Paralegal

Job summary

The Litigation Unit acts for the CMA in all its civil litigation (in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court), with work focused on the areas of competition, consumer and public law.

You will play a crucial role in providing effective support to lawyers across the Litigation Unit. This will include providing administrative support, preparing bundles, managing electronic bundle platforms, effective file management, internal reporting and liaising with internal and external stakeholders as necessary.

About the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

The CMA is an independent non-ministerial UK government department and is the UK’s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.

We provide the opportunity to work across all sectors of the UK economy, undertaking objective, evidence-based analysis that can have a direct and substantial impact on the economy and economic prosperity.

Job description

As a paralegal, you will provide support to lawyers within the CMA's Litigation Unit by maintaining all aspects of document management including the preparation of documents for court hearings, conducting legal research and preparing background summaries.

You will attend hearings and proactively respond to matters that arise in court.

You will also liaise with Counsel, Court/Tribunal staff, witnesses, external service providers and lawyers acting for parties.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. For tips on how to make the most your application, please have a look at our guidance document.

• Law Degree (LLB or equivalent), or other undergraduate degree plus Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Law. (Lead criteria)
• Practical experience working in a similar role as part of a team in a litigation or legal environment. (Lead criteria)
• An understanding of litigation, and of the workings/procedures of courts and tribunals of England and Wales with (some knowledge of litigating in the Competition Appeal Tribunal could be beneficial).
• Excellent IT and digital skills with experience using case management systems and online legal research tools.

Desirable selection criteria include:

• Working knowledge of the Civil Procedure Rules.
• Completion of the vocational component of training for the Bar or completion of the LPC or SQE 1.

Qualifications

Law Degree (LLB or equivalent), or other undergraduate degree plus Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Law.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,085, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £9,005 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

You’ll also get:

• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering
• Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard
• A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work

You can read more about our benefits in our candidate pack.

Our Values

We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

You can read more about life at the CMA in our candidate pack

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.

The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review) and an interview, which will include a presentation or written exercise. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. Interviews will be conducted in-person at our CMA Head Office in Canary Wharf, London.

Sift stage

An initial sift based on criteria 1 and 2 (Lead Criteria) may be held if a large number of applications are received. If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification (above, below and in the attached role profile) will then be considered.

• Law Degree (LLB or equivalent), or other undergraduate degree plus Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Law. (Lead criteria)
• Practical experience working in a similar role as part of a team in a litigation or legal environment. (Lead criteria)
• An understanding of litigation, and of the workings/procedures of courts and tribunals of England and Wales with (some knowledge of litigating in the Competition Appeal Tribunal could be beneficial).
• Excellent IT and digital skills with experience using case management systems and online legal research tools.

The sift will take place week commencing 26th January 2026.

Interview stage

If your application is successful you will be invited to attend an interview. You will be notified via email to log-in to your Civil Service Account and book your interview slot. You will be sent an email with full details of your arrangements for interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing 9th February 2026 in-person at our CMA Head Office in Canary Wharf, London.

The interview will be a 45-minute-1 hour panel interview in which you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours and Experience outlined in the role profile.

The interview will also include a presentation or written exercise. Details will be provided in advance.

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make sure no one is at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

For example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Tom Skidmore
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Further information

If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Role Profile - Paralegal Opens in new window (pdf, 117kB)