Deputy Director, Commercial Law Group (x3)

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

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 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.

Job description

About the Commercial Law Group

Commercial Law Group (CLG) is a dynamic and specialist commercial legal service, which was launched in June 2014, to create for the first time, a single expert source of commercial legal advice across government.

Whilst our legal work is often novel and challenging, CLG is friendly and welcoming, with a strong culture of collaborating and supporting one another. Feedback from our lawyers taking part in the most recent Civil Service People Survey demonstrates that staff can rely upon each other to help when things get difficult, are treated fairly at work and are proud to work for CLG and GLD.

There are approximately 240 lawyers in CLG, currently led by Justinia Lewis, our Legal Director, and two Deputy Legal Directors, Lianne Smith and Zoe De. The group is divided into smaller teams, ranging in size from 8 to 33 lawyers with all-encompassing support from our Business Management Team.

CLG currently has 11 legal teams providing commercial law support to a wide range of government departments, as well as our litigation team that conducts commercial litigation and provides dispute resolution services to central government. We also have a Property Hub, which advises on specialist property matters.

“Commercial Law Group delivers the most interesting, important and worthwhile commercial law work in the country. Our expert teams work in close collaboration with Civil Service colleagues right across government departments. We pride ourselves in a strong culture of collaboration, inclusivity and respect, and our valued, close knit and supportive Senior Leadership Team is one of our greatest assets.”

Justinia Lewis, Legal Director Commercial Law Group

About the Roles

This is an exciting opportunity to join CLG’s Senior Management Team where leadership and team management of our expert commercial lawyers is a substantial part of a role which also includes leading and developing Commercial Law Group. Each post-holder will report either to one of our two Deputy Legal Directors, or to our Legal Director.

Key responsibilities:

1. Providing visible and effective leadership and management of the team and group across its different locations, assessing and managing the demand for legal work and managing resources to meet legal needs.
2. Ensuring that legal advice of the highest quality is provided to ministers and officials, including providing advice personally to Ministers and senior clients.
3. Sustaining an environment in which legal analysis is properly integrated into the decision making and organisational culture of your client department.
4. Building effective and productive relationships with senior stakeholders and clients.
5. Engaging staff and leading change to develop a flexible, confident, innovative and efficient team.
6. Developing the skills and capability of the people under your direction.
7. Contributing to the wider leadership of the Group and GLD in delivering consistent and excellent value-for-money commercial legal services to government.

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.

You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at application and/or interview. Further information on Success Profiles can be found here.

Behaviours

Leadership (Lead criteria to be tested at application and interview)

• Remain visible and approachable to all colleagues and stakeholders
• Actively promote the reputation of the organisation with pride, both internally and externally
• Embed a culture of inclusion and equal opportunity for all, where the diversity of individuals' backgrounds and experiences are valued and respected

Working Together (To be tested at application and interview)

• Encourage teams to engage with a variety of delivery partners and stakeholders, listen to and act on their feedback
• Proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of contacts across the organisation and externally
• Embed an inclusive culture of creating positive and supportive teams who consider the diverse needs and feelings of other colleagues

Managing a Quality Service (To be tested at application and interview)

• Clarify and articulate the diverse requirements of customers and delivery partners
• Use customer insight to drive high quality and efficient service delivery which is a good investment of taxpayer's money
• Work collaboratively with customers and delivery partners to manage, monitor and deliver agreed outcomes

Making Effective Decisions (To be tested at application and interview)

• Act decisively and make bold, unbiased decisions at a strategic level
• Clearly communicate the purpose and reasons for recommendations anddecisions
• Consult with others where necessary to ensure decisions meet the diverse needs of the end users

Essential Experience (To be tested at application)

• Significant experience of leading commercial legal teams across multiple sites and of delivering high quality legal advice to senior stakeholders​
• Significant experience of leading critical, complex and high-risk projects and matters
• Experience of leading collaboratively and effectively with peers​

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Technical - Legal Professional Skills(To be tested at application and interview)

• The ability to think creatively and provide authoritative, risk-based, legal advice that facilitates practical solutions - Essential Criteria​
• An in-depth understanding of the interface with the private sector (including private sector lawyers) in securing efficient and value for money outcomes – Essential Criteria​
• An expert knowledge, understanding and experience of procurement, commercial and business-related legal matters –Essential Criteria​
• Ability to oversee the quality of work of other lawyers, providing support and challenge – Essential Criteria
• A good appreciation of public law, with an understanding of the relevant Government context and the interplay between procurement, commercial and business-related legal matters – Desirable Criteria

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.

Security Clearance Level

• All GLD employees must hold security clearance. For some CLG teams, you must hold, or be willing and able to obtain, SC level security clearance. You cannot start your position until you hold this clearance level. 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
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• 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%

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.

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is 23 March 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:

1. An online CV setting 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 Experience and Legal Professional Skills as a first stage sift. Those progressing through this stage will have a second stage sift on their personal statement, as per the below.

2. A personal statement of no more than 1250 words, demonstrating how you meet the Essential Experience and Criteria for:

• Leadership (Lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Legal Professional Skills

Please ensure your personal statement includes clear headers for each of the above criteria.

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

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 – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

Selection Process

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone, assessing Experience and Legal Professional Skills. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV you will then go to the full sift on your personal statement. If a large number of applications still remain, the panel will conduct the second stage sift of the personal statements on the lead behaviour of leadership.

Selection Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:

• Justinia Lewis, Legal Director, Commercial Law Group
• Lianne Smith, Deputy Legal Director, Commercial Law Group
• Gary Howard, Legal Director , Home Office

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.

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.

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.

Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to Lianne Smith or Justinia Lewis, 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, assessing the criteria of Legal Professional Skills.The title of the presentation will be confirmed in advance.

Your interview will take place online. 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.

We are not able to offer feedback to candidates not selected at shortlist stage. Shortlisted candidates who attend an interview will also be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for a 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 : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : SCSrecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scsrecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Further information

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 – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

450851 - Deputy Director, Commercial Law Group (x3) Opens in new window (pdf, 716kB)