When I started the job the role was manageable and the atmosphere in the department good too. It was a mix of case work, calls and webchat and you were given the knowledge in training.Then the pandemic hit and the emphasis on quality of work was compromised as the department brought in temp staff who were just ask to take calls and had no knowledge of the product as they went through a crash course of training which was asking for trouble.I would get call takers messaging me about basics, which I received in my training but they obviously didn’t. As case loads went though the roof due to the pandemic a lot of pressure was put on the experienced staff to get cases through the door. Since the easing of lockdown, nothing has gone back to a steady ship and the majority of the workers are taking advantage, by coming in late and leaving early as they are friends with managers.You get your cliques who will be nice to your face but then talk behind your back. If you wish to progress, make sure you get in with the cliques as talented individuals will be passed over for promotion and people who have no knowledge, no people skills and blag their way through an interview from the help of certain managers. They claim there is a “blind recruitment” process but that’s only at the application stage. The waters are getting cold and an iceberg is in sight, unfortunately the ship is heading towards it.

Pros

need to have a long think about that

Cons

lack of progression and bad pay

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Not a good place to work

Administrator (Current Employee) - London - 6 July 2022

Stressful environment. Awful pay. Poor career paths. Poorly managed. The staff that actually deliver the service are not considered, their option's are not taken on board when decisions are made.

Pros

Hours are good for parents, good annual leave

Cons

Low wages, low staff morale, poor procedures, poorly organised, poor management

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Insights into HM Courts & Tribunals Service

Based on 41 survey responses

Areas for improvement

Energising work tasks
Sense of belonging
Support from manager

An energised and worthwhile work environment

Audio Typist/Secretary (Former Employee) - Holborn - 25 June 2022

This is a fascinating place to be. Some of the casework was topical and working with brilliant legal minds was highly stimulating. The law has still a way to go to achieve greater diversity at a more senior level. The work is demanding and exhausting but that is why it is worth being a part of even for a few months.

Pros

Great Central location and very functional office

Cons

Temporary pay conditions a little unpredictable

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Bad management

Court Associate (Former Employee) - England - 7 June 2022

As above really. Management very poor. Need to work a lot harder to be a better organisation and not to push staff into moving to other government departments.

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brutus dagger

Administration Assistant (Current Employee) - Salford - 1 June 2022

working at spy hq being watched by people who cant do their jobs always ready to stab you in the back to get promotedok working enviroment best to stay neutral

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Not the place to be if you want to progress.

Clerk to HM’s Judges (Former Employee) - London, Greater London - 25 May 2022

Mostly decent people who are always willing to help. Management are totally in their own world and there is no opportunity to develop and progress. Some judges are very snobby but most are lovely and destroy the stereotype. A good first job out of uni nonetheless.

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Productive and rewarding

Legal Advisor (Former Employee) - West midlands - 6 May 2022

Substantive training and opportunity to progress. Work is interesting and varied. Require technical ability as well as legal knowledge and experience.

Pros

Flexible working, career progression

Cons

Busy

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Constant Political Backbiting

Finance Business Partner (Former Employee) - Manchester - 28 April 2022

Narcissistic managers, love to play divide and conquer politics, set you up to fail, play favourites.HMCTS was an okay place to work but some of the managers there were narcissistic and a nightmare to deal with.I recommend to apply and if you get a horrible manager, request to move teams ASAP or find another job.No one ever has to put up with abuse from their workplace. Never forget your worth and value as a person.

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Okay place to work if you are looking to step up to something else

Admin Officer (Current Employee) - Stoke-on-Trent - 22 April 2022

Most of the time I feel positive working here and I feel like I get the support when I need it. It does give me a sense of belonging and I do not feel to overworked. There are times I feel stressed and heavy work loads but this is just the nature of the job. Some of the people are very nice and will smile at you and be positive no matter the situation however there are a handfull of people who are toxic which makes me want to have minimal contact with them.

Pros

Sense of belonging and purpose

Cons

A few toxic people who are set to ruin your day.

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Amazing co-workers, awful management

Court Usher (Former Employee) - Wolverhampton - 8 March 2022

I learnt a lot working here, like how the job role works and how it is relatively enjoyable and interesting. Equally, I also learnt that the management work in their own cliques, and if you are not a part of said clique then you will quite frankly never get anywhere.My co-workers were some of the best people that I have ever met in my life, and I genuinely wish all of them every success for the future but with a future that is hopefully far away from HMCTS. The team leaders behind each individual section were friendly, incredible people, but there was definitely a clique culture in some sections along with blatant discrimination against members of staff that were not full-time and instead working for an agency, even though agency staff put in an equal amount of work to everyone else.Additionally, it is safe to say the overall management above everyone were the main problem, as they blatantly singled out agency staff and had their favourites from the get go, and they would also hide information and only share with who they deemed appropriate i.e. The cliques.(The cliques for the record aren't too prevalent, but it is 100% noticeable and it is quite easy to tell who fits in).Finally, I will mention that along with hidden information come many, many lies as an attempt to mitigate any outcry from other staff members, which I noticed happen to others and myself with my final day working here revolving around a lie that was fabricated to get rid of me from the workplace.TLDR; If you don't fit in one of managements cliques or work for an agency, then do not bother working -

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Interesting work but poor salary

Admin Officer (Former Employee) - Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear - 17 February 2022

The work is very interesting as you see the legal world from the inside. It's good to work with the judiciary and other legal colleagues. One of the bigger courts best.