Legal Assistant
| Posting date: | 28 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £31,236 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 May 2026 |
| Location: | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | REQ01139 |
Summary
The Judicial Institute for Scotland is seeking a highly organised and motivated Legal Assistant to undertake legal research to support the design and delivery of knowledge resources for judicial office holders in Scotland. This includes analysing case law and legislation and producing accurate, high‑quality written work.
You will also support the Institute’s Board, Advisory Council, and a range of committees and working groups. In this role, you will provide committee secretary support and help ensure smooth and effective governance.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, strong legal research ability, attention to detail, and confidence using IT. You should be able to manage your own workload professionally, work effectively as part of a team, and adapt to new technologies.
If you are organised, professional, and interested in contributing to judicial education in Scotland, we would welcome your application. Due to the nature of the role, it is essential that you hold a LLB Law (Honours) Degree at 2:1 or above. A diploma in Professional Legal Practice is also desirable, but not essential.
The key responsibilities include:
General research responsibilities:
Conduct research into aspects of law and practice as required by members of the judiciary for publications such as bench books, briefing papers and brief notes, and for training course content as required.
Undertake legal research projects under the direction of members of the judiciary.
Liaise closely with members of the judiciary in drafting and updating a range of briefing and guidance materials such as bench books, knowledge resources, brief notes, briefing papers, case summaries, news items and other papers as required.
Keep up to date with and monitor changes in relevant law and practice.
Provide committee secretary support to, and support the work of the Board and Advisory Council of the Judicial Institute, and its various committees and working groups:
Responsible for the timeous and accurate preparation and distribution of committee agendas, papers and minutes, and support in relation to membership matters.
Prepare drafts of committee papers for consideration by the Chair, Vice Chair, Director, Deputy Director, Head of Education and Head of Legal and Secretariat as appropriate.
Attend meetings, take minutes and assume responsibility for allocated work emerging out of the Jury Manual Committee, Advisory Council and the other committees and working groups of the Institute.
Support colleagues by ensuring all organisational aspects of committee, working group and Advisory Council meetings are in place.
Provide administrative and secretariat assistance as required:
Draft and format a range of reports, documents and correspondence as required.
Responsible for quality assurance, including checking content for typos, grammar, punctuation, and consistency in style and formatting.
Responsible for carrying out any other duties as reasonably required to support the work of the Institute.
To help direct us towards achieving our purpose successfully, we embrace three key values of respect, service and excellence. These guide our behaviour, decisions and actions - in pursuit of fulfilling our purpose to the highest standard.
The closing date for applications is 22 May 2026.
You will also support the Institute’s Board, Advisory Council, and a range of committees and working groups. In this role, you will provide committee secretary support and help ensure smooth and effective governance.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, strong legal research ability, attention to detail, and confidence using IT. You should be able to manage your own workload professionally, work effectively as part of a team, and adapt to new technologies.
If you are organised, professional, and interested in contributing to judicial education in Scotland, we would welcome your application. Due to the nature of the role, it is essential that you hold a LLB Law (Honours) Degree at 2:1 or above. A diploma in Professional Legal Practice is also desirable, but not essential.
The key responsibilities include:
General research responsibilities:
Conduct research into aspects of law and practice as required by members of the judiciary for publications such as bench books, briefing papers and brief notes, and for training course content as required.
Undertake legal research projects under the direction of members of the judiciary.
Liaise closely with members of the judiciary in drafting and updating a range of briefing and guidance materials such as bench books, knowledge resources, brief notes, briefing papers, case summaries, news items and other papers as required.
Keep up to date with and monitor changes in relevant law and practice.
Provide committee secretary support to, and support the work of the Board and Advisory Council of the Judicial Institute, and its various committees and working groups:
Responsible for the timeous and accurate preparation and distribution of committee agendas, papers and minutes, and support in relation to membership matters.
Prepare drafts of committee papers for consideration by the Chair, Vice Chair, Director, Deputy Director, Head of Education and Head of Legal and Secretariat as appropriate.
Attend meetings, take minutes and assume responsibility for allocated work emerging out of the Jury Manual Committee, Advisory Council and the other committees and working groups of the Institute.
Support colleagues by ensuring all organisational aspects of committee, working group and Advisory Council meetings are in place.
Provide administrative and secretariat assistance as required:
Draft and format a range of reports, documents and correspondence as required.
Responsible for quality assurance, including checking content for typos, grammar, punctuation, and consistency in style and formatting.
Responsible for carrying out any other duties as reasonably required to support the work of the Institute.
To help direct us towards achieving our purpose successfully, we embrace three key values of respect, service and excellence. These guide our behaviour, decisions and actions - in pursuit of fulfilling our purpose to the highest standard.
The closing date for applications is 22 May 2026.
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