Litigation Lawyer
| Posting date: | 10 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £62,109 to £72,853 per year |
| Additional salary information: | National pay locations: Basingstoke, Castle Donington, Dover, Leeds, Liverpool, Salford, Sheffield, Stansted, £62,109 min - £68,320 max London pay locations: Croydon, Heathrow; London, £66,229 min - £72,852 max |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 23 April 2026 |
| Location: | Heathrow |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 456992/6 |
Summary
Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.
The Cash Forfeiture and Condemnation Legal Team sit within Criminal & Financial Investigation Unit which is part of Immigration Enforcement within the Home Office. The team is responsible for litigation relating to cash seized by officers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the seizure and restoration and condemnation (destruction, disposal or sale) of excise goods, other dutiable goods and illegally imported goods under the Customs and Excise Management Act.
We conduct litigation in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts as well as the Tax Tribunals and the issues we deal with can take us to the higher UK courts.
The successful candidate will manage a caseload comprising the forfeiture of cash, listed assets (e.g. watches or other high-value items) and frozen bank accounts seized by Officers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; the seizure and condemnation (destruction, disposal or sale) of excise goods, other dutiable goods and illegally imported / exported goods, including drugs and weapons, under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; and we defend Border Force against appeals to the First-tier Tax Tribunal under the Finance Act 1994 concerning the non-restoration of seized goods. This caseload offers a wide opportunity for drafting Statements of Case, skeleton argument and providing legal advice as well as the opportunity for advocacy where caseloads and time allow.
The team currently comprises four lawyers, three of whom are full time, and a support staff of two Higher Executive Officers (HEOs) who manage the Executive Officers (EOs). This support team work closely with the lawyers to assist in the litigation and the management of cases and administrative work of the team.
You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for (but not limited to):
- Legally supporting Border Force Officers and Immigration Officers, including supporting and working with Home Office Legal Advisers (HOLA)
- Case Management of cash, listed assets and frozen bank accounts seized by Officers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; the seizure and condemnation of excise goods and illegally imported / exported goods under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979; and the non-restoration of seized goods under the Finance Act 1994
- Reviewing witness statements and advising on strengths and weaknesses of case work
- Drafting Statements of Case and skeleton argument with advocacy possible
- Answering legal queries, and providing ad hoc advice to our partners when needed
- Attending case conferences and hearings to support Counsel and Case Officers
- Liaising with clients, Counsel and their clerks, court staff, litigants in person and legal representatives
- Ensuring adherence to principles of data storage, retrieval, transmission and clear desk policy
Working Pattern
This role is available on a full-time basis. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 22.2 hours across 3 days per week due to business requirements.
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