Graduate Solicitor Apprentice - Leeds
Government Legal Department
Apply before Midday on Tuesday 1st October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About the Government Legal Department
From energy to security, health to human rights, we help the Government deliver life changing law for citizens.
The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:
- Developing and drafting legislation
- Providing legal advice on policies
- Securing our economic and trade relationships
- Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
- Providing the Civil Service’s employment law advice
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, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.
GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.
Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for 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 visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.
Job description
About the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
The Government Legal Department (GLD) Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship is open to eligible applicants who wish to qualify as a Solicitor.
The apprenticeship will be fully funded and is a 30 or 36-month programme depending on your eligibility (see pg. 8) completed alongside working in a Paralegal role within GLD.
During this time, apprentices will study for and undertake the SQE assessments, whilst compiling a portfolio of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). The 36-month programme will include a 6 month period at the start where off the job study time will be used to complete the SQE Starter Course
The apprenticeship will be delivered by BPP via a digital learning platform and study leave will be in line with ESFA requirements. Applicants should be aware of the rigor of the qualifications and be prepared to undertake study in their own time.
Those on the Apprenticeship will remain in an HEO Senior Paralegal role for the duration of the programme and upon successful completion of the apprenticeship will become a qualified Solicitor and move to a Legal Officer role.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast paced and rewarding environment, as a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice within GLD.
You will play a key role in working to deliver GLD’s service to clients, with a degree of autonomy, supervised by a qualified lawyer, including in preparing legal documents, case management, undertaking legal research, supporting project management and leading knowledge management.
The specific work tasks of the role are likely to vary depending on the Division and Team to which you are allocated. You should be able to work independently but also have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a team and to interact with departmental/cross divisional colleagues, and other stakeholders. You will support the team in new ways of working and work closely with G7/6 lawyers to maximise performance. You will be flexible, able to work under pressure, taking responsibility for the end to end running of appropriate cases and be capable of building strong relationships with colleagues of all grades. You will need to possess excellent organisation skills, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well-reasoned justifiable decisions.
Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:
- Taking a leading role in legal advice and representation for clients, providing relevant advice to client, witnesses and other key stakeholders.
- Using legal knowledge to carry out legal research, utilising research to plan approach and strategy for cases.
- Assisting with the management of large-scale projects such as secondary legislation, implementing new agreements, procurements, litigation and other dispute resolution and coordinating these elements across Government departments.
- Assisting with management of Knowledge Management (KM) for the Division, including ensuring that the Division’s knowledge is well maintained and easily accessible, supporting the Division’s contribution to GLD’s KM activities.
Person specification
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.
You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)
- Ensure colleagues have the correct tools and resources available to them to do their jobs.
- Have a positive and focused attitude to achieving outcomes, despite any setbacks.
- Ensure that colleagues are supported where tasks are challenging.
Communicating and Influencing
- Communicate in a straightforward, honest, purposeful and engaging manner choosing appropriate styles and methods to maximise understanding and impact.
- Present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct and persuasive way, avoiding using legalese as much as possible.
- Express ideas and questions confidently, clearly and with respect for others and listen to and value different ideas, views and ways of working, responding constructively and objectively to comments and questions
Making Effective Decisions
- Use guidance, analyse relevant information and ask colleagues for input to support decision making.
- Identify and deal with any errors or gaps in information before making a decision.
- Consider the diverse needs of those affected by decisions and how it will impact them .
Working Together
- Forge strong and successful relationships with colleagues and clients, including building efficient professional relationships with a range of contacts outside own team and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning.
- Invest time to develop a common focus, genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and support one another, including changing ways of working to aid cooperation within and between teams in order to achieve results.
- Contribute to an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and respected and all individual needs are taken into account.
Motivation
- Motivation to join GLD and qualify as a solicitor working within public law.
Essential Technical Experience
For the 30-month programme:
- A qualifying law degree with a minimum 2:2, or a non-law degree minimum 2:2 and a pass on a GDL, PGDL, CPE or equivalent qualifications, completed in the last 5 years.
For the 36-month programme if you meet the following requirements:
- A qualifying law degree completed more than five years before the programme start date, a non-English law degree or Cilex level 6 qualification. You may be required to demonstrate previous relevant work experience and/or complete an admissions test.
If you hold an LPC or LLM with LPC, you will not be able to apply.
Essential Experience
- Ability to deliver successfully in a pressurised environment.
- Ability to critically analyse a range of evidence and options and make an appropriate decision.
Desirable Experience
- Ability to work independently or as part of an effective team on ad-hoc tasks and projects.
- Highly organised with good time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands and prioritise workloads.
- Ability to communicate with senior stakeholders within the business and external clients, being able to justify the reasons behind a decision.
Find out more
Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme Information Session:
This virtual session will give you an insight into the scheme, job role and application process.
Wednesday 25 September at 12.00-12.45pm
The session will be held on MS Teams, please find the link here.
Meeting ID: 386 802 858 33
Passcode: wyNtpT
Qualifications
For the 30-month programme:
• A qualifying law degree with a minimum 2:2, or a non-law degree minimum 2:2 and a pass on a GDL, PGDL, CPE or equivalent qualifications, completed in the last 5 years.
For the 36-month programme if you meet the following requirements:
• A qualifying law degree completed more than five years before the programme start date, a non-English law degree or Cilex level 6 qualification. You may be required to demonstrate previous relevant work experience and/or complete an admissions test.
If you hold an LPC or LLM with LPC, you will not be able to apply
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
1. The first stage of the application will require candidates to complete two online ability tests, which are a Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test and a Judgement Test. If you successfully pass both two tests, you will then automatically progress to the next stage of completing the full application. We suggest you allow enough time to complete the full application online, prior to the closing date and time, Tuesday 1st October 2024 at 12:00 noon, as once the application is closed you will no longer have access to the ability tests and the full application.
2. An online CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be assessed and scored, assessing Experience.
3. Submit evidence of the Civil Service behaviour listed below in the full application. The statement should not exceed 250 words:
Behaviour: Delivering at Pace (Lead behaviour)
Selection Process
After the closing date, the appointing 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.
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 scenario based exercises and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information on the day and time to prepare.
- Behaviour: Delivering at Pace (Lead behaviour)
- Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour: Working Together
- Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
- Experience
As part of your interview, you will be invited to complete a Pre-Recorded Video Interview assessing Motivation. Candidates will require access to a computer with a webcam/video, microphone and audio, Wi-Fi connection to complete a timed, pre-recorded video interview. Details will be provided to those who are invited to complete this.
Candidates who pass the pre-recorded video interview will be invited to complete a Legal written exercise and Full video interview. The Legal written exercise will assess Technical experience and behaviour: Making Effective Decisions. Details will be provided to those who are invited to complete this.
The interview will comprise three different stages: each stage has a different focus, as you move from stage to stage, the style of the interview may change. The three stages are:
1. Pre-Recorded Video Interview
2. Legal Written Exercise
3. Full video interview with Behaviour questions, Strength-based questions and Scenario-based questions on possible situations that you might encounter.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews will 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.
Learning and Development offer
GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.
We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.
As the lead for the Government Legal Profession, we offer a tailored programme of development for all Legal Professionals joining the organisation through our Government Legal Training Programme and Legal Learning Framework, which includes:
- Foundation pathway, to support colleagues in their first 12 months
- Practitioner pathways for colleagues in four core areas of work
- Core Curriculum
We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer.
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.
Alongside this we support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.
There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:
- Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
- Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
- Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.
Apprenticeships - We have a range of apprenticeships on offer across all professions with the opportunity for all employees to explore a profession specific apprenticeship to support their development in role.
Linked Vacancy
If you submit an application for this role, you will not be eligible to apply for 371106 - Graduate Solicitor Apprentice - London and doing so we will class your application as duplicates. You may only apply for one.
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 : Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship Team
- Email : apprentice@governmentlegal.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk
Online test instructions
Please note, the Verbal and judgement Tests are not timed.
