Senior Policy Adviser in the Criminal Law TeamMinistry of Justice

Cross Government Location Leeds, London 09-Sep-2026 Post Type Permanent, The national salary is £42,914 - £46,182. London salary is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply. General Information Salary The national salary is £42,914 - £46,182. London salary is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location

Posted 20 August 2026

21379

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Criminal Law Policy team sits within the Criminal Courts and Victims Directorate and is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the criminal law and managing its development and advising ministers and other Government departments on proposed changes to the criminal law. We have a general responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the criminal law, ensuring it is fit for purpose. We are also responsible for certain specified criminal offences, and within the team there are three sub-teams covering violent offences, sexual offences and non-violent offences.

The vast majority of our work is delivered through changes to Primary Legislation. Criminal law Bill work is fast-paced and high-profile. It often requires significant engagement with Ministers and other government departments on rapid policy development, and engagement with Parliamentarians and stakeholders.

The portfolio has significant public, Ministerial and Parliamentary interest, and any successful candidate will need to be able to get to grips with complex policy issues and legislation. We work extremely closely with our legal advisors, as well as across Government and with operational partners such as the Crown Prosecution Service and National Crime Agency.

The Sexual Offences Team deals largely with offences such as rape, child sex offences, intimate image offences and indecent images of children offences. Current focus is on changes to child sex offences, both online and offline, and tackling intimate image abuse.

While the post holder will be based within the Sexual Offences Team, they may be required to provide support across the wider policy team as business needs dictate.

The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly and adapt quickly to emerging priorities, including supporting the development and delivery of policy in high-profile or fast-moving areas.

Applicants should note that the Criminal Law Policy team deals with a range of difficult and sensitive policy issues and criminal offences that cover areas involving abortion and assisted dying, sexual crimes, crimes against children and violence.

Successful candidates can expect to:

Lead on complex policy areas with significant interest from stakeholders.

Build good working relationships with a range of stakeholders – particularly Other Government Departments.

Draft high-quality advice and briefing to ministers on high-profile policy areas.

Support corporate activities to continue to make the Directorate a great place to work.

Lead on drafting Parliamentary Questions, FOIs, correspondence, and similar pieces of work.

Lead on measures in primary legislation.

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