Job Title & Grade: EO Senior Caseworker
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary range (depending on location): National - £29,303 to £31,061
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:
Manchester and Liverpool (Occasional Travel may be required to other LAA sites)
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 22 hours and to cover 3 days of the week, one of these days must be a Wednesday.
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). 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.
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 w new ideas are encouraged and appreciated.
Criminal Cases Unit
This role is based in the Criminal Cases Unit (CCU). The CCU assesses and processes claims for costs from solicitors and advocates at the end of criminal court cases.
The claims processed by CCU are as follows: -
- Claims from the Legal Aid fund for Special Preparation; Unused Preparation; Proceeds of Crime; Very High Costs Cases and some claims which escape the graduated fee scheme.
- Claims from Central Funds Court Appointee; Defendants Costs; Direct Access and Private Prosecution
The CCU receive over 30,000 claims per year, some of these can be high in value and profile.
Job Summary
Primarily this role involves the assessment of claims from solicitors and advocates in accordance with the relevant regulations, dealing with request for redetermination and written reasons. Providing support to the Senior Management Team in achieving targets (KPI) by assessing all claims in accordance with the team’s targets. To participate in projects undertaken by the team as and when required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Acquiring a comprehensive and up to date understanding of current guidance and regulations, using this to assess claims in accordance with the relevant regulations, including processing requests for redeterminations and written reasons.
- Assessment of Special preparation, Court appointee, Defence Cost Order (DCO) claims, and Proceeds of Crime (POCA) claims, including Fastrack assessments and any other type of assessment identified by management as grade appropriate.
- Providing an efficient service and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Dealing with any matters which have been escalated and resolving these.
- Support the management of the team and individual performance. Helping team members to achieve their objectives, contributing to the development of others addressing any issues which arise.
- Work to ensure targets are met. Providing reports escalating issues as they emerge and helping to find effective solutions.
- Act as a quality controller and engage in consistency processes to ensure improvements are made. Taking an active role in promoting consistency and providing guidance and feedback to the team. Making suggestions for improvement in specified work areas, ensuring the Team are aware and understand any changes.
- Work with other teams and taking the leading role in meetings, encouraging the sharing of views, ideas and solutions.
- Contribute to the review and development of processes working with other teams and taking part in project groups to achieve this.
W- appropriate design and deliver internal and external training.
- Support team engagement and promote Health and Safety and equality & diversity. Encouraging ideas and contributions from all members of your team and across the case management teams.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills
- Experience in any of the following workstreams including Special preparation, Court appointee, Defence Cost Order (DCO), and Proceeds of Crime (POCA) claims, including Fastrack assessments.
- Proven established analytical and numerical skills
- Ability to make decisions by reference to guidelines and regulations.
- Effective communication skills both written and verbal
- Ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills
- Previous experience of undertaking quality control and providing feedback
- Knowledge of key priorities for organisation and how these relate to and impact on specific business unit and across Case Management as a whole
- Worked with stakeholders to successfully resolve complex issues
Person Specification
- Enjoys working in a fast-changing environment.
- Enjoys working independently and as part of a team
Assessment approach
Application Process
To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 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 w you will be assessed against the following:
Strengths relevant to the role
The following Behaviours:
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Making effective decisions
-
Working together
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 to them and to w they work. Examples of action they have taken (in or outside of work) to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding) or improve inclusion for others will increase the strength of their answer.
T will also be a practical exercise, which will be assessed against the behaviour delivering at pace. You may be asked to share your screen during the exercise, details of which will be shared at the interview stage.
Shortlisting is planned for week commencing: Monday 20 July 2026
Interviews are planned for week commencing: Monday 10 August 2026
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Claire Craven, [email protected] and Georgia Killikelly, [email protected]
Our LAA commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wver 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.
