Senior Inquiry Lawyers
Government Legal Department
Apply before Midday on Monday 25th November 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 Litigation Directorate
The actions and decisions of government are under increasing scrutiny and challenge. Military action overseas, immigration policy, welfare reform, climate change and energy policy are just a few of the issues which generate legal challenges that can hit the headlines.
GLD’s 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 justice, health, defence, 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 ( MoJ ) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). These teams deal with high profile group actions, actions under ECHR, personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution 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 lawyers and senior lawyers manage complex and varied caseloads 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 cross cutting legal issues for diverse government departments.
Litigation lawyers work closely with policy 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.
Litigation Directorate comprises four divisions. The inquiry lawyer roles are in the Covid Inquiry Division and the Home, Office & Immigration Division.
Covid Inquiry Division
The Covid Inquiry Division is made up of four teams, amounting to around 90 lawyers, paralegals, and business support colleagues.
The Division is responsible for leading and co-ordinating the Government’s response and assistance to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, acting for a range of government departments and public bodies including Cabinet Office (CO), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), HM Treasury (HMT), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Go Science, the Chief Medical Officer and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The Division also supports a range of officials and (past and current) Ministers, in giving evidence to the inquiry.
Defence and Security Division
The Defence and Security Division is made up of five teams, amounting to around 150 lawyers, paralegals and business support colleagues.
The Division is responsible for public and private law litigation, inquest and inquiry work for the Ministry of Defence in two private law teams and one public law team. The Division also handles public law litigation (and some private law litigation) for a range of other government departments and public bodies including the Security and Intelligence Agencies and the UK Intelligence Community, FCDO, National Crime Agency (NCA), Attorney General’s Office (AGO) (including contempt proceedings), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Home Office (non immigration public law work).
We also have a specialist team dealing with private law work for DWP, DfT and National Highways Limited, as well as some Companies House work. One of our teams is leading and supporting DHSC’s (and associated Arm’s Length Bodies’ (ALBs’)) interests in respect of the Infected Blood Inquiry.
Home Office and Immigration Division
The Home Office and Immigration Division is currently made up of six teams amounting to around 210 people (including lawyers, paralegals and business management colleagues).
The Division is responsible for non national security, immigration related public law and private law litigation for the Home Office. The Division handles public law litigation for a range of other government departments and public bodies including DWP, DHSC, CO and DBT, and private law litigation for, amongst others, FCDO, Department for Education (DfE), Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The Division also handles litigation for the Attorney General in support of her public interest functions. It also provides legal support to certain inquiries (such as the Horizon Post Office Inquiry, the Malkinson Inquiry and the Cranston Small Boats Inquiry) and supports departments in their responses to several other Inquiries and Reviews, such as the Thirlwall Inquiry, Lampard Inquiry and Under-cover Policing Inquiry.
Justice and Development Division
The Justice and Development Division is currently made up of six teams amounting to around 220 people (including lawyers, costs draftspersons, paralegals and business management colleagues). The Division is responsible for all public and private law litigation for the Ministry of Justice (including HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)) as well as public law litigation for: DLUHC (including the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)), DfT, DEFRA, DfE, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), HM Treasury (HMT) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Division also has a specialist Costs Team that provides supports in relation to costs across all the divisions of Litigation Group. The Special Advocates Support Office (SASO) is also part of the Division.
The Role
These vacancies are for permanent roles in the Covid Inquiry Division or the Public Inquiries, Reviews & Litigation team, within the Home Office & Immigration Division. The roles could be worked full-time, part-time or as part of a job share. For some roles, some travel may be required.
Depending on the post, you will provide expert representation to Government parties in an inquiry; or you will be providing legal advice and support to the inquiry itself. Higher security clearance would be needed, to carry-out the full range of responsibilities, in some of the roles.
In addition, Grade 6 Senior Lawyers have important leadership roles across our organisation. You can expect to line manage up to 4 Grade 7s and /or lead a mini team of up to 7 people including paralegals. You will be expected to provide strong professional leadership while also taking personal responsibility for delivering challenging and complex legal work.
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Person specification
Essential Criteria
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:
- Behaviour: Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience
- welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them
- stand by, promote or defend your own and your team’s actions and decisions where needed
- seek out shared interests beyond your own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation
- Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
- Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
- Behaviour: Working Together
Essential Experience/Technical
- Technical Legal Skills
- Sound understanding of public law
- Substantial experience of working on, or for, public inquiries
- The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
- The ability to conduct sound analysis and use secure legal research to produce timely, fit-for-purpose advice.
- The ability to communicate advice effectively, both in writing an orally.
Motivational Fit (Essential)
- 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.
For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Security Clearance
While the Baseline Personnel Security Standard is sufficient for the majority of these posts, Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, or eligibility, is required to work on some Inquiries. Given the requirements of likely future Inquiries we encourage candidates willing to seek SC and DV clearance.
Applicants for DV clearance will usually need to have been resident in the UK for the preceding 10 years, in order that sufficient checks can be carried out, during the vetting process.
For further information about Civil Service security clearances, please visit:
National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your behaviours, Technical skills, Motivational fit, Strengths and Experience.
To apply for this post, you will need to complete:
- .An online Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words) providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Experience/Technical Legal Skills criteria and Motivational Fit criteria (maximum 750 words), and Leadership criteria (maximum 500 words) as outlined in the person specification.
Your application should include relevant examples and demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the post, with relevant examples. It will not be sufficient to reiterate the criteria; you are expected to illustrate how you have met them.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we reserve the right to sift using the Leadership criteria only.
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 a legal exercise, scenario-based exercises and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information.
The written exercise will be on a legal topic to be completed online in the days prior to your interview. You will also be asked to conduct a 5 minute oral presentation at interview which will assess your Technical Legal Skills, Communicating and Influencing and Managing a Quality Service. In addition to this you will be asked scenario and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information.
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.
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
