Litigator
Litigator
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Closing on: Jan 23 2025
- £29,475 - £31,536
This vacancy falls under HMRC Legal Group and specifically within National Tax Litigation business stream. This business stream works a range of litigation, mainly defending appeals on behalf of the wider department made by taxpayer customers in the Tax Tribunal. In this role you will join our Litigation Team, dealing with tribunal appeals against automated penalties for late payment and late filing. You will take responsibility for cases from start to finish; this includes case preparation, filing Tribunal papers and representing HMRC at Tribunal hearings.
Person specification
The successful applicants will be responsible for delivering casework, the duties vary depending on the post but will include some of the following:
Essential Criteria:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by as day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Overview of selection process: HMRC Legal Group use the Success Profiles framework for its recruitment. Your application will be assessed against the Experience element of the framework. The Behaviours and Strengths element of the framework will be tested at interview.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
Selection will be by sift and interview.
A preliminary sift on the Essential Criteria will be conducted and only candidates meeting the criteria will progress.
Those applications progressing to full sift will then be assessed using their CV and Personal Statement, each scored separately.
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage and progress to interview will be interviewed online.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
The interview process will include Behaviours (Communicating and Influencing and Working Together) and Strengths-based questions.
The Strength-based questions look at a combination of what people are good at and what they enjoy doing. They focus on specific areas which motivate, naturally enthuse, and excite candidates. The best way to prepare is to reflect on what you feel your personal strengths are and your preferred way of working. It's important to remember that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. The panel will be looking for your unrehearsed initial response. You will not be notified of the strengths being tested before your interview.
Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Start dates may not be agreed straight away but this will be discussed further with successful candidates.
Other Information:
Successful applicants may be required to complete a Training Assessment Period; further information will be provided to the successful candidate(s).
HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can't guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes.
This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 385683 & vacancy closing date 23/01/2025'.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. 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:
Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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:
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 the Civil 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 :
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
Attachments
Combined TC and OGD Pay - English Opens in new window (docx, 132kB)
Person specification
The successful applicants will be responsible for delivering casework, the duties vary depending on the post but will include some of the following:
- Make decisions about case progression
- Independently draft and serve notices and applications to be served on the Tribunal
- Independently draft and send case correspondence
- Prepare chronologies
- Identify relevant documents and produce bundles
- Presenting hearings on behalf of HMRC at Tribunal/Court
- Draft statement of case and other key documents
- As a case holder, manage or support all aspects of case management from commencement of proceedings through to hearing and conclusion, ensuring legal deadlines are strictly adhered to
- Provide legal support to experienced senior colleagues on complex cases
- Some administrative duties, and may include instructing counsel if necessary
- A strong team player with the ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
Essential Criteria:
- Experience as a litigator; or
- Supporting the administration of litigation or reviews (tax, non-tax and benefits and credits), or
- operational experience of direct or indirect tax activity; or
- Legal Qualification - law degree or equivalent.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- An ability to work to changing demands and priorities.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by as day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
- Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
- Family friendly policies.
- Personal support.
- Coaching and development.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Overview of selection process: HMRC Legal Group use the Success Profiles framework for its recruitment. Your application will be assessed against the Experience element of the framework. The Behaviours and Strengths element of the framework will be tested at interview.
How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
- A name-blind CV, to include your job history over the past 5 roles and a summary of experience and what you have delivered and any key achievements in each role.
- A 500-word Personal Statement. This should clearly demonstrate how you believe your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for this role, focusing on the Short Summary, Job Description and Responsibilities (Person Specification) as detailed in the advert.
- A statement on how you meet the Essential Criteria. You do not need to use the full 500 word-count, and this can be demonstrated in a bullet point format.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
Selection will be by sift and interview.
A preliminary sift on the Essential Criteria will be conducted and only candidates meeting the criteria will progress.
Those applications progressing to full sift will then be assessed using their CV and Personal Statement, each scored separately.
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage and progress to interview will be interviewed online.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
The interview process will include Behaviours (Communicating and Influencing and Working Together) and Strengths-based questions.
The Strength-based questions look at a combination of what people are good at and what they enjoy doing. They focus on specific areas which motivate, naturally enthuse, and excite candidates. The best way to prepare is to reflect on what you feel your personal strengths are and your preferred way of working. It's important to remember that there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. The panel will be looking for your unrehearsed initial response. You will not be notified of the strengths being tested before your interview.
Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Start dates may not be agreed straight away but this will be discussed further with successful candidates.
Other Information:
Successful applicants may be required to complete a Training Assessment Period; further information will be provided to the successful candidate(s).
HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can't guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes.
This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 385683 & vacancy closing date 23/01/2025'.
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. 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:
Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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
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 the Civil 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 : Debbie Mitchell
- Email : debbie.mitchell1@hmrc.gov.uk
- Telephone : 03000516636
- Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.
Attachments
Combined TC and OGD Pay - English Opens in new window (docx, 132kB)
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