Lawyer x 2
£51,985 per annum
Closing date: 6 June 2017
Welcome. I’m delighted you’re interested in working with The Pensions Ombudsman. Let me tell you a little more about us so that you can decide if you like what you hear and think you might be the right fit to join us as a Lawyer.
We are a small office - about 60 strong. “Strong” is the right word, because we have such great people working here. Our aim is to support one another to provide the best service we can for people who use us. What we do makes a real difference to people’s lives, particularly at a time when every penny counts and people have to have faith in pensions if they are to save for tomorrow.
The Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman determine complaints and their decision is legally binding on the parties, subject only to appeal on a point of law to the Courts. As a Lawyer you will be handling some the more complex complaints. You will also be involved in policy consideration and litigation matters.
These are hugely challenging and rewarding jobs which can make a real difference to people’s lives and the pensions industry. They require you to have exceptional communication skills, a good knowledge of pensions legislation, at least two years post-legal qualification experience, and the ability to analyse and make clear and concise decisions.
If you think that you are have the skills and experience to take on this challenge we would be delighted to hear from you.
Anthony Arter
Pensions Ombudsman
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A description of the work of The Pensions Ombudsman
When someone has tried to resolve a problem with their pension and isn’t satisfied with the outcome, they can ask us to help.
We are an independent organisation set up by law to investigate complaints about pension administration. We also consider complaints about the actions and decisions of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and about some decisions made by the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS).
We look at the facts, without taking sides. And we have legal powers to make decisions that are final, binding and enforceable in court. Our service is free.
We are funded by grant-in-aid paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The grant-in-aid is largely recovered from the general levy on pension schemes administered by the Pensions Regulator.
Around 60 staff work here dealing with about 6,500 enquiries and 1,300 investigations each year. A number of investigations are resolved without the need for a full Ombudsman determination.
Purpose of the Lawyer role
Lawyers are expected to handle the more complex complaints which may mean analysing evidence, drafting and making and/or recommending a decision to the Pensions Ombudsman, or Deputy Pensions Ombudsman.
Lawyers will be required to instruct Counsel, or to handle any litigation arising from our decisions.
Lawyers are required to provide legal support to colleagues on legal issues arising on cases being investigated by other adjudicators.
Lawyers also play a central role in ensuring the organisation as a whole is aware of legal developments which may have an impact on the way we deal with cases; akin to acting in a professional support capacity.
Lawyers are accountable to the Legal Manager for the efficient and effective discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Duties
Investigate, advise on or settle complex (particularly legally complex) cases. Draft determinations for the Pensions Ombudsman’s review.
Support the Pensions Ombudsman in following through any legal consequences of determinations which are appealed, including handling any litigation.
Advise on matters of policy affecting The Pensions Ombudsman, its processes and procedures.
Liaise with external stakeholders to support The Pensions Ombudsman.
Give presentations on behalf of The Pensions Ombudsman.
Provide support and advice to colleagues in the organisation on legal and procedural issues which may arise on matters under investigation.
Research legal issues and disseminate information about points of interest or importance which may arise, for example from law reports.
Ensure that professional and technical knowledge keeps abreast with current changes.
Undertake such other duties as may be required by the Ombudsman or the Legal Director or the Legal Manager.
Essential qualifications, knowledge and skills
Essential requirements
Qualified as a solicitor or barrister with at least two years post qualification experience in pensions, litigation, regulatory or disputes resolution.
Interest in or preferably experience in pensions.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interpret law and precedence.
Good analytical and problem solving skills.
Excellent drafting skills.
Ability to manage caseload and progress a number of cases efficiently and effectively at any one time
Ability to reach a view, which at times will involve complex pension issues, on the validity of complaints on the basis of the evidence available and justifying this opinion to the Ombudsman
Awareness of own development needs.
Desirable
Experience as a pensions lawyer or pensions administrator or manager.
Experience of dispute resolution or complaints handling.
Litigation experience.
Main terms and conditions
These are permanent posts
Location
The successful candidates will be based at The Pensions Ombudsman, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1H 1RB. In April 2018 we will be moving to 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf E14 4PU. The appointed candidates will be required to move to the new office.
Salary
The salary range for a Lawyer is £51,985 to £61,032 per annum.
Pension
The post holders are entitled to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Further details are available from
Leave
Annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum plus bank holidays and 2½ days privilege holiday.
Hours
Contracted hours will be 41 per week including meal breaks.
Probation
The successful candidates will work a probationary period of 6 months. The appointment will be confirmed when this period has been completed successfully.
Other benefits include
- Interest free loans for the purchase of season tickets.
- Flexi time.
- Buying and selling annual leave.
- Other flexible working arrangements, subject to satisfactory performance.
- Free eye tests.
- Employee assistance programme.
Application process
Download the diversity monitoring form from our website and complete it and sent it together with your CV to
We expect to hold interviews on 28 and 29 June 2017.
Selection process
We will assess CVs to draw up a shortlist of candidates to invite to interview. We expect to hold interviews on 28 and 29 June 2017. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to:
- do a written test
- meet with members of the legal team and
- attend a formal competency based interview.
We thank you in advance for applying to us for these roles and we very much appreciate your interest. Regrettably we are unable to acknowledge applications or to feedback to those who are not invited to interview. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date please take it that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful. We reserve the right to amend the cut-off point for inviting candidates to interview from one recruitment exercise to the next depending on the volume of applications we receive.
Annex
HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
Everyone who works at The Pensions Ombudsman is expected to successfully complete the BPSS.
There are four elements of verification and we must be satisfied that evidence has been made available to enable verification of each element. These are:
- confirmation of nationality and immigration status;
- confirmation of identity;
- verification of previous three-year employment history;
- disclosure of unspent criminal convictions.
We will carry out the first three checks internally but for the unspent criminal conviction check we use Disclosure Scotland (an agency) to provide a disclosure certificate.
BPSS ensures that:
- new staff are entitled to undertake the employment in question and, where appropriate, meet nationality rules for government service;
- we are guarded against the employment of anyone posing as a prospective employee for commercial or personal gain; and
- a sound basis is provided for any subsequent security checks.
The check will be carried out when a contract offer has been made. The offer will be subject to successful completion of the BPSS. The contract will not commence until BPSS has been completed successfully.
Applicants should be aware that supplying false information or failing to disclose relevant information could be grounds for refusal/dismissal and could amount to a criminal offence.
Data protection
Checks require processing of personal data about individuals. The provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 will apply at all times.
Information about criminal records (self-disclosures, or other vetting disclosures) will only be held by the Business Manager and/or Human Resources Manager. Disclosure information will only be used for the specific purpose for which it was requested. For successful candidates, the information will be kept securely and will not normally be kept with standard personnel records if such records can be accessed by other staff. Disclosed information will be kept for a further six months beyond the duration of employment. For unsuccessful candidates such information will be kept for six months in line with all other recruitment paperwork. Once the retention period has elapsed, disclosed information will be destroyed by secure means.
We may check information provided by you, or information about you provided by a third party. We will not disclose information about you to anyone outside our organisation unless the law permits us to.
Information provided by you in this application, and the supporting documentation, will be used by the panel to consider your suitability for the post applied for. If you are successful, this information will become part of your employment record. If you are unsuccessful, some data may be used for monitoring purposes and will be destroyed after twelve months.
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