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.

 

About the Commercial Law Group

Commercial Law Group (CLG) is a dynamic and specialist commercial legal service launched in June 2014, with the aim of creating, for the first time, a single expert source of commercial legal advice across government.

Though our legal work is often novel and challenging, CLG is friendly and welcoming, with a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork.

There are approximately 220 lawyers in CLG, led by Justinia Lewis, our Commercial Law Director. The group is divided into teams, ranging in size from 8 to 33 lawyers with support from our Business Management Team.

CLG has a dedicated commercial litigation and dispute resolution team together with 8 further legal teams providing commercial law services to government departments. We also have Central Commercial Property and MoD Property teams, which advise on specialist property matters. Our client departments include the Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Department for Education (DfE), Department for Transport (DfT), Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Home Office, Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Ministry of Defence (MoD), and Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

CLG offers some of the most interesting, varied, complex and high-profile commercial work available in the UK and the demand for our services is increasing. We were at the forefront of supporting commercial efforts to meet the challenges of Covid-19.  We conduct litigation and dispute resolution in relation to high-profile, high-value procurements and contractual disputes including in relation to Covid-19, such as contracts for PPE and testing, and for MoD.

Successful candidates can expect to play a key role in delivering some of the most high-profile, complex and far reaching commercial/litigation projects in government. One of our senior commercial lawyers had this to say about CLG: “Since joining GLD, I have been involved in lots of high profile and important work for various government departments. It is a role that really does deliver on the variety of commercial work and ‘coal face’ exposure to projects at the forefront of government policy. As a senior lawyer (G6), and the manager of a legal team, I am also able to play a leading role in shaping our commercial legal services for key clients. Along with our business management and knowledge management colleagues, I feel that I am part of a really supportive network of professionals. Outside of legal work, there are loads of initiatives and groups to get involved with where you can develop managerial, leadership and other skills, gain wider experience and contribute to GLD’s corporate and cultural objectives.”  

 

Commercial Law Group Recruitment Open Evenings:

These virtual sessions aim to engage the potential applicants by giving them an insight into the group. It is also an opportunity to hear from CLG’s Director’s Office, Senior Leadership Team members and the Commercial Litigation Lawyers.

Thursday 25 Jan 2024 17:30 - 18:30pm

To register your attendance please email CLG Resourcing

CLGpresourcing@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Job description

The Role

Senior commercial lawyers lead other commercial lawyers and support Deputy Directors in the delivery of commercial legal services to large Government Departments and Arm’s Length Bodies.

If successful, you will lead, manage, develop and supervise the work of other lawyers within your team. You will need to be comfortable working at pace and exercising judgment in relation to matters of national importance. You will be expected to role model sound professional skills and to provide strong professional leadership, helping to build capability in the organisation in line with corporate objectives.

Commercial litigation and dispute resolution specialist lawyers within GLD conduct litigation and provide legal advice to government departments and public bodies on some of the most important and interesting matters in the country which are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our clients are government departments such as the Home Office, the Department for  Business and Trade, Department for environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice, to name just a few. We offer broad and unrivalled career opportunities within CLG and as part of wider GLD.

As a commercial litigator and dispute resolution specialist you will be involved in:  

• conducting commercial litigation on behalf of government
• providing legal advice on litigation, disputes, contentious and some advisory matters, for example intellectual property, across the full range of clients. Litigation experience is an essential requirement
• supporting the Deputy Director for the team in successfully delivering the work of the team
• proactive and collaborative working with external delivery partners; helping to quality control their input, and helping to hold them account for delivery to time, cost and quality in relation to their litigation and disputes work

You will be expected to demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills as well as strong skills of legal and strategic analysis, sound judgement, pragmatism and pro-activity. You will also be expected to make a valuable contribution to the wider team and the department as a whole through playing a proactive role on matters such as knowledge management, training, projects and other corporate opportunities that demonstrate GLD Values.  

Person specification

You will be assessed against your motivational fit for this role along with behaviours under the Civil Service Success Profiles, and your Technical legal skills.

 Motivational Fit 

• Your motivation to join CLG and how you feel you will contribute effectively to such a role with GLD
• An understanding of the role of lawyers in government

Below are details of the Success Profile that make up this role. You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview stage.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

  Technical Legal Skills 

• Litigation experience
• Experience of working in a commercial litigation environment
• Commercial and contract law experience
• Sound legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• Sound analytical skills

For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Qualification - Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Academic:

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)).

Professional Qualifications:

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales. 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.

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
6. Public Law
7. 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

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).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,000, Government Legal Department contributes £18,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

To apply for this position, applicants will be asked to complete an online career history and asked to submit a personal statement on Technical Legal Skills and Behaviour: Leadership (maximum 850 words) and Motivational Fit (maximum 400 words). You should refer closely to the essential criteria mentioned when completing your application, and wherever possible, demonstrate through your examples how your skills match the person specification.  It will not be sufficient to reiterate the criteria; you are expected to illustrate how you have met the requirements.

Motivational Fit

• Your motivation to join CLG and how you feel you will contribute effectively to such a role with GLD
• An understanding of the role of lawyers in government

 Technical Legal Skills

• Litigation experience
• Experience of working in a commercial litigation environment
• Commercial and contract law experience
• Sound legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• Sound analytical skills

Behaviour - Leadership

• 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 own and team’s actions and decisions where needed
• Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role

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.

In addition to the criteria listed under ‘Application’, you will be assessed on the following behaviours:

 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 a commitment to excellent 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

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.

Salary

Our salary range for Grade 6 lawyers is £65,647- £77,456 (central London) and £62,348 - £73,130 (national).There is potential to assess starting salaries based on experience and specialist skills.

GLD has been successful in obtaining an enhanced pay award for G7 and G6 lawyers for 2 years commencing April 2023 and April 2024, the full details of which are still to be determined. The advertised salaries are likely to increase as a result.

Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment. Modernised terms and conditions will apply.

Existing civil servants on level transfer will retain their current basic salary if it is within the GLD pay range. If your salary is higher than the GLD grade maxima you will be placed on the maxima of the pay range and receive the difference as a mark-time allowance, if agreed by HR.

Where your salary is below GLD’s grade minima you will be raised to the minima of the pay range. Any reserved rights to London Weighting or associated London allowances, will be consolidated into basic salary before the uplift to GLD grade minima. Any other allowances will not be retained on moving to GLD. If this results in your salary exceeding the pay range maxima, you will retain the difference on a mark-time basis.

On promotion there will be an increase of 10% to your current basic salary, or move to the pay range minima, whichever is the highest. If you are in receipt of any reserved rights to London Weighting or associated London allowances, these will be consolidated after applying the 10% promotion calculation. After this calculation if your salary is below the minima of the pay range, you will be moved to the minima of the pay range.

We operate London and National pay scales. If you voluntarily move locations your salary will be revised to reflect pay for the location.

Any other allowances will not be retained on promotion or transfer.

Any move to Government Legal Department from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

What to expect if you choose to apply  

1. You register your interest and submit your application. You will be asked to provide a response on Technical Legal Skills and Behaviour: Leadership (850 words/5000 characters) and Motivational Fit (limit of 400 words/3000 characters). You should refer closely to the essential criteria mentioned above for Technical Legal Skills, Leadership and Motivational Fit when completing your application, and wherever possible, demonstrate through your examples how your skills match the person specification. It will not be sufficient to reiterate the criteria; you are expected to illustrate how you have met the requirements.
2. Candidates who meet the required standard will have their applications sifted by a CLG sift panel. Please note detailed feedback will not be given following sift, however sift scores will be made available.
3. If you are invited to interview you will be required to complete a written legal exercise immediately before your interview, under timed conditions. This exercise will assess both Legal Professional Skills and the Communicating and Influencing behaviour. You will be asked to consider the scenario and present your findings at the start of the interview. You will then be asked follow-up questions.
4. Following the legal exercise, you will be asked a number of questions relating to the remaining essential skills required; Leadership, Motivational Fit, Managing a Quality Service and Working Together, as well as 2 strength-based questions (these help identify the things you do regularly, do well and motivate you).
5. As we have vacancies across all our offices, you will be interviewed remotely by a CLG panel via a video conference call. All details will be sent a week before your interview slot to ensure you are fully prepared ahead of schedule. Interviews normally last between 40 and 60 minutes. Any candidate applying must have access to video with audio availability. Candidates who may have any issues with this should contact the following email address: MB-GovQualified@tmpw.co.uk.
6. We will allocate successful candidates to the most suitable vacancy available at the time of our offer, taking into account performance at interview and experience. We may hold a reserve list if the number of successful candidates after interview exceeds the number of available vacancies.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.