Overview
Our office is in central Reading. We offer flexibility in where you work and we’ll expect you to attend the office a minimum of two days a month. When you join us, we expect you to be in the office more frequently to settle into the TRA. You will also need to attend court as required.
About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing team of expert and well-respected lawyers providing a range of in-house legal services to the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA).
We are a growing organisation of over 150 people, with our headquarters in central Reading. The TRA carries out investigations into unfair trading practices and recommends measures to the Secretary of State. This work is novel within the UK, and the Legal team at the TRA is at the forefront in developing this new field of law based on complex legislation and the underpinning World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
This Senior Lawyer position is a hybrid role, covering both litigation and advisory work, with a focus on litigation (depending on business needs).
Litigation: you will be responsible for leading the TRA’s defence of any appeals brought in the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) and any judicial review proceedings.
Advisory: you will also be responsible for providing legal advice and support to case teams carrying out trade remedies investigations and reviews, to help ensure that our decisions and processes are legally robust.
Key Accountabilities
Litigation:
* Lead and manage trade remedies litigation efficiently and effectively, drafting instructions to counsel and providing advice and support to TRA colleagues and counsel;
* Coordinate the TRA’s response to litigation across all court levels, from the Upper Tribunal to the Supreme Court;
* Manage junior lawyers and staff working on litigation;
* Work closely and collaboratively with finance team to manage litigation costs and budgets;
* Set up and manage processes and systems to support litigation delivery;
* Provide guidance and training to legal and non-legal colleagues to strengthen readiness for litigation; and
* Build and develop relationships with external stakeholders, including counsel and the tribunal and court systems
* Advise on trade remedies investigations, providing high-quality, solutions-focussed and risk-based advice to help inform decision making, covering domestic trade remedies law, WTO law and public law;
* Make interpretive decisions, which create precedent and provide authoritative specialist advice to senior decision makers; and
* Proactively develop your legal skills and expertise in domestic trade remedies and WTO law.
General:
As a senior leader in the TRA, contribute to the wider leadership of the TRA and be involved in projects and initiatives beyond your immediate business role, which help to support the TRA’s values of Dynamism, Expertise, Integrity and Openness, and deliver the TRA’s strategic goals and business plan priorities.
Person specification
Personal Attributes & Skills:
* You will have experience in leading and managing litigation, including public law litigation, efficiently and effectively.
* You will have excellent judgement and strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct high-quality legal research and produce robust legal analysis and advice.
* You will be proficient in interpreting and applying statute, case law and public law, and demonstrate a sound awareness of legal risk in your decision making.
* You take a solutions-focussed approach to legal problem solving, considering broader contextual and policy factors to inform your advice.
Litigation: Experience leading and managing litigation, including public law litigation, efficiently and effectively, including:
* developing the strategy for responding to a legal challenge and coordinating the response across internal and external stakeholders (including counsel);
* preparing submissions and meeting tribunal or court deadlines;
* managing disclosure of documents and compiling and filing statements of case, witness statements and bundles; and
* conducting correspondence with parties to litigation, including applicants/claimants, and tribunals or courts.
Legal advice: Demonstrable expertise in statutory interpretation and the ability to provide accurate, high-quality, timely and solutions-focussed legal advice. Consistently and proactively identifying key legal issues and can explain legal options clearly.
Legal judgment and risk: Experience in identifying legal risks, providing clear assessments of those risks and exercising sound legal judgment, taking into account policy and operational contexts.
Preferred Experience:
* Knowledge and experience of domestic trade remedies law; and
* Knowledge and experience of applying public law considerations to decision making.
Qualifications
Fully qualified solicitor/barrister entitled to practice in England and Wales (evidence of entitlement to practice must be provided in the application).
Degree-level educated (2:1 or above) or provide evidence of an equivalent high-level academic or professional achievement
Behaviours
We\'ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Managing a Quality Service
* Leadership
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We\'ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Written Legal Assessment
* Oral Presentation (including time for questions)
This role offers an allowance £8,000 (based on holding required qualifications)
Alongside your salary, Trade Remedies Authority contributes towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please refer to the candidate pack attached to the CS Jobs advert for further information.
Existing Civil Servants should note that working for the TRA, you will be employed as a public servant.
This vacancy is for a position in the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). TRA employees are not Civil Servants. Individuals applying for this role from the Civil Service are advised to review terms prior to accepting the offer. Key terms are outlined in the benefits section of this advert (these are not exhaustive). Individuals can also discuss with hiring managers and the TRA People Team on resourcing.enquiries@traderemedies.gov.uk.
Things you need to know
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
To Apply
You will need to complete a CV and a personal statement (maximum 750 words).
If more than 20 applications are received, an initial sift will be carried out on the basis of CVs. The lead sift criteria will be litigation experience.
Your CV should set out your education, professional qualifications and employment history to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role.
Your personal statement (maximum 750 words) should provide evidence to demonstrate how your experience, skills and attributes meet the criteria for the role.
Interview
The interview will consist of a written assessment to be completed on the assessment day under timed conditions, an oral presentation with time for questions and a 45-minute behaviour-based interview.
The behaviours to be assessed are managing a quality service, leadership, making effective decisions and communicating and influencing.
A note of any legislation relevant to the written assessment will be sent to candidates selected for interview in advance of the interview.
Timeline
Advert closes: 1st March 2026
Shortlist: W/C 2nd March 2026
Interviews: W/C 18th March 2026
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
The interview will be online via Microsoft Teams. You will be provided with further details if you are selected for interview.
Faraz Shibli (Senior lawyer) is offering the opportunity for drop-in sessions. Please email faraz.shibli@traderemedies.gov.uk for more information.
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