Court Associate - Essex

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Our Court Associates are essential to ensure Magistrates Court hearings run smoothly. They have the self-assurance to communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About you

You’re a confident communicator; able to speak publicly, with the self-assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner.

A real team player, working within a Legal Team and with a Judge, you’ll ensure the smooth running of all the Magistrates Courts sitting daily, able to intervene in Court when required and maximise judicial sitting time. With experience in producing exact and time critical documentation, your ability to focus will be key in taking pleas, producing Court orders and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.

Resilient and keen to learn, you’re familiar with working within process and have the IT skills to adapt to new systems and technologies as we’re constantly investing in digital solutions to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today’s world.

Your skills and experience

• Ability to be a supportive team player delivering excellent customer service and achieve effective performance.
• Able to speak publicly and within a court room environment.
• Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to complete documents accurately and to deadlines.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in delivering justice and gives you the benefits developing your career in the Civil Service.

Further details:

Base location will be a choice of Basildon or Colchester with frequent travel between the 4 court houses in Essex; Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend and Basildon.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week.

The nature of the role requires the postholder to be on-site between 9:30am and the court finish time, therefore it is unlikely to be suitable for applicants seeking to work part-days, and whilst applications for part time will be considered we are not able to consider less than 4 full working days per week for this specific role.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum.

Locational appointment.

The reserve list for this campaign will be managed in accordance with location preference/s, as indicated in your application. We will appoint in merit list order for each location outlined in the vacancy and hold a separate locational reserve list for each of these locations. After appointments have been made using this locational appointment process, any remaining candidates who met the benchmark for the role will remain on a locational reserve list in accordance with their preferences for 12 months. Please only indicate preferences where you are prepared to work. If you are subsequently offered a role from the reserve list for a location preference indicated in your application and decline it, you will be removed from the reserve list for the vacancy, across all locational preferences.

For a full job description, please read the Role Profile before applying.

Skilled Worker Visa

From 22 July 2025, the Government increased the salary threshold and skills level for Skilled Worker visas. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship in accordance with the current immigration rules if you looking to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for the first time.

The Department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously since before 22 July 2025. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you are applying for this role and you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship (or the transitional provisions), you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : [email protected]
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]