Deputy Director, Attorney General & General Private Law Team 1, Litigation Directorate

Job summary

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

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 fulfil 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.

Job description

The Litigation Directorate currently comprises four divisions with around 900 people based in Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, London and Manchester (Salford). GLD Litigation lawyers conduct public and private law litigation on behalf of Government in a wide range of often high-profile cases, frequently involving questions of constitutional importance. Litigation lawyers also provide expert representation in relation to inquests and public inquiries. As the largest unit within GLD, delivering for clients across Government daily, handling thousands of cases and interacting with the courts, counsel and other litigants, Litigation Directorate is key to delivering GLD’s core purpose, vision and strategic outcomes.

The actions and decisions of Government are under increasing scrutiny and challenge. We deal regularly with matters of significant constitutional and national importance such as immigration policy, welfare, climate change and energy policy. 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. Litigation Directorate also has a large private law practice representing large Government departments such as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and other claims. They regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and handle cases at the forefront of the developing law.

A word from our Director

Thank you for your interest in this role.

We offer an unparalleled range of work, in a directorate which prides itself on its welcoming, inclusive culture. We prioritise wellbeing and development so that all of our people can thrive and achieve their full potential. This is an exciting year for us as we embark on our delivery plan to realise our vision for 2025-27. We aspire to be a brilliant place to work, providing an outstanding legal service to meet the unique litigation and public inquiry needs of government, supporting its aim for a more productive and agile state. We want to be recognised as experts in the legal management of government litigation and in assisting government and Inquiry Chairs on public inquiries. You will play a key role in helping us to deliver this, alongside leading a division with a wide range of work, on issues which are critical to government’s priorities.

If you have the skillset to help us deliver outstanding legal services, please do apply!

Diane Wills, Director of Litigation

Home Office and Immigration Division

The Home Office and Immigration Division is currently made up of seven teams amounting to around 270 people (including lawyers, paralegals and business management colleagues).

The Division is responsible for public law litigation for a range of government departments and public bodies including Cabinet Office, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and the Parole Board and immigration public law challenges for the Home Office (HO). We are also responsible for private law litigation for the HO, FCDO, Department for Education (DfE), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). We also do unusual specialist work for the Attorney General supporting his public interest function which is not available anywhere else inside or outside of the government.

Defence and Security Division

The Defence and Security Division is made up of six teams, amounting to around 180 (including lawyers, paralegals and business management colleagues).

The Division is responsible for public and private law litigation, inquest and inquiry work for a range of government departments and public bodies including the Ministry of Defence in two private law teams and one public law team. The Division also handles public law litigation (and some private law litigation) for a range of other government departments and public bodies including the UK Intelligence Community, Foreign, Common and Development Office (FCDO), National Crime Agency (NCA), Attorney General’s Office (AGO) ), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Home Office (non-immigration public law work). We also have a specialist team dealing with private law and inquest work for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Transport (DfT) and National Highways Limited, as well as some Companies House work. We also have a newly established Inquiries response team that advises and represents HMG in high-profile, highly sensitive national security public inquiries, currently focused on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan and the State’s role in Northern Ireland Troubles matters. Some of our work requires Developed Vetted clearance.

Justice and Development Division

The Justice and Development Division is made up of seven teams amounting to around 280 people (including lawyers, costs draftspersons, paralegals and business management colleagues).

The Division is responsible for all public and private law litigation for a range of government departments and public bodies including for the Ministry of Justice (including HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as well as public law litigation for: the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) including the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department for Education (DfE), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), HM Treasury (HMT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Division also has a specialist Costs Team that provides support in relation to costs across all the divisions of Litigation Directorate as well as the wider GLD and our client departments. The Special Advocates Support Office (SASO) is also part of the Division, providing an invaluable service in respect of National Security litigation. This team also requires Developed Vetted clearance.

Public Inquiries Division

The Public Inquiries Division is made up of five teams amounting to around 165 (lawyers, paralegals and business management and project management colleagues).

The Division is responsible for providing legal support and advice to government departments in respect of numerous public inquiries and government reviews. We also provide legal support to Inquiry Chairs filling key roles on Inquiry Legal Teams in a few public inquiries. Members of the Division have provided, or are providing, support in respect of many important public inquiries including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, Undercover Policing Inquiry and The UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The Role

We are looking for a Deputy Director (DD) to lead the Attorney General and General Private Law Team 1. The team, with its sister team, covers a wide range of private law litigation representing many government departments including Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Education, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Cabinet Office, Health & Safety Executive and HM Treasury. The largest volume work of the team is defending the Home Office against unlawful detention and other private law claims. As examples, the team is acting in relation to private law claims arising from the Rwanda policy, holding individuals at Manston and acted for two Government departments in claims arising from the Grenfell disaster. Lawyers in the team also conduct inquests and inquiry support work. This diverse portfolio means there are always opportunities to be involved in fast paced, cross cutting and high-profile litigation involving close coordination with policy officials and ministers.

The team also provides direct support to the Attorney General in his public interest functions providing a unique opportunity to carry out a range of complex and specialist work. This litigation includes family matters for the Attorney General and King's Proctor, protecting charitable interests, requests to re-open inquests, appointing Advocates to Court, dealing with applications for s42 orders (vexatious litigant proceedings) and contempt of court.

The team consists of 5 Senior Lawyers managing 21 Lawyers, a Senior Paralegal, a Solicitor Apprentice and is supported by a business management team shared with the sister team.

The successful applicant will work closely with the DD head of the sister team to deliver an excellent and efficient legal service to the teams’ clients as well as contributing to the leadership of the division and the wider litigation directorate.

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria. Below are details of the essential criteria from the Civil Service Success Profiles that make up this role. Further guidance can be found at Success Profiles.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Behaviours (all points assessed at application and interview)

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Key Skills and Experience (all points assessed at application and interview)

• Significant experience of high-profile government litigation

Technical Legal Professional Skills (all points assessed at application and interview)

• The capability to lead a legal function, managing legal risk and provide sound direction and oversight.
• The ability to think creatively and a track record of giving authoritative risk-based legal advice that facilitates practical solutions.
• Brings wider legal experience and knowledge to bear in their role.

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 interview.

• Experience of or aptitude for private law litigation

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. In addition to this, those based in our London offices must hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance for this role. If London based, you can start your position pending this clearance level, however your appointment will be conditional upon obtaining CTC clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorshipwill be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates.

Qualifications

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:
Contract Law
Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts Law
European Union Law
Land Law
Public Law
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:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Government Legal Department contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 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. For our SCS colleagues these include:

SCS Induction

• SCS Induction toolkit
• Quarterly SCS drop-in sessions. Focus on development and talent management signposting with Q&A

SCS Development Toolkit

• Signposts the learning and development opportunities provided by the Cabinet Office for SCS across government and within GLD.

Action Learning Sets

• SCS1 GLP action learning sets
• Departmental Leadership Group (all SCS 2 and above) are part of a bespoke high-performance leadership and development programme including Action Learning Sets

Other bespoke options available

• Psychometric testing Lumina Sparks for new SCS2, providing a personalised reading of an individual’s strengths and development areas
• Executive Coaching
• In-house shadowing and mentoring/coaching
• Networking Deputy Director Forum, established by the DDs in GLD. Its aim is to support and help each other manage the challenges of your roles and develop leaders.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is Monday, 1st June 2026 at 12:00 Midday. You can search for the job using the reference number below.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CVsetting out your career history, with key responsibilities, experience and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess key skills and experience and technical legal professional skills, as set out in the Person Specification slide. Your CV must notexceed 500 words in the section titled ‘Employment History’ and must not exceed 1000 words in the section titled ‘Previous Skills and Experience’. The system will not stop you from typing when you have reached the above detailed word count, it is for you, the candidate, to ensure that the word count is not exceeded.
• Personal statement of 1250, addressing the following behaviours:

- Leadership (lead behaviour)

- Working Together

- Managing a Quality Service

- Communicating and Influencing

Each behaviour will be given an individual score, therefore please use headers to address each behaviour separately.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

CV Guidance for candidates

Please find the following guidance on how to populate the three sections of the CV when completing the online application. You will be asked to provide your, employment history, previous skills and experience, and qualifications.

For Employment History – please add your employment history, you can set out the roles you have completed in the past with start to end dates.

For Previous Skills and Experience - please add your experience, skills, achievements, key responsibilities, and any transferable skills you can bring to this role.

For Qualifications – please list the details of your education and qualifications achieved.

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 – 461531 & vacancy closing date 1st June 2026’.

Selection Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:

• Rebecca Cotter – Deputy Legal Director
• Vicky Baum – Deputy Legal Director
• TBC

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through Civil Service Jobs once your application has been submitted.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Please note, if a high number of applications are received, we will sift on the lead behaviour of Leadership alone. For this reason please address each behaviour in your statement of suitability individually, under clear headings. Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their Leadership behaviour will not have passed the sift, and the remainder of their personal statement will not be assessed.

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.

Assessments

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise.

These assessments do not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

Informal Conversations

Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Rebecca Cotter or Vicky Baum, Heads of Home Office and Immigration Division prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is an optional part of the process, not part of the formal assessment process.

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation with no visual aids and the title of that presentation will be confirmed in advance. The presentation will assess Leadership & Communicating and Influencing.

Interviews will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams. Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Offer, Feedback and Reserve List

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of selection decisions as soon as possible thereafter. All advertised dates are subject to change at short notice.

We are unable to offer feedback to candidates who have not attended an interview. Candidates who attend an interview will also be offered written feedback from a member of the interview panel.

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.

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

Security

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Vicky Baum and Rebecca Cotter
• Email : BaumCotter.Jobshare@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scsrecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Further information

This campaign is run in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title –