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:
1. Developing and drafting legislation
2. Providing legal advice on policies
3. Securing our economic and trade relationships
4. Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
5. 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 .��
To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department�s orhave a look at this which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.
Job description
About the Commercial Law Group
Commercial Law Group (CLG) is a dynamic, specialist commercial legal service at the heart of government. It launched in June 2014, with the aim of creating, for the first time, a single expert source of commercial legal advice across government.
Our legal work is frequently novel, challenging and varied. CLG is friendly and welcoming, with a strong and established culture of collaboration and teamwork.
There are approximately 230 lawyers in CLG, led by Justinia Lewis, Commercial Law Director, together with two Deputy Law Directors and a Senior Leadership team. The group is divided into teams, ranging in size from 8 to 33 lawyers, and supported by a professional and efficient Business Management Team.
CLG currently has a litigation and disputes resolution team and 8 further legal teams providing�commercial law services to government departments. We have a Commercial Property Hub, which advises on specialist property matters.�Some of our client departments include the Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), 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).
There is increasing demand for CLG services, and CLG offers some of the most consistently interesting, varied, complex and high-profile commercial work available in the UK.� 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 (Grade 6), 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.�
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 develop strategies, and be responsible for delivering quality legal advice, on a range of complex and challenging projects to meet key deadlines. 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.
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 are able to command the confidence of senior clients and ministers, together with other partners and stakeholders. 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.
As a senior lawyer within CLG, in addition to general commercial advice and support, you may be required to provide specialist commercial advice across a wide range of areas including:
6. public procurement
7. contract drafting, interpretation and management
8. grant agreements
9. subsidies
10. IP and branding issues
11. data use and protection
12. other bespoke commercial arrangements
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Through the process, you will be assessed against several criteria at both sift and interview stages. At sift stage you will be assessed on Motivational Fit, Behaviour (Leadership) and Legal Professional Skills criteria.� At interview stage you will be assessed on Motivational Fit, Behaviours (Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service and Working Together) and Legal Professional Skills.
Motivational Fit
13. your motivation to join CLG and how you feel you will contribute effectively to a leadership role with GLD
14. an understanding of the Government and wider public sector context
15. an understanding of the role of senior lawyers and senior leaders in government
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:
Leadership
16. Promote diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting difference and external experience
17. Welcome and respond to views and challenges from others, despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them
18. Stand by, promote or defend own and team�s actions and decisions where needed
19. Seek out shared interests beyond own area of responsibility, understanding the extent of the impact actions have on the organisation
20. Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role.
Communicating and Influencing
21. Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust
22. Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand
23. Take into account people�s individual needs
24. Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required
25. Consider the impact of the language used
26. Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions, whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others
27. Monitor the effectiveness of own and team communications and take action to improve where necessary
Managing a Quality Service
28. Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations
29. Make clear, practical and manageable plans for service delivery
30. Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements in service delivery
31. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions
32. Establish how the business area compares to industry best practice
33. Create regular opportunities for colleagues, stakeholders, delivery partners and customers to help improve the quality of service.
Working Together
34. Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
35. Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress
36. Build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues.
37. Ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of yourself and individuals throughout the team
38. Understand the varying needs of the team to ensure they are supported and their experiences are utilised
39. Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
40. Remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas.
Experience
41. A good working knowledge of and experience of public procurement issues is strongly desirable
42. An ability to lead, and experience of, the negotiation of draft commercial contracts
43. An understanding of public law
Technical
Legal Professional Skills:
44. demonstrable commercial and contract law experience
45. reliable legal judgement, analysis and appreciation of legal risk and the confidence to give persuasive, balanced and strong risk-based advice
46. able to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly
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 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided ( 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 ( 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 ( a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:
Contract Law
Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts Law
European Union Law
Land Law
Public Law
Law of Tort
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*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate degree equivalence as set out below.
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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 degree equivalence (where a degree is not held).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
47. Leadership
48. Communicating and Influencing
49. Managing a Quality Service
50. Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
51. Legal Professional Skills:
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �71,000, Government Legal Department contributes �20,568 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
52. Learning and development tailored to your role
53. An environment with flexible working options
54. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
55. A with an average employer contribution of 27%