Deputy Director, Pensions and Pay Legal Team, Treasury Legal Advisers

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 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 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-government 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

About the Treasury Legal Advisers

Treasury Legal Advisers (TLA) is the in-house legal department of HM Treasury (HMT). HMT is the UK’s finance and economics ministry. TLA is a directorate of GLD but works collaboratively with colleagues across HM Treasury to provide legal advice to ministers and officials across all of HMT’s functions.

Key legal areas on which TLA advises include:

• the regulation of financial services
• financial stability
• public spending
• public sector pensions.
• market interventions and state-owned assets
• trade negotiations
• sanctions, money laundering and illicit finance

TLA consist of about 120 lawyers and other professionals, operating through six legal teams each led by a Deputy Director. We work in a friendly, open, and collaborative culture: most of our work is handled by small groups of lawyers rather than by a single lawyer and so we place a high value on teamwork. We often work collaboratively with lawyers from other government departments and with the legal teams from the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority. Some of our work involves instructing and working with external law firms and Counsel. The directorate is currently based in HMT’s headquarters building at One Horse Guards Road, London and in GLD’s regional offices in Bristol, Leeds Croydon and Manchester.

“TLA has a strong culture of teamwork, mutual support and respect, and collaborating with colleagues across GLD and OGD. This enables ​ us to tackle difficult and demanding work, ​supporting HM Treasury’s wide mandate and range of business.”​

Simon Man

Director of Treasury Legal Advisers

The Role

The Deputy Director will lead the newly established PENPAL team within Treasury Legal Advisers, providing expert legal advice on public sector pensions and pay to HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, and cross-Whitehall clients. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for shaping and delivering legal support on high-profile, complex, and politically significant matters, including the implementation of major pensions legislation, supporting the joint Pensions Minister, and managing cross-cutting pay and pensions litigation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing a team of approximately 10 lawyers, ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services.
• Acting as the principal legal adviser to the Pensions Minister and senior policy clients on all pensions and pay matters, including the implementation of the Pensions Bill and related reforms.
• Overseeing legal input on public sector pensions, pay issues, and related litigation, including the McCloud remedy and statutory pension schemes.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders across HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, DWP, and other government departments.
• Driving knowledge management and training initiatives for pensions lawyers across GLD, fostering a cohesive and expert pensions legal community.
• Managing budgets and resources for the team, ensuring effective prioritisation and value for money.
• Contributing to the TLA Senior Leadership Team, supporting directorate-wide strategy, resourcing, and corporate initiatives.

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, SC level security clearance. You can start your position while getting this clearance level. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

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.

Behaviours

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

Experience​

• Significant experience of providing legal advice on complex public law matters, ideally with a focus on pensions, pay, or employment law (essential)​
• Experience of advising on pensions, or related litigation (essential)​
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing legal teams in a fast-paced, high-profile environment (essential)​
• Experience of managing relationships with senior stakeholders and delivering advice on politically sensitive issues (essential)​
• Demonstrable experience of managing budgets and resources effectively(essential)​
• Experience of leading knowledge management or training initiatives (desirable)​
• Experience of advising on pay reform (desirable)​

Legal Professional Skills - Technical ​

• Qualified lawyer with strong technical legal skills and sound judgement(essential)​
• Deep understanding of public law, with the ability to advise on complex legislative and regulatory frameworks (essential)​
• Ability to manage legal risk and provide clear, pragmatic advice on novel and high-value matters (essential)​
• Knowledge of public sector pensions law (essential)​
• Strong drafting skills, particularly in relation to legislation and statutory instruments (desirable)​
• Strong knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 (desirable)​
• Knowledge of additional areas of pensions law (workplace/occupational pensions, private sector, contractual, pensions litigation etc) (desirable)​
• Knowledge of pay reform (desirable)​

Desirable criteria will only be considered in the event of a strong field of candidates as a second stage after essential criteria has been considered. 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, either at sift or interview.

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

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.

Application

To apply for this post, you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is 2 March 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 as a first stage sift. Those progressing through this stage will have a second stage sift on their statement of suitability, as per the below.
2. A personal statement of no more than 1250 words, demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for:

• Leadership (Lead behaviour)
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Legal Professional Skills (Technical)

On your statement you must include a clear heading for each of the above criteria. Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

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 Panels

The selection panel for this campaign will be:

• Simon Man, Director, Treasury Legal Advisers
• Saoirse Cowley, Deputy Director, Treasury Legal Advisers
• 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.

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, Simon Man, 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 may be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation and the title of that presentation will be confirmed in advance.

Interviews will probably take place in-person, 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.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : scsrecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk
• 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

447816 - Deputy Director, Pensions and Pay Legal Team, Treasury Legal Advisers - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 551kB)