Legal Adviser – IMA (Grade 7)

Legal Adviser – Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA)

• Location: National – Hybrid Working. Office location: Independent Monitoring Authority, 3rd Floor, Swansea Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN
• Grade: IMA Grade 7
• Salary: £54,097 – £62,271
• Closing Date: 4 March 2024, 23:55 hours
• Interview Dates: Expected Week Commencing 11 or 18 March 2024
• Quick link: CLICK HERE to apply, and to view the job description in Welsh.

A fantastic opportunity to work in a new & evolving area of law

This is an exciting time for the IMA who is responsible for monitoring whether the UK’s public authorities are providing the rights of EU and EEA EFTA nationals and their family members, who decided to make the UK their home before the UK left the EU. You will be required to advise IMA operational colleagues to help inform this monitoring work.

The work will primarily 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.

Click here to view the Legal Adviser Information Pack.

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 and potentially the Court of Justice of the EU.
• 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 the IMA website.

“As a small organisation, everyone is truly valued and is listened to. The legal work is extremely interesting and I learn new things every day. There are plenty of social opportunities and the IMA is really invested in training and developing staff. If you enjoy the law then I would encourage you to apply to join us.”

– Lisa Salkeld, IMA

The role

We are looking for a Legal Adviser to join our current team of 9 legal staff who form our Legal Directorate and report to our General Counsel.

In addition to leading on legal advice on all aspects of the IMA’s work, including inquiries, litigation, and complaints, the role will involve contributing to the delivery of the IMA’s internal training and guidance.  You will also need to develop relationships with colleagues from across the IMA as well as a variety of other public authorities and stakeholders.

The successful applicant will also be responsible for working with external legal service providers and counsel when required, under the direction and oversight of the General Counsel (you can find a welcome from the General Counsel, Rhys Davies, below).

You will have the full support of experienced and dedicated colleagues both from within the Legal Directorate and from colleagues across the IMA.

As a Legal Adviser, the post-holder will have support from Senior Legal Adviser colleagues in the team, in particular on more complex and new areas of legal issues and questions.

We offer any tailored learning and development required for you to thrive in this role and you will have support and guidance to progress your legal career.

Essential skills for the role

You will be:

• a qualified barrister or solicitor entitled to practise in England and Wales (or due to qualify by Summer 2024).

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Sound powers of analysis and the ability to provide legal advice on complex and technical areas of law,
• Sound legal judgement including the effective management of legal risk,
• Experience of working with and communicating complex legal issues to and influencing senior stakeholders,
• an understanding of the main features of public and administrative law,

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions,
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others,
• Communicating and Influencing.

Benefits: why work with the IMA?

We take development seriously and want to enable you to build a successful career with the IMA. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing.

“One thing that stands out about working for the IMA is the encouragement to engage in professional development whether this be directly related to your role in Legal or in connection with the wider organisation.”

– Alex Griffiths, IMA

You’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Flexible working options, including flexi time
• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays. This will be complimented by one privilege day entitlement.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Civil Service Pension – a competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution (an average employer contribution of 27%) to the cost of your pension. Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken
• Established reward and recognition scheme for staff
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle
• Occupational sick pay, employee assistance services and health and wellbeing initiatives such as flu vaccines and health screening.
• We have a range of family-friendly policies, such as part-time working, job sharing, parental leave and career breaks and a range of leave options for parents. These depend on business needs, but our aim is to help you achieve a positive work-life balance.

Apply now

To view the full application in English and in Welsh, and to apply, click here.

Click here to view the Legal Adviser Information Pack.

Welcome from the IMA General Counsel – Rhys Davies

I am delighted that you are interested in applying for the legal adviser post at the Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA).

The successful candidate will be joining the IMA at an exciting time. The role provides an opportunity to contribute to the developing understanding of the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU.

You will join a small and dynamic team of lawyers and will have the chance to work on a broad range of work. We advise on public law, EU law, immigration law, analyse legislation and conduct litigation on behalf of the IMA.

You will work with colleagues across the IMA including advising the Board and the Chief Executive.

We look forward to receiving your application.

“The legal work is intellectually stimulating, challenging and rewarding. The working environment in the Legal Team is always collegiate, friendly and supportive. Given the newness of the Agreements and our ever-developing understanding of their impact, there is regular opportunity for open discussion of burning issues, where views are shared freely and the involvement of lawyers at all grades is encouraged and valued.

“If you enjoy the full-fat, interpretive dimension of the law at its most fundamental and would like to belong to a team whose work has a direct impact on the lives of citizens, this is the job for you.”

– Lee Cooper, IMA

About the IMA

The IMA is an independent body that makes sure the rights of EU and EEA EFTA citizens and their family members living in the UK and Gibraltar are upheld following the departure of the UK from the EU.

The IMA has two broad duties as set out in Part 2 of the Withdrawal and Separation Agreements – to monitor and to promote.

• We monitor UK public bodies to make sure they adequately and effectively implement the rights provided for by the Citizens’ Rights Agreements.
• We promote the adequate and effective implementation and application of the Agreements by holding public bodies to account where there is not full compliance.

The IMA is an independent arms-length body of the Ministry of Justice.

Further information can be found at: https://ima-citizensrights.org.uk/

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging.