How to Apply
Stage 1: Application form
Applications for the programme close on 03/06/2025
You will be asked to complete:
A basic application form, detailing your personal details.
Stage 2: Online tests
If you pass the eligibility criteria, you will be invited to complete the Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Online Test.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 03/06/2025 23:55.
If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests to manage the applications through to next stage. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.
Successful candidates will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.
Stage 3: 2nd Stage of Online Tests
If you are successful in Stage 2, you will be invited to complete 2 more online tests, the Civil Service Judgement Test and the Civil Service Work Strengths test.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 03/06/2025 23:55.
If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests to manage the applications through to next stage. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.
Successful candidates will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.
Stage 4- Full application
If you are successful at the previous stages you will be asked to provide the following:
-
A 1000-word personal statement. You should address the following in the personal statement:
your motivation and passion for a career in the law, why you want to be a Government lawyer and, specifically, a solicitor apprentice within HMRC;
how you will balance work and studies; and,
a description of your relevant skills and knowledge against examples laid out in the campaign pack.
Where possible, it would be helpful to link your motivation to previous experience and provide examples of how you have balanced work and studies and demonstrated relevant skills and knowledge in practice. This experience can be in education, voluntary or paid work experience.
-
A separate 250 word statement on the following behaviour
Working Together
This should specifically include:
How you have developed or would develop a range of contacts outside your immediate network and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning.
How you do/would ensure that you obtain and take account of all relevant information, including how you have or would create an inclusive environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account.
How you have approached or would approach projects to ensure effective cooperation in order to achieve results.
-
Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Stage 5: Sift
A preliminary sift on the Essential Criteria will be conducted and only candidates meeting the criteria will progress.
In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement.
At full sift your behaviour statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Stage 6: Interview
If you have been successful in previous stages you will be invited to an interview, where you will be assessed on behaviour based questions and a presentation. Further details of the presentation will be provided with your invitation.
Interviews will take place via video link.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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 [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date].
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, well let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
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.
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.
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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Who can start an apprenticeship?
To start an apprenticeship, youll need to be:
-
16 or over
-
living in England
-
not in full-time education
You can apply for an apprenticeship while youre still at school but youll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship.
Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
A condition of your employment is the successful completion of your apprenticeship within the expected duration. Failure to meet this requirement may result in HMRC removing you from the Apprenticeship Programme and/or terminating your employment.
Your training requirements and probation period will run concurrently. If you do not successfully complete your probation and/or the apprenticeshipwhere it is a specific requirement of your roleyour employment with HMRC may be subject to termination.
Your manager will provide you with further details about the training programme, including the structure of assessments and, where applicable, the number of permitted attempts to pass, if they have not already done so.
Additional Information
We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.
As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.
Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRCs use of AI.
If you dont want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to talentacquisitionaiteam@hmrc.gov.uk
Terms and Conditions
Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a Civil Servant on or beyond the start date for the post. If their contract ends (for example due to the end of Fixed Term Appointment contract or resignation) at any point during the application process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
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 applicants 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.
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.
