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Lawyers in government

Our work and our philosophy are very different from others’.We think this is a good thing.

Creating new legislation.

Providing legal advice to government ministers.

Representing the government in the highest courts in the land.

The work of government lawyers and trainees is challenging, unique and often headline news. The legal solutions we provide pervade almost every aspect of today’s society.

It’s a terrific responsibility.

It’s a responsibility we want you to shareIn July 2020, we are offering around 60 legal trainee positions.

Most of these will be available for a September 2022 start. But there may be some positions available in September 2020 or 2021.

If you have excellent analytical, communication and team working skills and would relish the challenge of legal work that has a significant and tangible impact on millions of people - we would like to hear from you.

The government is our sole client and everything the government does affects society in one way or another. Whether it is developing policy; creating new legislation; entering into contracts; enforcing regulation; or defending its actions in court, the government needs lawyers who understand its business. As a lawyer in government you will have the opportunity to move around and work in different areas of law and practice throughout your career.

Advisory workWhat should be covered in trade agreements? Can any pupil go to school in a skirt? How can science and technology be used to fight serious and organised crime? Will a merger restrict competition? What commercial law issues will arise from delivery of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham?

These are just a fraction of the challenging concepts that lawyers and trainees have been focussing on.

Providing legal advice to the government is an important element of our work. Lawyers and trainees work alongside ministers and officials as they seek to turn government objectives into policy and law and enforce regulation.

That’s not all. Providing legal advice on the implications of existing legislation is not the full extent of our responsibility.

Our role in the development and implementation of new legislation is, quite simply, unique. Creating legislation from scratch and being part of the process as it moves through Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament is an opportunity that cannot be provided elsewhere. It is fascinating and challenging in equal measure.

Litigation workIs it lawful for the police to use children as covert sources of intelligence? How should public authorities approach the limitation period in cases of historic abuse? Is it lawful to add a third runway at Heathrow, when the UK only recently signed the Paris Agreement?

When you think about the scale of the activities in which the government is involved, you won’t be surprised to learn that we spend a lot of time in courts and tribunals considering all kinds of questions and contentious issues.

Litigation lawyers attend hearings in a wide range of courts, including Coroners’ Courts, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The government dimension adds an additional and unique perspective. The outcome of a case is not the only consideration for our lawyers. The wider implication for future government policy is equally significant and many cases raise questions of constitutional importance.

Legal trainee schemeThe Government Legal Department (GLD), including its Commercial Law Group, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and National Crime Agency (NCA) have all advertised legal trainee positions (training contracts and pupillages) in recent years.

Departments recruit legal trainees under the umbrella of the Government Legal Profession’s Legal Trainee Scheme.

If you are successful in your application, you will be made an offer of a trainee position by one of these departments. Your legal training will be the responsibility of that department and its terms and conditions of appointment will apply.

Trainees typically work in 4 different areas of practice (‘seats’) over a 2-year period. Pupil barristers can also expect to spend part of the pupillage period in chambers.

Whether you aim to be a solicitor or barrister, you can expect to be fully involved in a range of interesting work and play an active role in casework. You may also liaise with government ministers, senior policy makers and counsel and may have the opportunity to participate in the legislative process itself. There are many trainees who can point proudly to a section in the statute book and say “I produced that”.

So, while the broad structure of your training will be similar to that found elsewhere, the nature of the work you will perform will be very different.

Over the next few pages, some of our recent trainees will tell you more.

ShaniceGovernment Legal Department (GLD)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? I particularly enjoyed studying Constitutional and Administrative law at university and I was eager to experience the intersection of law, politics and government policy. I liked that government lawyers are able to frequently move around departments throughout their career, which lends itself to an immense variety of work. The ability to have a great work-life balance was also important to me.

What type of work have you been involved in? In litigation, I was given responsibility for managing my own caseload. I was also able to work on the Heathrow third runway litigation - helping set up and undertake a disclosure exercise for such a complex and high-profile challenge was invaluable experience.

In my advisory seats, I have provided advice to clients and ministers on a range of policies, and been given my own areas to lead on. I have also been involved in drafting EU Exit legislation.

What’s been your best experience so far?Many trainees have the opportunity to visit a devolved administration for a two-week placement, and I visited Belfast. It was fascinating to be able to talk to lawyers, policy officials and even the Attorney General of Northern Ireland, and learn more about issues as diverse as direct rule, Brexit, land law, paramilitarism and civil law reform.

MichaelGovernment Legal Department (GLD)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? I have long harboured an interest in public law. So, practising in government always seemed like a logical fit in terms of the opportunities it provided to apply public law principles to a diverse and challenging array of scenarios and subject areas.

What type of work have you been involved in? After a first seat conducting immigration litigation in GLD, my next seat was in a set of barristers chambers where I assisted in advising on a broad range of public law work. My third seat followed at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, where I advised on building safety in the wake of the Grenfell Fire. Lastly I was placed at the Department for International Trade, where I worked on the drafting of free trade agreements. I then qualified into HM Treasury, where I advise predominantly on financial sanctions and anti-money laundering.

What’s been your best experience so far?I recently attended my first ministerial briefing with my policy colleagues. This had represented the culmination of several weeks of hard work and challenging legal analysis in a particularly politically sensitive area. We were required to present these complex issues in a concise and intelligible way. Following the briefing the whole team was commended by the Minister for our work.

ChristieHM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? Like many people who are interested in a career in law, I wanted to pursue a career which had a real and tangible impact. As a trainee you have, at a very early stage in your legal career, the ability to get involved in cases which are high profile, high value and legally complex. The outcomes can make an actual difference to legislation enacted and how cases are dealt with in the future. I was also very attracted by the prospect of being able to work in different departments throughout my career.

What type of work have you been involved in? Following a seat in chambers, I worked in HMRC’s Enforcement and Insolvency team. This was a very varied team and the work I was involved in reflected as much. I had my own caseload and also assisted other members of the team with cases they were working on. I conducted hearings in the High Court, the Central Family Court and in the Magistrates’ Courts. In addition, I had the opportunity to draft various court orders, witness statements and pieces of advice.

What’s been your best experience so far?My first time ‘on my feet’ in court. I had to draft the order while the hearing was ongoing whilst also trying to liaise with counsel for an interested party! It was very stressful but the court granted what I was seeking and it was a huge sense of satisfaction and achievement.

MelvinHM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? As a career changer with a varied career path (from diplomat to opera singer, banker and psychotherapist), I was keen to use my range of skills to make a practical impact on society. Working as a government lawyer with HMRC Solicitor’s Office means I can continue to make a real difference and help to protect the funds available for essential public services.

What type of work have you been involved in?My last training seat was in the Commercial (Corporate Services and Estates) team. My work involved a major project concerning the HMRC estate. I project-managed the internal legal work streams in this project. I chaired regular meetings of the team, analysed papers from Counsel/external solicitors, contributed to meetings, attended conferences and drafted letters and documents. I also enjoyed researching various other contract and property law issues.

I have recently qualified into the Strategic Litigation team, litigating anti-avoidance cases in the Tax Tribunal. I am also litigating public law challenges in the Higher Courts.

What’s been your best experience so far?I love the variety of work and the opportunity to do challenging legal work. My best experience was attending a hearing in Bristol, where the judge was extremely positive about the work I had done in preparing for the hearing. We won the case. This was the first case I had managed on my own, so achieving a successful outcome was very rewarding and satisfying.

ChantalCompetition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? The CMA works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, markets, business and the economy. So, when choosing to pursue a legal career at the CMA, I knew that I would be doing legal work that would be interesting, varied and challenging; and that it would have a meaningful impact on the lives of consumers.

What type of work have you been involved in? I have worked on a complex antitrust investigation concerning certain drugs in the generic pharmaceutical industry. This included conducting compulsory interviews, drafting formal requests for information, reviewing large volumes of documents and conducting research on legal and procedural points. I have also been involved in an investigation into the conduct of directors in order to determine whether to seek competition director disqualification orders. Additionally, I have been involved in preparations for potential civil proceedings and agreeing voluntary disqualification undertakings.

What’s been your best experience so far?Overall, I am extremely grateful that my work has been so varied, and that I have been given the support and encouragement to independently manage interesting work streams. Each investigation has thrown up some interesting (and often urgent) challenges. This has allowed me to engage in research on discrete legal and procedural issues and to have discussions with dedicated, deep-thinking and enthusiastic individuals.

AndrewNational Crime Agency (NCA)

Why did you choose to become a government lawyer? I came to law slightly later than many people having been working in a different field. What attracted me most to being a government lawyer was the range of interesting work available across all manner of teams. Although the selection process was very tough, it always felt like the right path.

What type of work have you been involved in? The range has been very broad. I’ve helped the Agency to resolve its position on pensions, attended an employment tribunal, provided advice to the professional standards team, worked on investigative orders and assisted with bringing claims in the High Court to recoup the proceeds of crime - and I’m only halfway through!

What’s been your best experience so far?Helping to obtain one of the first unexplained wealth orders for the Agency was highly interesting and pretty ground breaking. I helped prepare for the hearing, participated in a conference with Counsel and attended the hearing itself. Generally, both the criminal finance and employment work has been fascinating and very detailed. Working for a law enforcement body gives everything an extra twist!

Joining usIt’s not just the work that is unique. Our approach to graduate recruitment is different to that adopted by many other employers.

Factors such as the school you attended, the A levels you obtained, your university or your degree subject do not form part of the decision-making process. In fact, the only time any personal information about you is seen is at the Assessment Centre stage and this is restricted to your name and any work experience. The information you provide on work experience may be used to assist with questioning.

The type of skills and behaviours we are looking for are listed opposite and the extent to which you can demonstrate these will ultimately determine whether you are offered a position.

Making effective decisions – Using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully considering alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.

Communicating and influencing – Communicating purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respecting the needs, responses and opinions of others.

Working together – Forming effective partnerships and relationships with people from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Delivering at pace – Delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

Developing self and others – Focussing on continuous learning and development.

Motivation – Having a clear interest in and motivation for the law, public service and the work of government lawyers.

Eligibility

Before you apply for a place on the legal trainee scheme, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria.

Nationality

The Civil Service nationality rules apply.

Applications can be accepted from:• UK nationals• European Economic Area (EEA) nationals• Swiss nationals and, in some circumstances,

Turkish nationals• Commonwealth citizens

Full details about these requirements and exceptions can be found at www.gov.uk.

If you hold dual nationality, with one part being British, you may apply.

Immigration status

In addition to meeting the Civil Service nationality requirements, you must also be legally entitled to work in the UK.

Degree criterion

You must have, or be predicted to obtain, a minimum of a 2:2 in an undergraduate degree. This does not have to be in law.

Alternatively, if you hold a Certificate of Academic Standing or Equivalent Means from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), you will be eligible to apply. Fellows and graduate members of CILEx who have satisfied the SRA’s academic stage of training are also eligible.

Timing: degree stage

Applications are welcomed from people who graduated some time ago as well as recent graduates. For current undergraduates:• candidates studying law cannot apply any earlier than

the penultimate year of their degree• candidates studying a non-law degree and Scots law

students cannot apply any earlier than their final year

Recruitment process and calendar

The application process is expected to be open for around a month in July 2020.

The initial stages of the recruitment process have previously involved a number of online tests for example a Situational Judgement Test (SJT), a Verbal Reasoning Test (VRT) and a Critical Reasoning Test (CRT).

The final stage has involved a half-day assessment centre (comprising of a written exercise and interview). The assessment centre usually takes place during August.

Please note: The timetable and recruitment arrangements are kept under review and may be subject to change. Please check the website for updates.

Course fees and bursaryCourse fees

Departments will pay your Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) fees in full provided you have not yet started the course. There is no preference which law or Bar school you attend.

Departments won’t reimburse you if you’ve successfully completed your LPC or BPTC.

You may be eligible for a grant of about £5,400 (National) to £7,600 (London) for the vocational year if you intend to study for your LPC or BPTC on a full-time, or part-time, basis. You’ll need to discuss your eligibility for a grant with the recruiting department at the offer stage.

Salary and benefitsA comprehensive package is on offer. This includes a good work-life balance (e.g. flexible working opportunities), a generous annual leave allowance and an attractive pension scheme.

Your salary as a legal trainee may vary according to your department and location.

First year salaries are currently circa £28,000.

The second year salaries are currently circa £32,000.

Salaries for qualified lawyers also vary according to your department and location.

Please note: salaries and terms and conditions are subject to review.

Find out moreInterested? To find out more, including information about the Diversity Summer Scheme, open days and the law fairs we will be attending, please go to www.gov.uk/glp

You too could soon be playing an active role in legal work that really makes a difference.

Contact usRecruitment Team, 11th Floor Lower Castle Street, Castlemead, Bristol BS1 3AG

Email: govtrainees@tmpw.co.uk

0845 3000 793 or 0117 923 4417

Website: www.gov.uk/glp