Qualified Lawyers (72)

Job summary

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service .

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film . On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027 .

Job description

Areas of Law

The Government Legal Department is unlike any private practice in the country. Our work touches almost every facet of UK public life. We provide legal advice to the full range of government departments on nation-changing subjects – from healthcare and national security to the environment and the economy.

As the government’s principal legal advisors our expertise supports the development, design and implementation of government policies and decisions. We advise on matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our teams are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on procurement and drafting legislation. We also represent the government in court.

Your career here will be more diverse than you ever imagined. Whatever level you join us at, you can look forward to unique high-profile work, outstanding career development and the satisfaction that comes from a far-reaching role in the life of a nation.

Advisory Directorate

The Advisory Group has several teams that each specialise in the work of a specific client department. Their purpose is to provide risk-based, solution focussed legal advice on anything from drafting legislation and taking it through parliament to advising ministers and departments on the implications of new, existing policy, ensuring everything stands up to the scrutiny of Parliament and the Courts.

Our work touches an enormous range of nationally important subjects. You could advise the government on anything from national security to cyberbullying, AI to climate change. You’ll be part of an organisation that’s the trusted partner of government across the full spectrum of its functions. From policy design and regulatory decision-making to taking legislation through Parliament, defending and explaining decisions in public inquiries and international negotiations. And that’s just the half of it. This is a career that few can match for rich, diverse experiences.

Commercial Law Group

Joining our Commercial Law Group, you’ll provide expert legal advice to various departments and public bodies on some of the country’s most important, high-profile and pressing matters. Our work is frequently scrutinised in Parliament and by the media. We deal with transactional commercial issues like public procurement, commercial litigation and commercial property. Essentially, we work to ensure the best value for money through the purchase of goods and services for the UK’s public sector.

With clients range from the Cabinet Office, The Ministry of Defence and DEFRA, to the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Business and Trade and the Department of Culture, Media and Sports, we can offer you a broad and unrivalled career.

Employment

As one of our employment lawyers, you’ll play an integral role in the country’s largest employment practice. From assisting the government with how to be a better employer, to delivering better value for the public purse, we support an incredibly diverse workforce of around 500,000 civil servants. We’re the largest user of the Supreme Court, and our work is totally unique to government.

Covering every aspect of employment policy and disputes, your cases will come with a significant level of responsibility and a high degree of exposure to senior civil servants and ministers. The complex multi-part litigation aspects of employment law here mean you’ll be able to develop your career as an expert in this field or use your experience as a stepping-stone into the wider realms of GLD’s work.

Litigation Group

The decisions and actions of the UK government are subject to great scrutiny. As a result, GLD litigation lawyers conduct a wide range of often high-profile cases, involving questions of constitutional and national importance.

Our public law litigation practice covers the full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security. We also have a substantial private law practice representing large government departments such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence in personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and other claims. Litigation lawyers also provide expert representation in relation to inquests and public inquiries. We regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and offer the opportunity to handle cases at the forefront of the developing law.

One GLD

If you apply, please note that your application will be for a generalist qualified lawyer role at GLD. If you have a developed a specialism in a particular area of law (e.g. employment law, trade law, commercial law) then you should reflect that in the CV section of the application form, however, please bear in mind that you will be offered a role in order of merit and not necessarily within your specialism.

Person specification

Below are details of the criteria that make up this role. Demonstrating all the criteria, experience, technical legal skills and behaviours from Success Profiles, listed below is essential at either application, in tests or exercises, or at interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application. Please note, some indicators listed under the behaviours are from GLD’s expectations for our Lawyers and not listed in the Success Profiles document.

Experience

• Practical experience in delivering legal services effectively
• Demonstrated ability to apply legal knowledge and principles in a legal environment

Technical Legal Skills

• Experience of, or aptitude for, public law
• Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• The ability to see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly
• Sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice

Motivational Fit

We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations

• An understanding of the role of lawyers in Government
• Please outline why you are motivated to join GLD and how you feel you might contribute effectively in the department

Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service

• Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery
• Proactively manage risks and identify solutions
• Strong client care skills. Develops and maintains effective client relationships
• Understand diverse customer needs. Delivers high quality and cost-effective customer service
• Identify risks for clients in accordance with legal risk guidance

Behaviour: Working Together

• Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
• Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress
• Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable

Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing

• Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust
• Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required
• Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorship will be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. In addition to this, those based in our London offices must hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance for this role. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your appointment will be conditional upon obtaining CTC clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levels before completing your application.

Qualifications

Academic and Professional

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.2 degree.

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates equivalent to Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEx. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.

Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date.

Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:

• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• Equity and Trusts Law
• European Union Law
• Land Law
• Public Law
• Law of Tort

*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.

Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foun