Government Legal Department
Department for Business and Trade Legal Advisors
Manchester
£59,200
The Government Legal Department (GLD) is a unique and interesting place in which to pursue your career ambitions. As the largest provider of legal services across government, our reach extends from environmental matters to business growth, transport and immigration. Working in partnership with all key Whitehall teams, we are at the heart of a wealth of nationally important issues. For example, our team provide legal advice on policies, they develop and draft legislation, and they help us secure value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds. With a remit to help the Government deliver on their priorities, our people benefit from having access to career-defining projects.
The Department for Business and Trade is currently navigating the Government’s response to the Post Office Horizon scandal, and it is here that you will find a fascinating challenge. We are seeking experienced Lawyers who will help us efficiently administer and implement numerous compensation schemes. Impacting on postmasters and ex-postmasters affected by the scandal, you’ll will therefore provide astute advice on the Historical Shortfall Scheme, the Suspension Remuneration Review, the Overturned Convictions remediation process, the GLO Compensation Scheme and the Historical Convictions Redress Scheme.
Your role
In this high-profile role, you’ll work with external legal advisors and case assessors to make individual compensation assessments and help us apply the processes for each scheme. Advising on procedural issues, information law issues, policy challenges and other matters arising from the operation of these schemes, you’ll provide the legal support to ensure that every potential problem has been considered and addressed.
With the ability to quantify damages for injury and loss, you’ll consider policy, operational and political contexts when guiding decision-makers on potential legal risks.
With the support of our dynamic and friendly team, you may also be asked to provide guidance on situations relating to acquittal legislation, and you’ll be ready to offer your expertise on a range of other areas relating to the Horizon IT scandal. For example, you might tackle projects relating to general public law, information handling, devolution or commercial issues.
Please note that in order to join our team, you’ll need to obtain CTC security clearance to BPSS level.
About you
To make the most of this fascinating opportunity, you’ll be a Lawyer with at least two years’ post-qualification experience, and a good understanding of a Lawyer’s role within the government.
Ideally, you’ll have a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant law, or you’ll be capable of acquiring this expertise quickly. With confident legal analysis and advisory skills, you’ll enjoy providing constructive and risk-based advice in a dynamic environment, and you’ll have plenty of ideas on how to mitigate these risks. It’s inevitable that you’ll have to manage multiple priorities with competing deadlines, so you will be able to organise your workload effectively.
It would also be desirable if you have experience or knowledge of:
* Common law principles relating to the assessment of compensation for pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses. This will include psychiatric injury and aggravated and exemplary damages.
* Criminal law and/or public law.
* Handling litigation or commercial projects.
Benefits
With flexible working arrangements and access to a competitive benefits package that includes a civil service pension, this is a highly desirable role that will take your career to the next level. We want you to continue developing your skills as you pursue your professional interests, so you will find that we offer a supportive environment with access to the type of cutting-edge projects that other employers would struggle to match.
Closing date for applications: Friday 28th February 2025.
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