About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join the Trade Remedies Authority in our busy and well-respected legal team which has overall responsibility for the Authority’s legal work, including a full range of in-house legal services and advice to the Authority and its senior leaders.

The TRA is one of the first public bodies to be set up to meet the new needs of the UK following its departure from the European Union. We are a growing organisation of over 150 people, with our headquarters in central Reading. Our mission is to defend UK economic interests against unfair international trade practices involving dumping and trade-distorting subsides, as well as unforeseen surges in imports. We do this by investigating whether new trade remedies are needed and making recommendations on appropriate measures to the Secretary of State.  This is vital work which makes a real difference to the UK economy and businesses.

Job description

As a Senior Trade Remedies Lawyer, you will be doing cutting edge legal work involving trade remedies and the WTO rules on which they are based, as well as looking at questions of public law and international law.  You will work as part of an expert team which is collaborative and supportive in its approach and has a key focus on learning and developing.  You will be given in-house training on trade remedies and you will have the opportunity to attend specialist training provided by the World Trade Institute in Bern.  You will also have the opportunity to learn from other global peer authorities and contribute to legal conferences in this field. 

This isn’t just a Senior Lawyer role – we are looking for an individual with the desire and ability to directly impact on TRA strategy, direction and delivery of business objectives. As part of the Legal  team you will deal with  complex cases attracting parliamentary and media scrutiny. You will also provide legal advice to inform the development of the TRA’s policies and procedures for trade remedies cases and you will work with the TRA’s policy team and the Department for Business and Trade on new legislation. You will also manage and oversee the work of junior lawyers.

This vacancy is for a position in the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). TRA employees are Public Servants. Individuals applying for this role from the Civil Service are advised to review terms prior to accepting the offer. Key terms are outlined in the benefits section of this advert (these are not exhaustive). Individuals can also discuss with hiring managers and TRA people Team on resourcing@traderemedies.gov.uk

Informal Chat Clare Brodie, General Counsel is offering the opportunity for an informal chat with her or the current post-holder ahead of the application closing date. Email angelica.wright@traderemedies.gov.uk if  you’d like one.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

• Fully qualified as a solicitor or barrister to practice in England and Wales.
• You will have expertise in public law and statutory interpretation, and a background in financial services or tax regulation may be useful.
• You will have a good knowledge and understanding of trade remedies and an interest in developing this further. 
• You will also need good analytical and problem-solving skills, be innovative and creative in applying new law, and be able to identify emerging legal risks and exercise sound legal judgment.
• You will be experienced in communicating complex legal advice clearly and persuasively, tailoring the approach to suit different audiences.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £65,312, Trade Remedies Authority contributes £17,634 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We are an inclusive employer and proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme. Applicants with a disability who wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the Disability Confident Scheme should complete the relevant section of the online application.  An interview is guaranteed to applicants that meet the minimum selection criteria.  If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact: The Government Recruitment Service TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as early as possible to discuss your needs. You should also complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what reasonable adjustments you might need further on in the recruitment process.​​

Candidates are requested to note the requirement to declare any conflict of interest that might cause questions to be raised about their approach to our work. If you believe this is applicable to you then please contact resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk before submitting your application. 

Apply 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your CV should set out your education as well as your employment history, to demonstrate how you meet the requirement of the role. Your Personal Statement (maximum 750  words) should provide detailed evidence demonstrating how your experience, skills and attributes meet the Essential requirements for the role.

Our guide for candidates provides more useful information (link).​​ The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 3rd March 2024.

​Shortlist

The panel will consider your application against the Essential Criteria for the role. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview where they are assessed using behaviours-based questions and a selection of Technical Questions specific to the role.

​Interview 

The interview assessment will consist of a written assessment to be completed on the assessment day under timed conditions and a 45 minute behaviour based interview. The behaviours that you will be assessed against at the interview are Making Effective Decisions, Developing self and others, and Communicating and Influencing.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Expected Timeline

Closing date: 3rd March 2024.

Shortlist: Week commencing the 4th March 2024.

Interviews: Week commencing the 18th March 2024.

Offers : Week commencing the 25th March 2024.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Trade Remedies Authority 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.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via TRArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.