Legal Executive - B1

This opportunity is only open to internal Scottish Government applicants who are currently 'Priority Movers'. Applications from individuals not currently on the Priority Mover list will be rejected and not considered.

The Office of the Advocate General is the UK Government’s Scottish legal team and the HMRC Division provide legal services to HMRC in Scotland. We place a strong emphasis on building good relationships with HMRC colleagues.

The Division

HMRC Division’s work is litigation-focussed and includes handling appeals to the First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber), the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), the Outer House (Judicial Reviews), Inner House of the Court of Session and the Supreme Court, all on behalf of HMRC.

We undertake sheriff court actions associated with HMRC’s fraud inquiry function such as Account Freezing Orders. The Division also advises HMRC in relation to debt management, involving bankruptcies and liquidations, and National Minimum Wage enforcement involving sheriff court debt collection and employment tribunal appeals.

The work of the Division is challenging, varied, rewarding and, at times, high profile.

The Division has nine solicitors and is currently comprised of a Deputy Director, three C2 solicitors and five C1 solicitors, nominally split into three branches dealing respectively with:

• Direct Taxes (primarily Income, Corporation and Inheritance Taxes)

• Indirect Taxes (primarily VAT and excise duties)

• National Minimum Wage (enforcement and appeals).

There is a great deal of collaboration across the three branches and a Divisional mindset is required to allow the work to be progressed as efficiently as possible. In addition, there are opportunities to learn about and get involved in the work of the other divisions within the office (Devolution & General Litigation, Advisory & Legislation and Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General) and our Business Support Team. There may also be opportunities to get work experience in our office in London or in HMRC offices elsewhere. The Division has access to extensive training opportunities provided both by the UK and Scottish Government Departments.

The HMRC Division is a small, friendly and collegiate Division and you will be well supported by all colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Providing high quality, proactive and effective advice and support to HMRC Division solicitors in their conduct of litigation on behalf of HMRC in Scotland, including by drafting supporting court documents, arranging for service of court documents, compiling documents for hearings in courts and tribunals and liaising with and instructing counsel to act on behalf of HMRC in some cases.
• Taking ownership for the timely and accurate completion of streamlined court processes such as petitions for liquidation in the Court of Session and simple procedure cases.
• Timely and professional communication with clients, colleagues, court and tribunal clerks and counsel in connection with litigation.
• Sharing responsibility for managing the office’s Legal Services inbox. This will include proactively and effectively dealing with the items in the inbox, processing specifications of documents and other court orders served on UK government departments in Scotland, and assisting with the allocation of outsourced litigation work for UK government departments.
• Contributing to and assisting colleagues with the review and continuous improvement of the Division’s Knowledge Bank.

Working pattern

This role is a permanent level transfer position.

How to Apply

Applications for this position will only be accepted from substantive B1 employees.

Please submit a statement outlining your suitability for the role, relevant skills and experience, and what you would bring to the team (maximum 500 words).

Selection Process

All candidates will be invited to an informal discussion with the Hiring Manager.

Informal discussion dates tbc.

Further Information

If you have specific questions about the role, please contact ***email_hidden***

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.