Judicial Assistant Court of Appeal; Civil Division

General information:
Salary £40,014 - £42,859, working pattern full time, fixed‑term contract (10 months) commencing September or October 2026, location Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
.

Judicial assistants in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal support one or two justices of appeal by preparing case summaries, bench memoranda and legal research. They provide assistance from the early stages of applications for permission to appeal through to full appeals, and when required help prepare speeches for justice of appeal.

• Prepare case summaries for permission to appeal applications and bench memoranda for full appeals as requested by the supervising Lord or Lady Justice.
• Complete case summaries and bench memoranda for other members of the court who do not have an assigned judicial assistant.
• Conduct legal research into specific subjects of interest in the law or administration of justice as requested by any justice of appeal.
• Assist in preparing speeches for assigned judges or other justices of appeal.
• Work flexibly and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the assigned judge or line manager.

Experience of practical legal research.

• A 2:1 undergraduate degree in law or better; or a 2:1 undergraduate degree in any other subject and a postgraduate law qualification. Predicted grades are not accepted.

Interview assessment will cover behaviour and strength questions. A written legal technical skills test – including a written component and a case analysis – will also be required. Face‑to‑face interviews will be conducted for candidates progressed from the sift stage.

Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
. Travel to other court sites may be required.

Applicants must successfully complete national security vetting at Counter‑Terrorism (CTC) level, including a Counter‑Terrorism Check (CTC) and background information as required. Residence in the UK for at least three years prior to application is required.

• Annual leave 25 days, increasing to 30 days after five years of service.
• Pension through the Civil Service scheme.
• Extensive training and development opportunities.
• Family‑friendly policies, flexible benefits and paid parental leave.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are core values of the Civil Service. The role is open to all registered and qualified candidates, subject to the legal framework for employment in the UK.