specification, as well as any desirable criteria. This will help provide a clearer basis for scoring and will be particularly useful in the event of tied scores.

Note: Your personal statement will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Interview Stage

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

• Experience
• Behavioural Competencies - assessed through: Behaviour 1 - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour 2 - Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour 3 - Delivering at Pace
• Additional assessment - Immediately prior to interview, candidates will be required to complete a written assessment based on a case study. The exercise will assess your ability to analyse evidence, identify legal issues and make sound decisions as a lawyer. The written answer will be evaluated and further questions may be asked during the interview. Full details of the assessment, including instructions for completing the exercise, will be provided to candidates when you arrive for interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – w/c 26 November 26

Interview – w/c To be confirmed

Location - 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, London, E20 1HZ

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Queries and Support

When contacting us or the Government Recruitment Service (GRS) using the contact details at the bottom of this advert, please include the 6-digit Vacancy ID, job title, your full name and, where applicable, your 8-digit Applicant ID in the email subject line. This will help us process your enquiry more efficiently.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

We must make reasonable adjustments if our recruitment process puts a disabled applicant at a substantial disadvantage. These are changes or support that help remove or reduce that disadvantage.

If you need an adjustment to apply, contact Government Recruitment Service at insolvencyrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date.

For adjustments later in the recruitment process, complete ‘Assistance required’ on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form. Examples include wheelchair access at interview or communication support if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Hybrid Working

The Insolvency Service’s hybrid working policy offers flexibility over when and where you work and collaborate, subject to business needs.

You are expected to work from an office listed in this advert to connect with colleagues, as your role and team require. You can split your working week, but must spend at least 60% in the workplace, including offices, site visits, court and other work locations.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.