3 x Lawyers, SASO (DV + Enhanced)

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. 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 headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join 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 you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

About the Special Advocates Support Office (SASO) - Litigation Directorate

Job description

Working as a SASO Lawyer: A unique viewpoint on litigation

The Special Advocates’ Support Office (“SASO”) is a unique team based in the Justice and Development Division of the Government Legal Department (“GLD”). It supports the Special Advocates, who are security-cleared lawyers in their constitutionally critical role to protect the rights of excluded parties in cases featuring Closed Material Procedure (“CMP”). Issues of national security and international relations are typically at the heart of litigation handled by the team. The successful candidate can expect to work on important, sensitive and at times high profile cases.

Many of the terms used below are explained here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/saso-manual

Special Advocates are appointed by the Attorney General and represent the interests of individuals in cases involving CMP, which covers an extremely broad range of proceedings. For example, SASO supports the Special Advocates in proceedings before the High Court of England & Wales, the High Court of Northern Ireland, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, the Parole Board, the Employment Tribunal and the Security Vetting Appeals Panel as well as in other courts, tribunals and panels across the different jurisdictions of the UK.

In order to assist Special Advocates in their role, SASO provides the following services:

1. briefing the Special Advocate(s), collating the OPEN papers and legal materials;
2. corresponding with the excluded party, the OPEN Representatives and the Information Owners’ representatives about case management directions, conferences, evidence, and preparation for hearings;
3. attending hearings and corresponding with courts in relation to directions and other procedural matters;
4. corresponding with Information Owners and courts regarding communication requests;
5. preparing CLOSED materials, and filing and serving on various parties;
6. arranging and hosting meetings for Special Advocates to discuss matters relevant to their work, including developments in the law; and
7. assisting the wider legal and academic community with matters relating to CLOSED material proceedings (including court working groups, academics, research, and discussions) and lawyers from overseas jurisdictions.

SASO lawyers are divided into OPEN and CLOSED teams. The SASO OPEN team liaises with the Attorney General’s Office (in Northern Ireland, the Advocate General’s Office) and OPEN Representatives and supports the Special Advocate(s) whilst they remain in OPEN, such as by attending OPEN conferences (to discuss case strategy) and OPEN hearings. The SASO CLOSED team handles the CLOSED side of litigation. They have access to the CLOSED material in a case and are therefore able to consider and discuss the material with the Special Advocate(s) in CLOSED, and also to attend CLOSED hearings. For this reason, SASO CLOSED lawyers are required to have Enhanced Developed Vetting security clearance.

This role is for a lawyer in the CLOSED team, but pending clearance, lawyers work in the OPEN team. The role is based in London but occasional casework-related travel may be required.

SASO’s place in the Litigation Directorate

SASO sits within the Litigation Directorate of the GLD. There are information barriers and procedures in place to ensure SASO’s independence from other GLD legal teams representing UK Government clients.

GLD’s Litigation Directorate has over 750 staff based in Bristol, Leeds, London and Manchester. It comprises four divisions, the Covid Inquiry Division, the Defence and Security Division, the Home Office and Immigration Division and the Justice and Development division. SASO is based in the Justice and Development division.

The Litigation Directorate is key to delivering GLD’s core purpose, vision and strategic outcomes. As the largest unit within GLD, delivering for clients across Government on a daily basis, handling thousands of cases and interacting with the courts, counsel and other litigants, the Litigation Directorate is key to delivering GLD’s core purpose, vision and strategic outcomes. Litigation lawyers cover a full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security as well as the Government’s wide ranging reform agenda. They regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and handle cases at the forefront of the developing law.

Although SASO’s role is distinct from that of other teams within the Litigation Directorate, the successful candidate(s) will have access to key legal information, knowledge and resources across Government, as well as networks of lawyers with specialised expertise who can provide guidance and training on cross-cutting issues.

About the Role

Career Offer

For some roles, travel may be required. If you join us with less than three years of post-qualification experience (PQE), your starting salary will be £51,541.00 per annum. This will increase to £63,189 (Croydon/London) or £61,124 (National) per annum once you have successfully completed your probation period and either reach three years of PQE or complete one year of service, whichever comes first.

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.

For Newly Qualified lawyers with under one year’s experience, GLD operates a ‘2+2’ scheme, whereby these lawyers are allocated to two, 2 year postings over their first 4 years working with GLD; 2 years in a contentious team (litigation or employment), and a further 2 years in a non-contentious advisory post, or vice-versa. The scheme is voluntary and is intended to help Newly Qualified lawyers to develop a broader range of skills and stay ‘fresh’ in working on different areas of law and in new environments.

The successful candidate will be an integral member of a small and tight-knit team of colleagues working in London to progress litigation featuring CLOSED material and ensure the Special Advocates are supported to fulfil their constitutionally vital role.

You will generally be assisting Special Advocates in cases which challenge decisions made by, or involve claims against, the UK Government. This is different to the usual position for lawyers in the Government Legal Department, who act on behalf of the UK Government.

The role requires managing a varied and complex national security caseload. There may also be opportunities to work on cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As noted above, key responsibilities would include (but are not limited to):

In OPEN:

• Briefing Special Advocates and ensuring they have all relevant papers and materials for their cases
• Liaison with the excluded party and/or their Open Representatives and attendance at OPEN conferences
• Contact with the Information Owners’ representatives about procedural steps and preparation for hearings
• Attendance at hearings and correspondence with courts/tribunals/specialist panels
• Support for the Open Representatives with Communication Requests to the Special Advocates
• Support for the wider legal and academic community on CMP-related matters

In CLOSED:

• Preparing CLOSED materials and filing and serving these on parties;
• Corresponding with courts, tribunals and panels in relation to CLOSED directions and procedural steps
• Attending CLOSED hearings
• Assisting the Special Advocates with the sending of cleared communications to the Open Representatives
• Arranging and hosting meetings for Special Advocates to discuss their work

Outside of casework, there are opportunities to develop leadership and management skills, and to take advantage of the GLD’s learning and development resources to build your knowledge in specialist practice areas.

Please note that whilst working in OPEN individuals will be required to spend 60% of their time in the office. Once working in CLOSED individuals will be required to spend 80% of their time in the office.

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and influencing
• Working together
• Managing a quality service

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• A sound understanding of public law with experience of, or aptitude for, litigation work
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent attention to detail

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.

• Ability to adapt quickly to casework in a variety of different practice areas and/or jurisdictions.

Technical Legal Professional Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• The ability to conduct sound analysis and use secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally, with stakeholders; internal and external
• Strong case management skills, with the ability to meet court deadlines and work under time pressure.

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.

• Knowledge of closed material procedures.
• understanding of claimant litigation

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must pass BPSS (Civil Service pre-employment checks)

You must hold or be willing to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. You can start this position while obtaining this clearance level. Clearance must be initiated within 3 months of being in post. Continued appointment will be conditional upon obtaining the required security clearance.

This role will also require the post holder to be inducted onto the STRAP regime. STRAP is a regime that regulates access to sensitive intelligence material which requires more protective handling than is afforded by the standard arrangements for government assets.

To be eligible to apply for STRAP, applicants must hold full UK Nationality or dual/multi-nationality, subject to one part being British and the other part/s to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please note those whose right to work in the UK is subject to immigration controls are ineligible to apply for this role.

Clearance also typically requires a 10-year, verifiable UK-based footprint, where individuals have not been out of the UK 3 months or more in any 12-month period during that time. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levels before completing your application. Please note, this is a reserved post.

Reserved Posts

Only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service. Reserved posts are generally those which, due to the sensitive nature of the work, require special allegiance to the Crown such that they can only be held by a UK national. Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996.

Sponsorship and Visas

Those whose right to work in the UK is subject to immigration controls are ineligible to apply for this role. Sponsorship cannot be provided.

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 10:00am – 10:30am on Tuesday 11th August 2026.

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers working within SASO about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role.

If you are interested in further information on this role please join the link below:

Tuesday 11th August 2026 from 10:00am – 10:30am

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/325699436220344?p=ZZZ4tFyRfgf3qQ59mp

Meeting ID: 325 699 436 220 344

Passcode: KR25zk3H

Qualifications

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 as set out below.
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).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,200, Government Legal Department contributes £17,729 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

Learning and Development

Benefits of working for the Civil Service

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

As the lead for the Government Legal Profession, we offer a tailored programme of development for all Legal Professionals joining the organisation through our Government Legal Training Programme and Legal Learning Framework, which includes:

• Foundation pathway, to support colleagues in their first 12 months
• Practitioner pathways for colleagues in four core areas of work
• Core Curriculum

We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer.

Alongside this we support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.

There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

• Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
• Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
• Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

The Recruitment Process

Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is Wednesday 2nd September 2026 at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. This will be used to assess Experience as set out in the Person Specification on slide 8. The CV will be scored.
2. A personal statement of no more than 1000 words demonstrating your Technical Legal Professional Skills as listed under personal specification on slide 8.
3. Please provide individual statements for the following behaviours listed below in no more than 250 words each.

• Delivering at pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing a quality service

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 473032& vacancy closing dateWednesday 2nd September 2026 at 12:00 Midday.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification.

If a high number of applications are received, the panel will conduct a 3 staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, you will move on to the second staged sift on Personal Statement. If you meet the minimum criteria for the Personal Statement, you will move to the final staged sift on Delivering at pace (Lead Behaviour) and on Managing a quality service.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, alongside strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Delivering at pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and influencing
• Working together
• Managing a quality service
• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Written Exercise

You will be asked to complete a written exercise under timed conditions immediately prior to interview. The written exercise will be used to assess Technical Legal Professional Skills. You will be provided with further information and full instructions for the written exercise on the day.

Presentation

You will be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation on your written exercise at the start of your interview. This will be used to assess Technical Legal Professional Skills and Communicating and influencing behaviour.

Your interview will take place online.

Offer

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.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an 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. We may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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