Qualified Lawyers - PS
Government Legal Department
Apply before Midday on Wednesday 2nd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Unique and High-Profile Work for Government – About the Role
We are looking for highly capable qualified lawyers to join our supportive teams where we can offer a challenging and exciting career.
We provide legal advice to Government Departments on matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our advisory clients range from Departments such as the Home Office, the Department for Business and Trade to the Department for Health and the Ministry of Defence, to name just a few. Whether you join us as an advisory, employment, commercial or litigation lawyer, we offer broad and unrivaled career opportunities.
We would be thrilled to receive applications from candidates whatever stage you are at in your legal career. Whether you are newly qualified, returning to work after a break, or looking to ‘do something different’, GLD is a supportive and happy place to work.
These vacancies are for permanent roles across our divisions and locations. We have roles that can be worked full-time, part-time or as part of a job share. For certain roles, some travel may be required, including to Brussels. Our starting salary for Grade 7 lawyers is £61,200 (London)/ £59,200 (National) and £47,541 for those joining us with less than 3 years’ PQE until they hit 3 years’ PQE or are in service for one year, whichever comes sooner. Please note salary is non-negotiable.
Job description
These vacancies are for permanent roles across all our London and National based divisions. We have roles that can be worked full-time, part-time or as part of a job share. For certain roles, some travel may be required. Our starting salary for Grade 7 lawyers is £61,200 (London)/ £59,200 (National) per annum and £47,541 per annum for those joining us with less than 3 years’ PQE until they achieve 3 years’ PQE or are in service for one year, whichever comes sooner. Please note salary is non-negotiable.
Areas of Law
Litigation Group
The actions and decisions of government are under increasing scrutiny and challenge. Military action overseas, Brexit, immigration policy, welfare reform, climate change and energy policy are just a few of the issues that generate legal challenges that can hit the headlines. GLD litigation lawyers conduct a wide range of often high-profile cases, frequently involving questions of constitutional importance. Our public law litigation practice covers the full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security as well as the Government’s wide ranging reform agenda. 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.
Our litigators gain early responsibility for their own caseload within a supportive team environment, working alongside counsel from the Attorney General’s Panels. They also play an important co-ordination role when litigation involves several Government Departments.
Litigation lawyers work closely with policy colleagues and advisory legal colleagues in client Departments to reduce the exposure to litigation risk and to develop realistic contingency plans when the litigation risk materialises.
Advisory Divisions
Government Departments need to draw on the skills of advisory lawyers to bring to life policies for which Ministers are accountable to Parliament and the electorate. The legal issues are often complex, novel and politically sensitive. The legal approach may be scrutinised by Parliament, the media, courts, and other institutions, domestic, European and International projects are often fast moving and the problems brought to lawyers are often both urgent and unpredictable. Our advisory lawyers work closely with policy officials and other professionals in the Department to find legally sound solutions to deliver Ministers’ priorities, even where these change overnight.
Ministers want to reform and improve the area they are responsible for. They are likely to be brimming with ideas about how to change things – more affordable childcare, planning regulations which support the growth agenda, limiting bankers’ bonuses are some recent examples. Advisory lawyers think through all the legal implications of a policy, for instance human rights, EU and International law, equality and data protection issues, as well as core public law principles. They need to anticipate possible legal challenges and provide officials and Ministers with clear legal risk assessments. If a challenge is made they will instruct colleagues from Litigation Group and provide the interface with Departmental officials and Ministers. Where new primary legislation is required, advisory lawyers work with Parliamentary Counsel on the draft Bill and support policy colleagues and Ministers at all stages of the parliamentary process.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Technical Legal Skills
- Sound understanding of public law.
- Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk.
- The ability to think strategically and creatively, 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 the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a role with GLD.
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.
Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
- Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations.
- Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery.
- Proactively manage risks and identify solutions.
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.
For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Qualifications
Academic and Professional
Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).
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. 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:
1. Contract Law
2. Criminal Law
3. Equity and Trusts Law
4. European Union Law
5. Land Law
5. Public Law
6. 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 foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Technical Legal Skills
- You should have a minimum 2.1 degree in any subject. If you do not hold a 2.1 degree, this department may consider your application where you can demonstrate equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement.
- Lawyers qualified outside of England and Wales must provide all the following information
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- You should have a minimum 2.1 degree in any subject. If you do not hold a 2.1 degree, this department may consider your application where you can demonstrate equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement.
- Lawyers qualified outside of England and Wales must provide all the following information
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Selection Process
After the closing date, candidates will be required to undertake a critical reasoning test. Should candidates meet the standard in the test a panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification (see below).
Application
Should you meet the standard in the critical reasoning test your application will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Technical Legal Skills (750 words)
- Motivational Fit (500 words)
Please note, the personal statement should be used to respond to the Technical Legal Skills and Motivational Fit aspect of the essential criteria requirement. Please ensure you split the total word count of 1250 into 2 sections. 1. Technical Legal Skills (limit of 750 words) and 2. Motivational Fit (500 words).
Interview
Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in the Person Specification, alongside exercises, scenario based exercises and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information.
- Technical Legal Skills
- Motivational Fit
- Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
- Behaviour: Working Together
- Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
[Interviews will probably take place remotely via video conference, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.] The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.
We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : GLD Recruitment Team
- Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk
