- Strong communication skills;
- High levels of personal impact, and the ability to provide constructive and independent challenge and support to the Commissioners when meeting as a Board;
- Good judgement, with the capability to bring a fresh, external view to decision-making;
- Strong influencing skills;
- Sound strategic thinking skills, coupled with the ability to make practical, pragmatic decisions; and
- Sound knowledge and experience of good governance at senior levels in an organisation in either the private or public sector.
Non-Executive Board Member, Law Commission of England and Wales PAT 160056
Application deadline 31 August 2022
Summary
- Organisation
- Law Commission
- Sponsor department
- Ministry of Justice
- Location
- London
- Sector
- Regulation
- Skills
- Regulation
- Number of vacancies
- 2
- Time commitment
- Length of term
- Up to 20 days a year, but more typically 10-12 days
- Application deadline
- 9am on 31 August 2022
Timeline for this appointment
-
Opening date
27 June 2022
-
Application deadline
9am on 31 August 2022
Person specification
In addition, one or more of the following would be useful:
- Experience of working with Ministers, parliamentarians, the media and senior officials in government;
- Broad business experience at Board level, preferably including financial management, in a major delivery organisation in the private, public or third sector;
- Experience of engaging with a broad range of stakeholders using innovative methods and new technologies;
- Experience of building and sustaining relationships with key stakeholders including the ability to respond to and reconcile the differing needs of those stakeholders.
- A strong understanding of Whitehall and Parliament.
Role description
The Law Commission is seeking to appoint two Non-Executive Board Members (NEBM). The Commission are seeking NEBMs who will support and challenge the Commission, both through further improvements to their corporate governance and financial management, but also in shaping the Commission’s strategy for the future of law reform. The Commission are seeking to recruit people who will help us to deliver on their vision:
- To be the authoritative independent voice on law reform;
- To make a positive difference through law reform work;
- To be proactive in promoting the need for law reform in key areas and for having “good law”;
- To have a strong reputation in the UK and abroad for being effective in the delivery of law reform; and
- To attract the best talent and be an excellent place to work.
The Board meets collectively once a month, usually on a Wednesday (apart from in August), to discuss, amongst other things: the Commission’s progress against its objectives as set out in the Business Plan; risk; financial performance; and current strategic issues affecting the Commission as a whole. The NEBMs are expected to attend these meetings (virtually or in-person) and provide challenge and support to Commissioners when considering these issues.
NEBMs have no formal responsibilities in relation to individual law reform proposals, which remain the responsibility of the five independent Commissioners.
Application and selection process
In order to apply you will need to provide:
A Curriculum Vitae which provides details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any publications or awards; please also provide your preferred contact number and email address.
A personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) providing evidence against the role criteria and your suitability for the post. Please consider the role and criteria carefully in preparing your statements. Information from AAPs indicates that applications which offer specific and tailored examples against the criteria, making clear the candidate’s role in achieving an outcome are often the strongest. Structuring the statement around the criteria using relevant headings also aids clarity.
Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;
Diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel. DIVERSITY MONITORING FORM DIVERSITY MONITORING FORM (WORD DOC.)
Disability Confident – If you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme,
Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable).
Candidate Pack - Please see candidate pack on the link: https://papt-candidate-packs-live.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/NEBM+Law+Com+Candidate+Infomation+Pack+EWB+Rev3+140622.doc
The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.
If you have any questions about the appointments process, please contact Phil Golding at Phillip.golding@lawcommission.gov.uk
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The names of all appointable candidates are provided to Ministers. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to Ministers in a report which details the assessment method used and the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
The Panel will be:
· Sir Nicholas Green, Chair of the Law Commission (Panel Chair);
· Phil Golding, Chief Executive of the Law Commission;
· Roshnee Patel, MoJ Deputy Director
· Nick McBride, College Lecturer in law, Pembroke College, Cambridge
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)Additional information for candidates
- ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
- making adaptations to interview locations;
- allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
- giving detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
- allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
- making provision for support animals to attend.
Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:
- SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
- INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
- OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
- ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
- OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
- HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
- LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
- any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government;
- any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or or public statements that you have made;
- and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported;