Judicial Assistant

Job summary

Every year, the Court invites applications for up to 11 Judicial Assistants to support the work of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC). The role provides a unique opportunity for talented junior lawyers to work closely with the Justices, to observe some of the UK’s top advocates and to see how appeals are decided at the highest level.

Due to the nature of the Court’s work, in the past the majority of Judicial Assistants have been qualified to practise as a solicitor, barrister or advocate in one of the UK jurisdictions and have had some practical experience in those professions. However, the Court recognises that the most important quality needed for the role is intellectual ability and it therefore also strongly encourages applications from non-qualified candidates able to demonstrate outstanding academic knowledge of the UK legal system and advanced experience in legal research, as detailed in the eligibility requirements set out below.

Job description

Each Judicial Assistant is assigned, typically, to a single Justice. The Judicial Assistants’ responsibilities include:

1. Conducting legal research on appeals and applications for permission to appeal
2. Drafting bench memos summarising applications for permission to appeal
3. Attending appeal hearings and discussing them with the Justices
4. Drafting legally accurate, plain English press summaries of judgments for publication on the Court’s website
5. Generally assisting the Justices in their work, including with any extra-judicial speeches, articles and other publications
6. Responding to requests for information from international judicial and comparative law networks
7. Supporting the Court’s educational and outreach activity, including the annual mooting and Ask a Justice programmes
8. Assisting the Court’s Registrar with regards to applications for permission to appeal and appeals.

From the perspective of aspiring solicitors, barristers and advocates, the role is extremely well regarded within the legal profession, with many Judicial Assistants going on to secure pupillage or training contracts at leading chambers or firms. Others have gone on to have successful careers in government or in academia.

Person specification

Required for the role:

1. Excellent academic record. The UK Supreme Court hears appeals that give rise to the most challenging and complex legal issues. Many successful candidates for the role therefore hold a first-class undergraduate degree. However, the Court recognises that grades must be considered in context and it therefore also considers excellent applications from candidates with a 2.1 undergraduate degree who can demonstrate strong academic ability

2.Qualified to practise as a solicitor, barrister or advocate in one of the UK jurisdictions by 1 October 2026 or have the qualifications specified in (3) below.

3. For those who are not qualified to practise as a solicitor, barrister or advocate in one of the UK jurisdictions by 1 October 2026, we require further evidence of outstanding academic knowledge of the UK legal system and advanced experience in legal research evidenced by:

a. Typically, a first-class undergraduate degree in law* (although we will consider excellent applications from candidates with a 2.1 undergraduate degree in law) from a UK-based university or other UK-based higher education provider; and

b. an academic master’s degree in law (LLM, BCL or MPhil**) typically obtained, or expected, with Distinction (although we will also consider excellent applications from candidates with a Commendation) to be completed by 1 October 2026 and/or those who have completed or are currently pursuing a PhD in law

3. Right to work in the UK – the Court is unable to sponsor visas

4. Excellent legal research skills, including the ability to analyse and form a view on unfamiliar areas of law

5. Strong oral and written communication skills

6. Planning and organisational skills required to meet deadlines and manage conflicting demands effectively

7. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

* This does not include the Graduate Diploma in Law and equivalent qualifications. However, we will treat a first-class non-law undergraduate degree plus a Graduate Diploma in Law with Distinction as satisfying condition (a).

** More vocational master’s degrees (such as the LLM in Legal Practice or the LLM Bar Training Course) will not satisfy this requirement.

Desirable for the role:

1. Post-qualification experience working as a solicitor, barrister or advocate in one of the UK jurisdictions
2. A track record of building trust demonstrated by excellent professional relationships with colleagues at all levels
3. Good knowledge and experience of using MS Office suite including Outlook and SharePoint

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,382, The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom contributes £12,278 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 23 days annual leave plus 9 ½ Public and Privilege days per year (pro rata for fixed term contracts).
• Civil Service Pension – further details will be made available on appointment.
• On-site café and discounts for staff.
• Corporate membership to Benenden Health.
• EdenRed employee discounts.
• Annual eyecare voucher.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season ticket loan.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application process

For more information, please visit our webpage: Judicial assistant recruitment - UK Supreme Court

To apply to be a Judicial Assistant please click on theapply now button below:

APPLY NOW

Closing date

Applications close on 23:59 on 26th February 2026

It is expected that interviews will be held in the week beginning 20th April 2026

If you have any questions about this role, please contact us by emailing: JARecruitment@supremecourt.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : JA Recruitment Team
• Email : JARecruitment@supremecourt.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : JArecruitment@supremecourt.uk

Attachments

UK Supreme Court - Judicial Assistant Recruitment 202627 - Job Description - Final Opens in new window (pdf, 181kB)

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