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 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:
6. Taking a leading role in legal advice and representation for clients, providing relevant advice to client, witnesses and other key stakeholders.
7. Using legal knowledge to carry out legal research, utilising research to plan approach and strategy for cases.
8. 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.
9. 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)
10. Ensure colleagues have the correct tools and resources available to them to do their jobs.
11. Have a positive and focused attitude to achieving outcomes, despite any setbacks.
12. Ensure that colleagues are supported where tasks are challenging.
Communicating and Influencing
13. Communicate in a straightforward, honest, purposeful and engaging manner choosing appropriate styles and methods to maximise understanding and impact.
14. Present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct and persuasive way, avoiding using legalese as much as possible.
15. 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
16. Use guidance, analyse relevant information and ask colleagues for input to support decision making.
17. Identify and deal with any errors or gaps in information before making a decision.
18. Consider the diverse needs of those affected by decisions and how it will impact them .
Working Together
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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 �
22. Motivation to join GLD and qualify as a solicitor working within public law.
Essential Technical Experience
For the 30-month programme:
23. 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:
24. 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
25. Ability to deliver successfully in a pressurised environment.
26. Ability to critically analyse a range of evidence and options and make an appropriate decision.
Desirable Experience� �
27. Ability to work independently or as part of an effective team on ad-hoc tasks and projects.
28. Highly organised with good time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands and prioritise workloads.
29. 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
The session will be held on MS Teams, please find the link .���
Meeting ID: 386 802 858 33
Passcode: wyNtpT
Qualifications
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
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
30. Delivering at Pace
31. Communicating and Influencing
32. Making Effective Decisions
33. Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
34. Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �31,393, Government Legal Department contributes �9,094 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
35. Learning and development tailored to your role
36. An environment with flexible working options
37. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
38. A with an employer contribution of