The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
We’re recruiting Litigation Caseworkers to join our Customer Service Group. The closing date for applications is 2 June 2025.
The Customer Services Group brings together Asylum & Human Rights, Asylum Support and Dispersal, Asylum Accommodation Centres, Resettlement Group, Passports, Citizenship & Civil Registration, Customer Operations Support Services and UK Visas & Immigration. As a major operational arm of the Home Office, we play a vital role in supporting the economy and cultural life of the UK.
About the role
As a Litigation Caseworker you will predominantly work responding to pre-action protocol and managing judicial review challenges in the Upper Tribunal and High Court. You may also be involved in cases progressing to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and take on litigation cost negotiations. Handling of complex legal challenges that are novel and politically sensitive are often in the public eye. You can expect that some of your cases will have ministerial interest and may feature in the national media.
You will be responsible for drafting clear responses setting out the Home Office position to challenges, seeking input from operational decision makers, policy colleagues and other professional stakeholders to provide clear and timely instruction to government lawyers. You will be responsible for the management of the judicial review from the start to the end, and will gain experience in litigation handling, preparing cases for court and managing conclusions.
In this role and with the support of colleagues, you will become skilled at spotting decisions that should be defended and which may need to be reconsidered, whilst ensuring legal deadlines are met and quality is maintained.
Meet the team
You can learn more about our work and ask questions at our one of our Litigation Caseworker online events. Sign up below to secure your place on Eventbrite.
Wednesday 7th May 14:00 – 14:45
Wednesday 14th May 14:00 – 14:45
This is your opportunity to hear what working in this role is really like on a day-to-day basis, and you’ll be provided with hints and tips to help you write your application.
Working arrangements
We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location.
Training
Our Appeals, Litigation and Administrative Review team is committed to supporting staff with obtaining relevant professional qualifications. We have an innovative programme of support, which provides opportunities to qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
We do not expect you to have knowledge of immigration law – we deliver a comprehensive induction and ongoing training to enable you to become a subject matter expert – but an interest in immigration as well as experience in litigation will aid your development.
Whilst in post you will be given clear guidance setting out how to manage your cases and regular opportunities to develop your knowledge through training and other learning initiatives. You will also be surrounded by technical specialists, such as senior caseworkers, who will be on hand to help you navigate the management of your caseload. You will be supported by a line manager who will have regular coaching and performance conversations with you to help you reach and exceed your potential.
Please note that due to the resource and time dedicated to training and mentoring colleagues to become effective Litigation Caseworkers, there is a general expectation that candidates will remain in post for a period of 12 months. Beyond that, this role is a great springboard for an interesting career within our Appeals, Litigation and Administrative Review team, the Home Office and across the wider Civil Service.
Benefits
- A salary between £34,000 – £35,700 depending on location
- Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of 28.97%
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements
- Full training, along with access to development opportunities to help you grow in your career
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day
- An environment with flexible working options and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
Find out more about some of the other benefits we offer.
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- Croydon
- Feltham
- Glasgow
- Liverpool
- Sheffield
- Solihull
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The litigation caseworker role will involve:
- Assessing the challenges set out in pre-action protocol correspondence or judicial review claims against UK immigration legislation, guidance and policy to inform decision making
- Responding to pre-action protocol correspondence and referring to operational areas for action to remedy any original errors in the decision being challenged
- Escalating policy or procedural issues arising from pre-action protocol correspondence, judicial review claims and private law damages claims
- Liaising with and instructing government lawyers to achieve an agreed course of action in managing litigation, including approving grounds of defence on behalf of Secretary of State for the Home Department
- Supporting government lawyers and counsel on defending cases at the oral or substantive hearing stages, including securing witness statements when needed
- Making decisions on when cases should be settled and working with stakeholders to secure financial authority where it is appropriate to do so, to ensure the best cost outcomes
- Maintaining accurate records of activities/work completed across a range of systems
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The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- An undergraduate degree in any subject, or recent experience of complex case working in a government litigation team, or in a government case working team with significant litigation experience
- Ability to analyse complex information with a focus on identifying errors and irregularities
- Good communication and customer service skills with a particular emphasis on excellent written/drafting skills
- Ability to comply with set standards following guidance and procedures, in order to develop a strong working knowledge of immigration law
- Experience or ability to make high quality decisions in a changing and time pressured environment.
Note: We will not be able to make a formal offer of employment without evidence of the degree award or demonstrable recent experience of complex case working in a government litigation team, or in a government case working team with significant litigation experience.
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This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the following Civil Service caseworker skills test.
1. Online Test
If you successfully pass the caseworker skills test, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Online test must be completed 48 hours.
You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.
Following successful completion of your test/s, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
3. Sift
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement.
4. Interview
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will include Behaviours and Strength based questions. The interview will take place via Microsoft Teams.
We’ll assess you against these behaviours:
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
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The closing date for applications is 23:55 on 2 June 2025
If you are interested this role, please apply using the button below.
