Professional Support Legal Assistant

Are you looking for a role that develops your legal research skills and helps deliver high quality legal services for the people of Scotland

We are looking to recruit two Professional Support Legal Assistants (PSLAs) to join the Scottish Government Legal Directorate (SGLD) to undertake legal research and provide Knowledge Management (KM) support to solicitors.

SGLD delivers a full range of legal services to the Scottish Government and various public bodies. This includes instructing primary legislation drafting secondary legislation and advising Ministers and officials across a broad range of legal issues. It is a fast-paced and high-profile environment often involving complex and sensitive legal matters.

PSLAs provide a vital service to solicitors across SGLD. They contribute to the delivery of timely high-quality legal advice through research and KM activities. Research supports both legislative and advisory work while KM activities help maintain and improve the Directorates knowledge resources underpinning the delivery of its KM Strategy. While PSLAs work closely with solicitors to enhance the quality and efficiency of legal services they do not provide legal advice or draft statutory instruments.

SGLD has a complement of four PSLAs (including these two posts). Each PSLA is assigned to two Divisions providing shared support across both. These vacancies will be assigned to the following Divisions:

• One post will support Rural Affairs Division (RA) and Marine Planning and Natural Resources Division (MPNR).
• The other post will support Economy and Social Protections Division (ESP) and Transport Commercial and Information Division (TCI).

PSLAs may be asked to support colleagues outside the Divisions to which they are primarily assigned.

Responsibilities

• Conducting legal research to support the delivery of high-quality legal services. This may involve preparing accurate and concise summaries of legal topics or research related to specific legislative or advisory matters.
• Maintaining and enhancing KM resources through regular reviews proposing improvements and supporting the Division and Directorate in managing its KM systems effectively. This includes updating the internal knowledge management system (the Wiki) and contributing notes and articles for its content.
• Supporting solicitors in staying up to date with legal developments which may include attending training and CPD events and preparing legal update notes for circulation within the Division or Directorate. PSLAs will be guided by team members on developments of particular relevance.
• Contributing to the KM Group within SGLD helping to improve and develop the Directorates overall KM infrastructure. This includes helping coordinate and contributing to the production of the Directorates regular Knowledge Management Update and similar activity.
• Maintaining appropriate contact with the other PSLAs and with solicitors in their Divisions.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class Honours degree in law (LLB (Hons)) OR a first- or second-class Honours degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. LLB (graduate entry) or LLM in law).

Alternatively applicants may be eligible to apply if they can provide evidence of excellent legal research skills and substantial work experience in legal research.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

• Lead criterion - The ability to undertake effective and efficient legal research and identify interpret and clearly communicate relevant information.

• Knowledge and understanding of public law and its practical application to government in Scotland.

Experience:

• Experience in organising and managing your own workload in a flexible way to respond to competing and changing priorities and deadlines.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and influencing - Level 2.

• Working Together - Level 2.

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviourshere.

How to apply

Apply online providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment this will consist of an interview and presentation.

In the event of a high number of applicants we will conduct an initial sift based on the lead criterion of Technical/Professional Skills. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against all remaining criteria as outlined in the Success Profile.