Making law making headlines making a difference - Lawyers in government
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Lawyers in government
making law
making headlines
making a difference
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 1 14/09/2018 17:58
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 2 14/09/2018 17:58
Our work and
our philosophy
are very different
We think this is
a good thing
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 3 14/09/2018 17:58
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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 4 14/09/2018 17:58
It’s a responsibility we
want you to share
In July 2019, we are offering around 60
trainee solicitor and pupil barrister positions.
These will be available in September 2021
and there may be some positions available in
September 2019 or 2020.
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 nationally - we would like to hear
from you!
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 5 14/09/2018 17:58
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 6 14/09/2018 17:58
The government is our sole client. Whether
it is creating new legislation, buying goods
and services, employing people, protecting
consumers, or defending its actions in court,
the government requires significant levels of
legal advice. To carry out this work, it needs
lawyers who understand its business. The
work of government lawyers is determined
by the business in which their departmental
clients are engaged. As a trainee solicitor or
pupil barrister, you will experience a variety
of litigation and advisory work during your
training period.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 7 14/09/2018 17:58Advisory work
What new legislation is ne
as a result of leaving the
What should be covered in the trade agreements? Can a
boy who identifies as a girl 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
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 8 14/09/2018 17:58n is needed
g the EU?
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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 9 14/09/2018 17:58Litigation work
Are plain packaging regula
for tobacco products unla
Who needs to be consulted when building a high speed rail line?
Is it unlawful to require foreign spouses of UK citizens to pass an
English language test before coming to live in the UK? What is
illegal tax evasion or avoidance?
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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 10 14/09/2018 17:58regulations
s unlawful?
Litigation lawyers attend hearings in a wide range of courts,
including Coroners’ Courts, the Asylum and Immigration
Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 11 14/09/2018 17:58Legal trainee scheme
The 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 (trainee solicitors and
pupil barristers) 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.
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
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 12 14/09/2018 17:58to be fully involved in a range of interesting work. You will
have an active role to play in casework. You may liaise with
government ministers, senior policy makers and counsel. And
you 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 13 14/09/2018 17:58Camilla
Arana
Solicitor
Government
Legal Department
(GLD)
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 14 14/09/2018 17:58Why did you choose to become
a government lawyer?
I studied Government at university and was
always interested in public policy. Working
closely with policy clients within your
department means that as a solicitor you
are not only receiving instructions but are
an important member of a team focussed
on delivering government policy. I knew that
working as a government lawyer would mean
challenging and varied work combined with
opportunities to move between legal areas of
expertise.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 15 14/09/2018 17:58What type of work were you
involved in during your training?
I was involved in preparing a Bill for
introduction to Parliament. I really enjoyed
seeing how law is developed from a policy
idea to a written clause in a Bill, as well as
being involved in instructing the Office of the
Parliamentary Counsel.
After answering key legal questions about
the policy and several rounds of instructions
to Parliamentary Counsel, it was immensely
satisfying seeing the clauses I’d worked
on appear in the first draft of the Bill and
interesting to watch these clauses debated in
Parliament!
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 16 14/09/2018 17:58What’s been your best
experience since joining?
In my first training seat providing legal
services to the Department for Business,
Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), I was
given the responsibility (while supervised) of
drafting a statutory instrument (SI), which
is a piece of secondary legislation. The SI
expanded the scope of the Regulators’
Compliance Code to include more regulators.
Having consulted, alongside BEIS policy
clients, with various regulators, drafted the
SI and briefed a Lord before it was due to be
debated in the House of Lords, I was very
proud to see my SI come into force!
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 17 14/09/2018 17:58Christie
Monaghan
Barrister
HM Revenue
and Customs
(HMRC)
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 18 14/09/2018 17:58Why did you choose to become
a government Lawyer?
Similarly to 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 19 14/09/2018 17:58What type of work were you
involved in during your training?
After returning from chambers, I worked in
HMRC’s Enforcement and Insolvency team.
This was a very varied team and the work
I was involved in reflects 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 20 14/09/2018 17:58What’s been your best
experience since joining?
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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 21 14/09/2018 17:58Beena
Kabir
Solicitor
Government
Legal Department
(GLD)
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 22 14/09/2018 17:58Why did you choose to become
a government lawyer?
The work in government really is very different
from anywhere else. You are able to gain
experience in dealing with legal and political
issues, which are interesting, high profile and
often in the media. I wanted exposure to a wide
range of legal matters and GLD was able to
offer this.
What type of work were you
involved in during your training?
I had a seat in a team which provided advice
to government departments and ministers on
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 23 14/09/2018 17:58EU law issues which could involve any topic
including environmental issues, migration,
intellectual property, taxation and monetary
policy. The work often involved complex
areas of law and ensuring that national
provisions complied with EU legislation.
I drafted a Designation Order (SI) which
was subsequently published. I advised the
Home Office on how to notify the European
Commission with regards to retaining national
provisions in relation to marking explosives.
I also attended a hearing in the Court of
Justice of the European Union about evasion
of tax.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 24 14/09/2018 17:58What’s been your best
experience since joining?
There were many but working on the Children
and Families Bill during my seat at the
Department for Education stands out the
most. This was invaluable as I gained first-
hand experience in meeting and providing
advice to ministers, clearing policy and
speech notes as well as going to Parliament
to watch debates on the Bill. It was a great
opportunity to understand and be part of a
Bill as it progressed through Parliament and
received Royal Assent.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 25 14/09/2018 17:58Martin
Jordison
Solicitor
Government
Legal Department
(GLD)
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 26 14/09/2018 17:58Why did you choose to become
a government lawyer?
As an existing civil servant (I previously spent
11 years with the Crown Prosecution Service),
GLD was a natural home for me. I enjoy the
opportunities to become involved in both
public and private law areas of work. Above
all, the range of law is second to none.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 27 14/09/2018 17:58What type of work were you
involved in during your training?
My final seat was based in an advisory team in
the Department for Education. I was involved
in some high profile education matters of
national importance which dominated the
headlines, specifically within the Academies
and Free Schools programme. There was a
lot of work in drafting new legislation and its
consequential and associated regulations
saw me working directly with policy colleagues
(clients), assisting and supporting on ministerial
briefings and providing legal support, including
in a session in Parliament.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 28 14/09/2018 17:58What’s been your best
experience since joining?
Being involved in urgent, high profile work
which was receiving wide exposure in the
media. The coverage and dominance of the
matters added a dimension of realism and
emphasised the significance and national
importance of the work.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 29 14/09/2018 17:58Matthew Fogg
Solicitor
Government
Legal Department
(GLD)
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 30 14/09/2018 17:58Why did you choose to become
a government lawyer?
I’m fascinated by politics, and providing
legal support to government decisions is an
integral part of this. It’s unique legal work,
drafting as well as applying legislation,
and supporting ministers in decisions of
fundamental importance to the country. The
work is often high profile; as a trainee I’ve
been involved in litigation in the Supreme
Court. Departments ensure that all lawyers
have a challenging workload and a healthy
work-life balance.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 31 14/09/2018 17:58What type of work were you
involved in during your training?
During my litigation seats I had a significant
degree of responsibility and management
over many small cases. I also worked on
larger cases, including ClientEarth’s air quality
challenge and the class action by part-time
judges on judicial pensions. My advisory
seats in the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the
Department for Exiting the European Union
(DExEU) involved advising on nuclear energy
policy and Brexit. This included supporting
Brexit negotiations and working on the EU
(Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 32 14/09/2018 17:58What’s been your best
experience since joining?
I’ve had many great experiences, but it was
greatly significant to me to support and
attend a hearing at the EU Court of Justice
in Luxembourg. I learned a lot working on
this interesting intellectual property case, and
having particularly enjoyed studying EU law
it was a privilege to attend a hearing at the
Court of Justice, to help represent the UK’s
position.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 33 14/09/2018 17:58Joining us
It’s not just the work that is unique. The 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 any 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 34 14/09/2018 17:58Making 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 35 14/09/2018 17:58Eligibility
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 on the Civil Service website.
If you hold dual nationality, with one part being British, you
may apply.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 36 14/09/2018 17:58Immigration 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 those 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 37 14/09/2018 17:58Recruitment process
and calendar
The application process will be open for a month in July 2019.
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 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 38 14/09/2018 17:58Course fees and salary
Course 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 will make a proportional payment based on the
number of months remaining if you’ve started your course.
Departments won’t reimburse you if you’ve successfully taken
and passed your LPC or BPTC.
You may be eligible for a grant of about £5,400 to £7,600
for the vocational year if you intend to study for your LPC
or BPTC on a full-time, or possibly, part-time basis. You’ll
need to discuss your eligibility for a grant with the recruiting
department at the offer stage.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 39 14/09/2018 17:58Salary
Your salary as a trainee solicitor or pupil will 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.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 40 14/09/2018 17:58Find out more
Interested? To find out more, including information about the
Diversity Summer Scheme, open days and the law fairs we will
be attending during the autumn, please go to www.gov.uk/glp.
You too could soon be playing an active role in legal
work that really makes a difference.
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 41 14/09/2018 17:58Contact Us
Recruitment Team
11th Floor
Lower Castle Street
Castlemead
Bristol
BS1 3AG
govtrainees@tmpw.co.uk
0845 3000 793 or
0117 923 4417
www.gov.uk/glp
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 42 14/09/2018 17:58Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 43 14/09/2018 17:58
Government Lawyer recruitment brochure 2017.indd 44 14/09/2018 17:58
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