Length of employment: For existing Civil Servants, there is the possibility of loan. Non-civil servants may request a secondment. Job Summary: 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: Developing and drafting legislation Providing legal advice on policies Securing our economic and trade relationships Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds 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 Modern Civil Service. To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department's webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in. Job Description: Welcome from Adrian Roberts, Legal Director (International Trade) International trade law is crucial for UK growth, global prosperity, and harmonious international relations. In this role, you will be joining a team of exceptional lawyers, in terms of collegiality, expertise and professionalism, doing a unique and important job. Since I joined the Government Legal Profession (GLP) 23 years ago from the self-employed bar, I have never looked back: the breadth and depth of legal work covered in the GLP is amazing, whether you are negotiating and drafting treaties, advising ministers, literally making new law, or running litigation in the national or international courts. Now is an especially interesting time (!) but throughout your career you will often be doing the law that other people read about in the news. That's why we are investing in GLP's Trade Law Profession, by rolling out the GLP's Trade Law Career Pathway. This wil l ensure (1) clear professional development opportunities, and (2) that His Majesty's Government has the right expertise to deliver for the citizens of the UK. Good luck! The advertised roles will be across GLD Advisory Trade Law teams.GLD has approximately 200 Advisory Trade Lawyers in the legal divisions of: Department for Business and Trade (DBT ) HM Treasury (HMT) Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) Cabinet Office Department for Transport (DfT) Home Office Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) Department for Education Should you be successful you will be matched to a role within one of the teams outlined, based on your CV and business needs. It's also important to note that you'll be a part of a wider network of Government Legal Profession (GLP) Trade Lawyers. There are government trade lawyers housed in the Attorney General's Office (AGO), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and the UK's Missions to the European Union and to the World Trade Organization (WTO) ( UKMis Brussels and Geneva respectively). In gist, there is a complex ecosystem of lawyers advising on international trade matters across GLD and the wider GLP. This mirrors a complex ecosystem of interrelated policy and operational responsibilities across government. The Role It is important to emphasise that all GLD Advisory Trade Lawyers are expected to advise on both Trade Law and Public Law, as government lawyers. The mix will vary from role to role. Trade Law Advice T here are broadly four areas that GLD Trade Lawyers advise on and engage in: policy development. E.g. advising on the international and domestic legal requirements for, and risks of, proposed UK government policies; negotiation and implementation of international agreements; dispute resolution in international and domestic forums; and corporate support. Case study: Negotiation of international agreements Several government lawyers will form part of the negotiating team for a free trade agreement (FTA). Many more government lawyers will be involved in providing legal advice that supports the development of the negotiated text. DBT leads on a number of chapters - for example, in relation to goods, services, intellectual property, sustainability and disputes. HMT leads on financial services, HMRC on customs and trade, Defra on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS). Each chapter has a 'chapter lead lawyer' who advises the chapter policy lead. Legal input to stand-alone agreements on trading arrangements also flows from lead policy responsibility, e.g. HMRC Legal leads on negotiation of agreements on customs and borders. Public Law Advice As a Grade 6 lawyer in a GLD Advisory division, you will also be expected to advise on public law (in addition to trade law). GLD advisory lawyers are relied on to bring to life policies for which Ministers are accountable to Parliament and the electorate. The legal issues are often complex, novel and politically sensitive. The legal approach may be scrutinised by Parliament, the media, courts, and other institutions, domestic, European and International. Advisory lawyers think through all the legal implications of a policy, for instance human rights, International law, equality and data protection issues, as well as core public law principles. They need to anticipate possible legal challenges and provide officials and Ministers with clear legal risk assessments. Where new primary legislation is required, advisory lawyers work with Parliamentary Counsel on the draft Bill and support policy colleagues and Ministers at all stages of the parliamentary process. Advisory lawyers also implement policy reforms and Acts of Parliament by drafting a huge volume of secondary legislation. To write a new law is a special privilege, requiring both precision of expression and creativity. It is a team effort involving multiple checks, but the drafter will always have a special sense of pride and ownership. Leadership In GLD Advisory divisions, while not every Grade 6 role will always involve line management, we expect all our Grade 6s to have the skills and motivation to manage junior lawyers and provide strong professional leadership while dealing with complex and high-profile issues and projects. You will also be expected to substantially contribute to the cultural and corporate leadership of your division. All of our lawyers have 'corporate' (divisional/GLD) roles covering a wide range of issues, from promoting Diversity and Inclusion in GLD, to developing our legal learning syllabus, to developing GLD's Trade Law Career Pathway! Key Responcibilities providing targeted trade law and public law advice in a flexible range of formats (written, verbal, comment boxes etc). This includes drafting and analysing treaty text and legislation; managing a legal workstream and client relationships; line managing junior lawyers, encouraging their learning and professional development; providing strong professional leadership within your team and the wider division; and building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders (policy and legal). Career Offer While previous experience or knowledge may be relevant to some vacancies, Government work is likely to involve a rapid learning curve to acquire legal skills and knowledge not required in private practice. Strong intellectual and analytical skills are important. We will provide support to help you acquire the necessary expertise and have a thriving CPD-accredited in-house training programme. GLD encourages its people to develop their skills and provides opportunities to move between advisory, litigation, employment and commercial law services during their careers. Candidate Information Sessions We will be holding 2 candidate information sessions for these roles on MS Teams on Tuesday 29 th April 2025 at 2:00pm until 2:40pm and Tuesday 6 th May 2025 at 10:00am until 10:40am. Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers working within Advisory Trade Law Teams about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the roles and process. Please refer to the applicant pack for the MS Teams links Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% We'll assess you against these Success Profile behaviours during the selection process: Managing a quality service Leadership Communicating and influencing Please refer to the success profile link to view further information on the indicators for each behaviour listed above. You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage. Experience Excellent all-round legal advisory skills and experience of giving fast-paced, risk-based and solution-focussed advice on challenging matters. Experience of working in a busy and diverse team and the ability to multitask and prioritise when faced with competing deadlines. Experience advising on trade law and public law. Technical Skills Sound understanding of trade law and public law. Reliable legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk. The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly. The ability to conduct sound analysis and secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice. The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of lawyers in government. For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles 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 2:1 degree. GLD 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 (e.g. 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 (i.e. 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 (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law: 1. Contract Law 2. Criminal Law 3. Equity and Trusts Law 4. European Union Law 5. Land Law 6. Public Law 7. Law of Tort *Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2 : 1 degree equivalence. 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 2:1 degree equivalence (where a 2:1 degree is not held). Security Clearance If successful you must hold or obtain clearance to SC (security clearance) level. This usually requires a five-year footprint. However, some departments are able to consider a three-year footprint. If you have any queries regarding this, please contact Further information of security clearances can be found here. Selection Process 1) An online CV required setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. Your CV should not exceed a maximum overall word limit of 1200 words. The CV will be scored and assessed on Experience. 2) Provide a personal statement no more than 1000 words covering the behaviours and technical skills listed on slide 10 After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates' suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours, technical skills and experience outlined in the Essential Criteria. Please note : If there are a large number of applications received, the panel may conduct an initial sift on your CV. For those that meet the minimum criteria, you will then progress to a full sift of your personal statement. Interview Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in slide 10 As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5-minute presentation based on a legal scenario. This will assess experience and technical skill s. Please note, Candidates may be asked follow up questions in relation to their presentation at interview Interviews will t ake place remotely via video conference. Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview. The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter. Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview. We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise. To help VERCIDA find roles that are best suited to you at DCMS, we ask you to confidentially share information about yourself with us. Any data VERCIDA receive is securely stored and never shared with third parties. 'Did you know that users who have filled in their profile fully are 42 times more likely to get matched with the right employer?' 'At DCMS we are committed to having diverse interview panels at every grade we recruit.' Applying for a job in Manchester? Find out more about the culture here