89 - Trainee Solicitor
| Posting date: | 18 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,443 to £30,945 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 April 2026 |
| Location: | Swansea, Wales |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 89 |
Summary
Purpose of the post:
Are you looking for a truly varied role where you will be involved in a range of matters including inquiries, litigation and complaints?
This is an exciting time for the IMA and some of the work we have been doing includes:
• A range of litigation, including a landmark judicial review of elements of the EU Settlement Scheme, and important interventions on novel and contentious questions of interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement.
• The IMA’s first inquiry on delays in the issuing of Certificates of Application under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Reviewing legislation from each of the different governments across the UK which cover a range of subjects including student finance, social security, immigration and the recognition of qualifications.
You can read more about this work and more on our website.
We are expanding our Legal team to help support this work and are looking for a Trainee Solicitor to join our current team.
We are offering a varied role that will give wide exposure across the full range of legal matters requiring input from the IMA Legal Directorate.
The role will offer a unique opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive but challenging environment.
You will work with a Senior Legal Adviser, within a current team of 8 lawyers (comprising 3 Senior Legal Advisers and 5 Legal Advisers) within the Legal Directorate of the IMA, reporting to the IMA General Counsel.
As a Trainee Solicitor, you will be expected to contribute to the successful delivery of legal services within the IMA. You will assist in all aspects of the IMA’s work, including in relation to inquiries, legislation monitoring, litigation, and complaints, in addition to contribution to the development of training materials and guidance. You will have the full support of all colleagues both from within the Legal Directorate and from across the IMA.
As part of your training, it is likely that you will be expected to undertake a short period of secondment with another public sector legal department or solicitor’s firm, in order to ensure that you receive a breadth of experience of working within the legal sector.
We offer tailored learning and development required for you to thrive in this role and you will have support and guidance to progress your legal career.
The Trainee Solicitor role is a fixed term appointment of up to two years. If appointed and you successfully complete the required training contract, you may be offered a permanent appointment as a Legal Adviser at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) grade working towards Grade 7. If a post is available and you are offered a permanent position, a 24-month transitional period will apply. During the transitional period, you will be expected to successfully complete the objectives and meet the performance standards of the Grade 7 Legal Adviser Framework. In accordance with business needs, you will be provided with the support, training and opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and expertise to achieve this goal.
Please note that the current HQ is based at the Civic Centre in Swansea.
The IMA currently operates informal, non-contractual hybrid working arrangements with a regular requirement to attend the Swansea office. In person working accounts to around 40% of contractual working hours over the course of a year through a combination of time in our Swansea office, or through direct contact operational activity (e.g. meeting with stakeholders and citizens, court attendance). Some of this time is mandated by business activity but the remaining time is not fixed and can be managed in discussions with line managers to provide flexibility at an individual level.
Pattern of Working: Due to the nature of the role this is a full-time post requiring regular attendance in our Swansea office. The IMA offers a flexi time scheme.
If you would like to discuss this further, please get in touch with the job contact HR@ima-citizensrights.org.uk
Are you looking for a truly varied role where you will be involved in a range of matters including inquiries, litigation and complaints?
This is an exciting time for the IMA and some of the work we have been doing includes:
• A range of litigation, including a landmark judicial review of elements of the EU Settlement Scheme, and important interventions on novel and contentious questions of interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement.
• The IMA’s first inquiry on delays in the issuing of Certificates of Application under the EU Settlement Scheme.
• Reviewing legislation from each of the different governments across the UK which cover a range of subjects including student finance, social security, immigration and the recognition of qualifications.
You can read more about this work and more on our website.
We are expanding our Legal team to help support this work and are looking for a Trainee Solicitor to join our current team.
We are offering a varied role that will give wide exposure across the full range of legal matters requiring input from the IMA Legal Directorate.
The role will offer a unique opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive but challenging environment.
You will work with a Senior Legal Adviser, within a current team of 8 lawyers (comprising 3 Senior Legal Advisers and 5 Legal Advisers) within the Legal Directorate of the IMA, reporting to the IMA General Counsel.
As a Trainee Solicitor, you will be expected to contribute to the successful delivery of legal services within the IMA. You will assist in all aspects of the IMA’s work, including in relation to inquiries, legislation monitoring, litigation, and complaints, in addition to contribution to the development of training materials and guidance. You will have the full support of all colleagues both from within the Legal Directorate and from across the IMA.
As part of your training, it is likely that you will be expected to undertake a short period of secondment with another public sector legal department or solicitor’s firm, in order to ensure that you receive a breadth of experience of working within the legal sector.
We offer tailored learning and development required for you to thrive in this role and you will have support and guidance to progress your legal career.
The Trainee Solicitor role is a fixed term appointment of up to two years. If appointed and you successfully complete the required training contract, you may be offered a permanent appointment as a Legal Adviser at Senior Executive Officer (SEO) grade working towards Grade 7. If a post is available and you are offered a permanent position, a 24-month transitional period will apply. During the transitional period, you will be expected to successfully complete the objectives and meet the performance standards of the Grade 7 Legal Adviser Framework. In accordance with business needs, you will be provided with the support, training and opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and expertise to achieve this goal.
Please note that the current HQ is based at the Civic Centre in Swansea.
The IMA currently operates informal, non-contractual hybrid working arrangements with a regular requirement to attend the Swansea office. In person working accounts to around 40% of contractual working hours over the course of a year through a combination of time in our Swansea office, or through direct contact operational activity (e.g. meeting with stakeholders and citizens, court attendance). Some of this time is mandated by business activity but the remaining time is not fixed and can be managed in discussions with line managers to provide flexibility at an individual level.
Pattern of Working: Due to the nature of the role this is a full-time post requiring regular attendance in our Swansea office. The IMA offers a flexi time scheme.
If you would like to discuss this further, please get in touch with the job contact HR@ima-citizensrights.org.uk