The government has embarked on another legal sector hiring spree - this time for staff to administer court cases, with salaries ranging from £15,750 to £20,756.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service is seeking 30 administrative officers and six administrative assistants to work at the Salford County Court Money Claims Centre, which currently has 270 staff working on four floors. Last month HMCTS announced that Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent will host two service centres, employing more than 300 people each in roles involving processing cases, issuing court orders and hearing notices, as well as answering telephone and online enquiries.

The administrative officers' responsibilities will include: preparing papers and files for court; producing court and tribunal documents; opening the post; and drafting standard letters. They will also check and verify documents, records, accounts, claims and returns for approval, work with the judiciary and advise on the completion of forms or court procedures.

HMCTS says the officers will also be required to 'deliver a helpful, prompt, polite and "right first time" service to our internal and external customers'.

The administrative assistants' responsibilities will include: collecting and delivering mail to departments in the building; sorting, preparing and despatching post in certain timescales; retrieving files; and photocopying. 

Announcing the vacancies today, HMCTS said: 'We value our staff and offer a range of development and training opportunities for new starters and provide continued management and coaching support to help our employees deliver to the best of their abilities.'

However, it has been threatened with industrial action from the Public and Commercial Services Union, one of the largest trade unions in the UK, should HMCTS axe up to 700 jobs under plans to restructure the way criminal fines are collected.