Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester
The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government, working with all the main Whitehall departments. From energy to security, from roads to rivers, health to human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. From developing and drafting legislation to helping to secure economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on policies to ensuring value from contracts, our work is stimulating and varied.
Our Employment Directorate provides employment advice and litigation services to all GLD’s clients, supports a workforce of over 450,000 and underpins the delivery of a vast range of public services. Our work covers everything from Employment Tribunal claims and the conduct of complex multi-party litigation to advising on staff policies and terms and conditions, TUPE, collective bargaining and departmental re-organisations. Join us and you’ll learn about the working conditions of a vast range of public servants including prison officers, judicial office-holders, border force officers, the armed forces and other sector specialists.
Your role
As a highly motivated senior lawyer, you’ll have an important leadership role as you help us develop, embed and improve the Employment Directorate’s Knowledge Management (KM) function. A key focus of your work will involve overseeing the induction of new lawyers to the division, providing them with the specialist support and training they will need as they grow their careers with us, and working closely with the Legal Director, current Employment Knowledge Development Lawyer and senior leadership team as we develop strategy and the continuous improvement of the KM offering.
All our lawyers have their own collective and individual responsibilities for knowledge sharing and learning, and it will be your task to foster a relevant and appropriate culture as you influence the way in which your colleagues meet their responsibilities. This is a great opportunity to lead and set direction, and you’ll be given all the encouragement you need as you inspire, innovate and drive the project forward.
About you
An established and experienced employment lawyer, you’ll possess well developed knowledge of employment law – this will have either been gained through advising clients and conducting cases in the Employment Tribunal across a broad range of employment law issues, or through an employment-specific knowledge role. We’ll expect you to apply sound legal research and reliable judgement as you deal with the issues you face and have a sound understanding of how to assess and approach legal risk. In addition, your excellent interpersonal and communication skills will allow you to explain complex subjects in ways that are accessible and tailored to individual audiences.
You should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in your first degree (in any subject), and if you hold an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. We will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided. You 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.
Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where a qualifying law degree is held or the Graduate Diploma in Law has been completed, or where CILEx Level 6 exams have been passed at 50% or above in Contract Law, Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts Law, European Union Law, Land Law, Public Law and the Law of Tort.
GLD encourages its people to develop their skills in a nurturing environment. Other benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements.
Working for GLD is much more than law.
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 Modern Civil Service.
Closing date for applications: Noon Monday 9 th June 2025.
Apply by clicking on the 'Apply button' below
Associate
In-House Counsel
Lawyer
Legal Counsel
Professional Support Lawyer
Senior Solicitor
Solicitor
Practice Area
Employment
1-3 years
4-6 years
7-9 Years
Sector
Public sector
Type of Practice
Public sector
Location
Salary Bracket
Employee Benefits
Bonus and Pension
Bonus scheme
Healthcare
Income Protection
Work from home
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