Deputy Director, Employment Group

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 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 3000 people, including over 2600 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. These play 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 here and visit the GLD’s microsite. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

GLD’s Employment Group provides employment litigation and advisory services to the whole of government. It consists of around 190 employment lawyers and support staff spread across 9 legal teams, currently 6 in London, one in Leeds one in Manchester and one in Bristol.

We only have one client – the whole of Government. Our work covers everything from Employment Tribunal claims and the conduct of complex multi-party litigation to advising on staff policies and terms and conditions, collective bargaining and departmental re-organizations. The interest and range of the employment work is second to none – we handle litigation up to the Supreme Court and provide employment advice in the context of Ministers’ political and operational drivers and the unique constitutional position of civil servants. Along the way we learn about the environment and conditions of the vast range of public servants and office holders, including prison officers, judicial office-holders, border force officers, the armed forces and other sector specialists as well as policy officials.

The Employment Group is often involved in the leading employment law cases of the day. Recent examples in the Supreme Court include Gilham v Ministry of Justice on whistleblowing protections and O’Brien v Ministry of Justice on age discrimination in pensions, and in the Court of Appeal McCloud v Ministry of Justice on age discrimination, McNeil v HMRC on equal pay and Heskett v Secretary of State for Justice on indirect discrimination. We have specialist Hubs for TUPE, Industrial Relations and National Security. The nature of our work is unique to Government.

The Employment Group is a great place to work. We are not driven by profit and there is time to concentrate on the law. Our people have the benefit of excellent resources, a tailored training programme, and a strong culture of mutual support and collaboration. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of how we manage our people and teams.

“As Legal Director I am proud to lead the largest employment team in the country. We have ambitions to continue to grow to meet demand and to play our part in delivering the Government’s vision for a Productive and Agile State. Our job is to help our clients be better employers and to provide an excellent and cost-effective legal service at the best value for money for the public purse. The Bristol team is well established, and this is an opportunity to be part of a senior leadership team at the heart of GLD. Our Bristol team shares its offices with other teams from GLD providing excellent opportunities to meet colleagues from across GLD and network. It is a thriving and lively centre. I joined GLD nearly 20 years ago with 12 years PQE in private practice. The best career decision I ever made. If you are an employment lawyer, there is no better place to be. “ Sophie Williams, Legal Director Employment Group

“I could not be happier about my choice to move to the Government Legal Department. From day one, I’ve been welcomed by supportive colleagues who are always willing to share their experience and expertise. With access to a wealth of resources and an incredible knowledge bank, maintained by our dedicated Employment Group Knowledge Lawyers, I’ve been able to grow quickly into my role as Deputy Director and feel truly part of a collaborative and innovative high-performing directorate. Senior management are fantastic, encouraging me to develop and supporting me every step of the way. The GLD’s commitment to excellence, inclusion and professional growth shines through in everything we do. It’s a fantastic place to build a meaningful fulfilling career.” Ros Thorpe Deputy Director, Employment Group Salford Office

The Role

The Employment Group team in Bristol undertakes a mix of litigation and advisory work. Its clients include the Ministry of Defence and Department for Transport. The Team Leader is required to provide inspiring, confident and empowering leadership, to ensure delivery of high professional standards of work across the team, to develop trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and to offer personal leadership on legal advice to the clients where SCS input is required. They will also need to work collaboratively as a member of the Employment Group's senior leadership team, taking corporate responsibility for aspects of the leadership of the Division, Directorate and wider GLD.

The Team currently consists of 16 lawyers, with a growth policy to increase capability via external recruitment and developing existing staff. The team leader would be expected to play a key role in building the GLD's profile in the region, maintaining the growth of the Employment Team through external recruitment and helping develop a strong culture of collaborating and delivery in the Bristol office across GLD Divisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring delivery of high-quality legal service to clients by your team
• Providing advice to clients on more complex, sensitive or high-profile issues
• Managing client care and building relationships with clients
• Providing supervision and support to your team
• Leading on appropriate use of AI as a service delivery tool
• Embedding and supporting diversity and inclusion across the directorate and wider GLD
• Delivering the GLD strategy
• Helping to lead the Employment directorate as part of the Senior Leadership Team

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: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK.

Behaviours

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate sustained evidence at senior level of the following:

• Leadership (Lead criteria) (assessed at application and interview)
• Managing a Quality Service (assessed at application and interview)
• Changing and Improving (assessed at interview)
• Communicating and Influencing (assessed at interview)

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

• Knowledge and experience of employment law in a litigation and advisory context
• A track record of picking up new and complex areas of legal work quickly and providing context-appropriate legal advice in high-profile and fast-moving situations
• Experience of providing high levels of client care, with effective management of legal risk in their own work and that of others

Motivational Fit (assessed at application and interview)

• We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations. Please outline why you are motivated to join the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a role within GLD.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS security clearance. If successful for this post you must hold, or be willing and able to obtain, level

security clearance. More information can be found about the vetting

process here.

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

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:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Technical Legal Professional Skills
• Motivational fit

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.

Application

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is Tuesday, 7th April 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 CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 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 Legal Professional Skills as set out in the Person Specification.
• A Statement of Suitability of no more than 1250 words outlining why you want the role and how you have demonstrated the behaviours of Leadership (Lead criteria) and Managing a Quality Service, alongside your Motivational Fit, as listed in the person specification. Please ensure the Statement of Suitability has a subheading for Leadership (lead criteria), Managing a Quality Service and the Motivational Fit criteria.

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

AI Usage

Civil Service Jobs states that 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. In addition to this please note that in GLD the use of AI is strictly prohibited during tests, written exercises and interviews.

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: SCSRecruitment@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 Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:

• Sophie Williams, Director Employment Group
• TBC
• TBC

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.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct a first-stage sift on CV only. Those progressing through the first stage sift will be assessed on their personal statement.

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, Sophie Williams, 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

As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation, addressing the Leadership behaviour. Full details of the presentation will be confirmed in advance.

Interviews will take place in-person at GLD’s Bristol office. 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 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 : Sophie Williams
• Email : spohie.williams@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

452585 - Deputy Director, Employment Group Opens in new window (pdf, 655kB)