Paralegal Officer (Band 5/EO)

Job summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is recruiting a Paralegal Officer to join its Legal Services Division's Advisory, Legislation and Litigation Strategy (ALLS) team. The ALLS team works closely with policy and other colleagues to support them to make clear, proper and lawful decisions. You will work with and support team members, playing a key role alongside the lawyers in considering legal risk and anticipating legal challenges. The ALLS team was established in April 2025 and is responsible for all advisory legal work for the HSE. It does not handle HSE's enforcement/prosecution work, which is dealt with elsewhere in the Legal Services Division (LSD). The ALLS team also provides some advisory legal services to another regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation. LSD plays a vital role in supporting HSE to deliver its strategic objectives, in particular to ensure that Great Britain remains one of the safest countries in which to work

This is a new paralegal role which involves working with lawyers (principally in the ALLS team), contributing directly to public confidence in terms of HSE, the wider justice system and the Government Legal Profession.This includes advising on policy, public law, statutory interpretation, statutory instrument (Sl) drafting and engagement with a number of other Government Departments, stakeholders and regulators. You will support the members of that team, including working directly with the Deputy Director leading it, in order to deliver a consistently high-quality service to HSE and in turn the UK Government.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

Due to the nature of the work involved this role is only suitable for full time working. We are amenable to the possibility of a full time working pattern (37 hours) being compressed over four days.

Travel

This post can be based in any of the advertised HSE locations. However, this post will require regular travel to HSE’s headquarters in Bootle and, less regularly, to other HSE offices. Additionally, travel to Court Centres across the jurisdiction may be required. This will involve some overnight stays.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to become a pivotal part of a recently established advisory team working frequently with other advisory and litigation teams across the wider Government Legal Profession (GLP). You will also be part of a wider, vibrant paralegal team which deals with some of the most complex and significant prosecutions in this area of regulatory law which, put simply, helps to save lives. Our enforcement powers are key not only to ensuring compliance with the wider Health and Safety regime but also ensuring that those responsible for causing death and serious injury are appropriately prosecuted.

The paralegal role will contribute directly to public confidence, both in HSE and in the wider justice system. The team has delivered a wide range of work including Sl drafting, advising on complex policy and litigation matters (some spanning multiple parts of Government), representation at statutory inquiries, and advising on Bills. The team provides risk-based legal advice on a wide range of areas, from chemicals regulation to workplace safety, and from the EU reset to inquiries. The legal issues HSE encounters are often complex, wide-ranging and novel. When the business need arises, you will be expected to support Business Management colleagues elsewhere in the Division with their work. The specific tasks of the role are likely to vary depending on the team’s priorities at any time.

Key Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Providing legal support to lawyers within the ALLS Team to help them with their legal practices, building and maintaining good relationships with clients and liaising with the deputy director and Business Management colleagues on the production of regular, accurate Management Information
• Playing an active role in legal awareness for clients and liaising with different client teams and department on legal matters, including complying with the HSE’s knowledge and information management process
• Liaising with external stakeholders such as lawyers from other government department, legal representatives from applicant, claimants and/or duty holders, counsel chambers, private law firms and other government departments on varying matters, including fees
• Arranging and attending conferences with Counsel and others, including conducting any related tasks such as identifying suitable counsel, liaising with clerks, note-taking and capturing key points, and any follow-up activity
• Carrying out legal research, presenting results and using it to inform notes or first drafts of advice
• Assisting with the management of large-scale projects such as secondary legislation drafting, implementing new agreements, procurements, commercial, litigation and other dispute resolution and coordinating these elements across Government departments
• Supporting the Division’s advisory and litigation strategy functions, which includes providing legal research responding to initial queries, knowledge and record management (including relating to any work arising from statutory inquiries or litigation), drafting - under supervision - non complex instructions to counsel

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria

To undertake this role, you will have:

• Experience of client care, managing own caseloads and managing clients’ expectations
• The ability to work independently and prioritise work whilst successfully delivering in a pressurised environment
• Experience of using own initiative to meet deadlines whilst managing competing interests
• Proficiency at using Adobe, Excel, Word, Outlook, Google Docs and legal databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw/Practical Law
• The ability to work as part of an effective team on ad-hoc tasks and projects in an organised way whilst balancing demands
• Good written and oral communication skills
• The ability to critically analyse a range of evidence, options and make an appropriate recommendation

Hybrid Working

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Qualifications

An undergraduate degree in any subject (minimum 2:2)

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,770, Health and Safety Executive contributes £9,493 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

We invest in our people with:

• Competitive rates of pay
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than in the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 185 hours annual holiday increasing to 222 hours after 5 years' qualifying service, plus public holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave (recorded as 7.4 hours in addition to your annual leave balance)
• Parental leave benefits
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards, and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed
  

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a CV which details your career history, experience and qualifications.

Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

You will also be asked to complete an anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert.

Sift Information

The sift will take place week commencing 16th November 2026 when you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement

IMPORTANT: Please note an initial sift will be conducted on your CV. If you meet the benchmark for the CV element, you will be progressed to a full sift in which the Personal Statement will also be scored. If you do not meet the standard for the CV, you will not receive a score for your Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place week commencing 23rd November 2026 when you will be assessed against the 4 behaviours detailed within the job advert as well as a strength based question.

The lead behaviour Making Effective Decisions will be used in the event of a tie-break.

You will also be asked to prepare and deliver a 5-minute oral presentation, further details of the presentation will be sent to candidates invited to interview.

Please note the dates for sift and interview may be subject to change due to panel availability.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

If you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example, if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further;
Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Courage Aiguobasinmwin
• Email : Courage.Aiguobasinmwin@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address:
HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners:
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…

Attachments

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)