Senior Legal Adviser (Ref: 99)

Please refer to Job Description

Purpose of the post:

As Senior Legal Adviser, the post-holder will contribute to the provision of effective legal support at the IMA in the complex, challenging and wide-ranging area of EU citizens’ rights.

They will play a pivotal role in the effective delivery of the IMA’s work, joining a team of 10 legal staff within the Legal Directorate, and reporting to the General Counsel.

Working closely with the General Counsel, the post-holder will support leadership of the Directorate and the provision of legal services at the IMA. This is an influential role and one where you will help shape senior decision-making, including strategic planning, governance and organisational risk.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading on the provision of legal advice on complex, novel and contentious legal issues across all aspects of the IMA’s work.
• Providing leadership and direction to Legal Directorate colleagues, supporting skills development and building future capability.
• Overseeing and advising operational colleagues to inform the IMA’s monitoring and promoting work.
• Ensuring effective legal risk management and escalating high-risk matters appropriately.
• Contributing to the design and delivery of the internal training and guidance.
• Building strong relationships with senior colleagues, public authorities and external stakeholders.
• Working with external legal service providers and counsel when required, under the direction and oversight of the General Counsel.
• Leading directorate-wide initiatives aligned with the IMA’s statutory obligations and strategic objectives.
• Contributing to strategy, organisational governance, operational planning, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Representing the Legal Directorate and the IMA at senior stakeholder meetings.

The work will involve advising on the Withdrawal Agreement, but may also engage the following areas of law:

• Public administrative law
• Judicial review
• International law
• EU law
• Immigration
• Health
• Education
• Social security
• Housing

The advice will be provided in the context of:

• A range of litigation: the IMA was successful in a landmark judicial review of elements of the EU Settlement Scheme, and has undertaken important interventions on novel and contentious questions of interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement before all courts of the UK, from the county court and tribunals, to the Supreme Court.
• IMA inquiries: the IMA has concluded its first inquiry on delays in the issuing of Certificates of Application under the EU Settlement Scheme and has commenced its second on delays in the determination of applications under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Compliance and intelligence work: the IMA carries out a range of compliance and intelligence work looking at the actions of public authorities, identifying where there are problems but also highlighting good practice. This includes looking at the experience of individuals entering the UK, accessing student finance, healthcare and housing assistance, the experience of looked after children and the rules which govern the immigration status of those citizens within our responsibility.
• legislation from each of the different governments across the UK and Gibraltar which cover a range of subjects including student finance, social security, immigration and the recognition of qualifications.

You can read more about this work and more on our website.

The post-holder will have the support of experienced and dedicated colleagues across the IMA, with access to tailored learning and development to help them thrive in this role and progress their legal career.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post and are not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

This role is offered on a permanent basis, however, applications for a loan or secondment will also be considered. Applicants seeking a loan or secondment must have secured agreement in principle from their current employer to be released before applying.

Person specification:

To be successful in this role it is likely that you will be:

• A self-starter with proven experience of working under pressure, with an excellent record for delivering to deadlines and taking decisions, as well as the resilience to providing challenging advice and recommendations to peers and colleagues.
• A strong communicator with strong influencing skills, including the ability to manage complex and senior relationships, to represent the organisation, and to distil complex technical messages.
• An inspiring people leader and manager with the ability to attract, lead, motivate and develop colleagues at all levels to the highest standards.
• An effective and strong team player

Essential skills:

• Qualified barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in England and Wales
• Experience on advising on Separation Agreement law and / or free movement law under EU law or demonstrable experience of advising on complex areas of law with the ability to quickly grasp and advise on new/evolving areas of law
• A strong track record of advising on the main features of public and administrative law
• Sound legal judgement, with the ability to identify, manage and escalate legal risk appropriately
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to distil complex legal and technical issues into clear, pragmatic advice
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and influence stakeholders at senior levels, both internally and externally
• Ability to lead, motivate and develop legal professionals, contributing to a high performing and inclusive legal team
• Ability to contribute to the effective management, delivery and continuous improvement of legal services.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the bigger picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Please refer to the Senior Legal Adviser pack for further information about the role and the IMA

Pwrpas y swydd:

Bydd yr Uwch Gynghorydd Cyfreithiol yn cyfrannu at y gwaith o ddarparu cymorth cyfreithiol effeithiol yn yr IMA o fewn maes cymhleth, heriol ac eang hawliau dinasyddion yr UE.

Bydd yn chwarae rhan ganolog i gyflawni gwaith yr IMA yn effeithiol. Bydd yn ymuno â thîm o 8 aelod o staff cyfreithiol yn y Gyfarwyddiaeth Gyfreithiol, ac yn adrodd i’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol.

Gan weithio’n agos gyda’r Cwnsler Cyffredinol, bydd deiliad y swydd yn cefnogi arweinwyr y Gyfarwyddiaeth ac yn darparu gwasanaethau cyfreithiol yn yr IMA. Mae hon yn rôl ddylanwadol lle byddwch yn helpu i lywio penderfyniadau uwch, gan gynnwys cynllunio strategol, llywodraethu a risg sefydliadol.

Bydd y prif gyfrifoldebau’n cynnwys:

• Arwain y gwaith o ddarparu cyngor cyfreithiol ar faterion cyfreithiol cymhleth, newydd, a dadleuol ar draws pob agwedd ar waith yr IMA.
• Darparu arweinyddiaeth a chyfeiriad i gydweithwyr yn y Gyfarwyddiaeth Gyfreithiol, gan gefnogi’r gwaith o ddatblygu sgiliau a meithrin galluoedd y dyfodol.
• Goruchwylio a chynghori cydweithwyr gweithredol i lywio gwaith monitro a hyrwyddo’r IMA.
• Sicrhau bod risgiau cyfreithiol yn cael eu rheoli’n effeithiol ac uwchgyfeirio materion risg uchel yn briodol.
• Cyfrannu at y gwaith o ddylunio a chyflawni canllawiau a hyfforddiant mewnol.
• Meithrin perthynas gadarn gydag uwch gydweithwyr, awdurdodau cyhoeddus a rhanddeiliaid allanol.
• Gweithio gyda darparwyr gwasanaethau cyfreithiol allanol a’r cwnsler pan fo angen, o dan gyfarwyddyd a goruchwyliaeth y Cwnsler Cyffredinol.
• Arwain mentrau ar draws y gyfarwyddiaeth sy’n cyd-fynd â rhwymedigaethau statudol ac amcanion strategol yr IMA.
• Cyfrannu at strategaeth, llywodraethu sefydliadol, cynllunio gweithredol, rheoli risg, a gwelliant parhaus.
• Cynrychioli’r Gyfarwyddiaeth Gyfreithiol a’r IMA mewn cyfarfodydd uwch randdeiliaid.

Bydd y gwaith yn cynnwys cynghori ar y Cytundeb Ymadael, ond gall hefyd ymwneud â’r meysydd cyfreithiol canlynol:

• Cyfraith weinyddol gyhoeddus
• Adolygiad barnwrol
• Cyfraith ryngwladol
• Cyfraith yr UE
• Mewnfudo
• Iechyd
• Addysg
• Nawdd cymdeithasol
• Tai

Bydd y cyngor yn cael ei ddarparu yng nghyd-destun y canlynol:

• Amrywiol fathau o ymgyfreitha: roedd yr IMA yn llwyddiannus mewn adolygiad barnwrol arloesol o rai o elfennau’r Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog i Ddinasyddion yr UE, ac mae wedi ymgymryd ag ymyriadau pwysig mewn cysylltiad â chwestiynau newydd a dadleuol ynghylch dehongli’r Cytundeb Ymadael gerbron pob un o lysoedd y DU, o’r llys sirol a’r tribiwnlys, i’r Goruchaf Lys.
• Ymchwiliadau’r IMA: mae ymchwiliad cyntaf yr IMA wedi dod i ben mewn cysylltiad ag oedi o ran cyhoeddi Tystysgrifau Cais o dan y Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog i Ddinasyddion yr UE, ac mae wedi dechrau ei ail ymchwiliad ar yr oedi o ran penderfynu ar geisiadau o dan y Cynllun hwnnw.
• Gwaith cydymffurfio a gwybodaeth: mae’r IMA yn ymgymryd ag amrywiaeth o waith cydymffurfio a gwybodaeth sy’n edrych ar weithredoedd awdurdodau cyhoeddus, gan nodi lle mae problemau yn ogystal â thynnu sylw at arferion da. Mae hyn yn cynnwys edrych ar brofiad unigolion sy’n dod i’r DU, cael gafael ar gyllid myfyrwyr, gofal iechyd a chymorth tai, profiad plant sy’n derbyn gofal, a’r rheolau sy’n llywodraethu statws mewnfudo’r dinasyddion sy’n dod o dan ein cyfrifoldebau.
• deddfwriaeth o bob un o lywodraethau gwahanol y DU a Gibraltar sy’n ymdrin â nifer o bynciau gan gynnwys cyllid myfyrwyr, nawdd cymdeithasol, mewnfudo, a chydnabod cymwysterau.

Gallwch ddarllen rhagor am y gwaith hwn a mwy ar ein gwefan.

Bydd gan ddeiliad y swydd gefnogaeth cydweithwyr profiadol ac ymroddedig ar draws yr IMA, a bydd ganddo fynediad at gyfleoedd dysgu a datblygu wedi’u teilwra i’w helpu i ffynnu yn y rôl hon a datblygu ei yrfa gyfreithiol.

Mae’r dyletswyddau/cyfrifoldebau a restrir uchod yn disgrifio’r swydd ac ni fwriedir iddynt fod yn hollgynhwysfawr. Disgwylir i ddeiliad y swydd dderbyn addasiadau rhesymol a thasgau ychwanegol sydd ar lefel debyg a allai fod yn angenrheidiol.

Cynigir y swydd hon yn barhaol, ond bydd ceisiadau ar gyfer benthyciad neu secondiad hefyd yn cael eu hystyried. Rhaid i ymgeiswyr sy’n ceisio benthyciad neu secondiad fod wedi sicrhau cytundeb mewn egwyddor gan eu cyflogwr presennol i gael eu rhyddhau cyn cyflwyno cais.

Manyleb y person:

Er mwyn llwyddo yn y rôl hon, mae’n debygol y byddwch yn:

• Gallu cymell eich hun gyda phrofiad amlwg o weithio dan bwysau, gyda hanes rhagorol o gyflawni o fewn terfynau amser a gwneud penderfyniadau, yn ogystal â’r gwydnwch i ddarparu cyngor ac argymhellion heriol i gymheiriaid a chydweithwyr.
• Cyfathrebwr cryf gyda sgiliau dylanwadu cryf, gan gynnwys y gallu i reoli perthnasoedd cymhleth ac uwch, cynrychioli’r sefydliad, a chrynhoi a theilwra negeseuon technegol cymhleth.
• Arweinydd a rheolwr sy'n gallu ysbrydoli pobl ac sy'n gallu denu, arwain, cymell a datblygu cydweithwyr ar bob lefel i’r safonau uchaf.
• Aelod cryf ac effeithiol o dîm

Sgiliau hanfodol:

• Cyfreithiwr neu fargyfreithiwr cymwys sydd â hawl i ymarfer yng Nghymru a Lloegr
• Profiad o gynghori ar gyfraith Cytundeb Gwahanu a / neu gyfraith symudiad rhydd o dan gyfraith yr UE neu brofiad amlwg o gynghori ar feysydd cymhleth o’r gyfraith gyda’r gallu i ddeall yn gyflym a chynghori ar feysydd newydd/esblygol o’r gyfraith
• Hanes blaenorol cryf o roi cyngor ar brif nodweddion cyfraith gyhoeddus a gweinyddol
• Crebwyll cyfreithiol cadarn, gyda’r gallu i nodi, rheoli, ac uwchgyfeirio risgiau cyfreithiol yn briodol
• Sgiliau dadansoddi cryf a’r gallu i grynhoi a theilwra materion cyfreithiol a thechnegol cymhleth yn gyngor clir a phragmatig
• Gallu cyfleu materion cyfreithiol cymhleth yn glir a dylanwadu ar randdeiliaid ar lefelau uwch, yn fewnol ac yn allanol
• Gallu arwain, cymell a datblygu gweithwyr cyfreithiol proffesiynol, gan gyfrannu at dîm cyfreithiol cynhwysol sy’n perfformio’n dda
• Gallu cyfrannu at reoli a darparu gwasanaethau cyfreithiol yn effeithiol, a’u gwella’n barhaus.

Ymddygiad

Byddwn yn eich asesu yn erbyn y mathau canlynol o ymddygiad yn ystod y broses ddethol:

• Arweinyddiaeth (ymddygiad arweiniol)
• Gwneud Penderfyniadau Effeithiol
• Rheoli Gwasanaeth o Safon
• Gweld y darlun ehangach
• Cyfathrebu a Dylanwadu

Trowch at becyn yr Uwch Gynghorydd Cyfreithiol i gael rhagor o wybodaeth am y rôl a’r IMA

Qualified barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in England and Wales

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, Strengths and Experience.

https://ima.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-1/brand-2/xf-ab107d15f243/candidate

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