Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Vacancies for 3 Commissioners: two Professional Members (Barrister, Solicitor or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives); one Circuit Judge. PAT150040-JAC-MEMBERS
- Body
- Judicial Appointments Commission
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Justice
- Sector
- Judicial, Prison & Policing
- Location
- The Commission’s office and selection facilities are located at 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ.
- Number of Vacancies
- 3
- Remuneration
- £338 per day. Remuneration is taxable and subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions. The role is not pensionable and your remuneration may be abated if you receive a public service pension. Reasonable travel expenses will be paid for journeys from home to the main office, if Commissioners live outside London. Travel and subsistence allowances may also be payable on the same basis as that applicable to civil servants where the post holder is required to travel to other locations or stay overnight in the course of their duties.
- Time Requirements
- Commissioners will be expected to commit to around 28 days each year to attend meetings and external events, including involvement in oversight of selection exercises. Meetings will normally be held in London and Commissioners will be expected to read and consider papers outside of these meetings.
Campaign Timeline
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Competition Launched
17/10/2017
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Closed for Applications
06/11/2017 at 12:00
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Panel Sift
20/11/2017
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Final Interview Date
09/02/2018
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Announcement
19/04/2018
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Sir Malcolm Grant
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Chairman of NHS England and independent panel Chair Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Sir Brian Leveson
- Positions
- President of the Queen’s Bench Division for Lay Commissioner roles, senior judicial panel member; Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- Rt Hon Professor Lord Kakkar
- Positions
- Chair of the JAC Representative of Organisation
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- Panel Member
- Professor Nicola Lacey
- Positions
- Independent Member
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Vacancy Description
The role of the Commissioner: The JAC Commissioners – who are independent of Government and the Civil Service – have the corporate responsibility for ensuring that the JAC fulfils its role under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 so that recruitment to the Judiciary is made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
As an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice, Commissioners are accountable to Parliament through the Lord Chancellor.
The Commissioners, currently under the leadership of Lord Kakkar, Chair of the JAC, have five core activities: • To attend Commission Board meetings ten times per year in London, bringing their experience and judgement to bear on a range of important strategy, governance and policy issues. Each Commissioner is normally expected to also serve on one or two sub-Committees or working groups, each meeting up to five times a year typically for a couple of hours at a time. • To select candidates for judicial appointment based on the selection exercise programme agreed with Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) and the Ministry of Justice and panel assessments provided by the selection panel convened by the JAC. The Commission considers all of the information provided before making a decision as to who will be recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment. • One or more Commissioners will also be assigned to oversee each selection process. With the exception of appointments to the High Court or above, they will not generally sit on individual selection panels, but will ensure that the process is followed, and will be part of the process that makes the final recommendation of suitable candidates. • To ensure that recruitment for all exercises is open and fair and that the best person for the job is recommended for appointment, Commissioners will regularly review the selection processes used to ensure that they are fit for purpose. • To ensure that the JAC undertakes its statutory duty of having regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons available for selection for appointments. In doing so it is expected that Commissioners take part in external events, including speaking at seminars, conferences and meetings, and making presentations to key interested parties, individuals and groups.
The Commissioners work closely with staff at the JAC who undertake the day to day process of selecting candidates to recommend for appointment to the judiciary.
The main responsibilities of the Commissioners are to: • Maintain the values of the JAC, particularly selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition; • Oversee a number of selection exercises ensuring that the most suitable candidates are recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment; • Take part in and influence debates about the strategic objectives, performance and constitutional role of the JAC; and • Promote the JAC and to have regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons available for selection for appointments.
The successful candidate will have the ability to: • Work as a member of a body of Commissioners, through plenary and sub-Committee discussions, gain credibility and the confidence of key stakeholders and who can seek ways to improve their performance and that of those with whom they work in partnership; • Develop strategy for the Commission; • Work constructively with HMCTS and MoJ, while upholding JAC values and the integrity of the selection process; and • Carry the confidence of JAC’s key interested parties by ensuring that the most suitable candidates are recommended for appointment, with lay members taking part in selection panels for the most senior judicial appointments.
Person Specification
Eligibility
For all posts, a person cannot be appointed as a Commissioner if he or she is employed in the civil service of the State.
There must be no employment restrictions, or time limit on your permitted stay in the UK. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least three years prior to your application.
Professional Member: two posts Candidates should be either a serving solicitor, barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, with at least five years’ post qualification legal experience.
Circuit Judge Member: one post Candidates should be a serving Circuit Judge (or Senior Circuit Judge), with at least three years’ sitting experience in either role.
Essential criteria Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following: • personal integrity, party-political impartiality and a commitment to the highest standards in public life and to the values of the JAC, including appointment on merit and the importance of diversity; • an independent mind with excellent judgement and powerful analytical skills, able to interpret complex information and make robust selection decisions which stand up to scrutiny; • credibility and personal authority, such as to command the confidence of key stakeholders and if required able to chair a selection panel and sit as a panel member for the most senior appointments; • excellent listening skills and a collegial approach to decision-making, able to assimilate different Commissioner perspectives and provide considered decisions based upon consensus; • strong interpersonal skills with the ability to ‘read’ others; • effective communication skills to represent the Commission in meetings and externally.
Desirable criteria
Professional Member: Barrister Active membership of the Bar Council and/or other organisations or associations representing barristers.
Professional Member: Solicitor Active membership of the Law Society and/or other organisations or associations representing solicitors.
Professional Member: CILEx Fellow Active membership of CILEx and/or other organisations or associations representing the Chartered Legal Executive profession.
Circuit Judge Member: Active membership of the Council of Circuit Judges or other organisations representing Circuit Judges.
Additional Information
It will be important that a Member’s other commitments do not cast any doubt on their ability to act independently and impartially in discharging the role; any potential conflict of interest must be declared.
Public appointees are required to uphold the Board/Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Seven Principles of Public Life (see Appendix 1). You are also expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct for board members of public bodies.
How to Apply
Send the following documents: o A copy of your CV; o A supporting letter of no more than two sides that evidences how you meet all the criteria; o Details of any potential conflicts of interest; o Previous or current public appointments; o Names and contacts details of two referees (who will be contacted if you are shortlisted for interview); o Political activity declaration form; and the o Equal opportunities monitoring form.
Complete applications should be sent to: PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gsi.gov.uk , receipt of applications will be acknowledged.
Ref: PAT150040-JAC-MEMBERS