Employment Lawyer

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 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 Employment Directorate
The Employment Directorate provides employment advice and litigation services to all GLD clients, supporting a workforce of over 450,000 and underpinning the delivery of a vast range of public services.

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-organisations. 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 the 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 Directorate comprises around 135 employment lawyers who are based across GLD locations in London, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol. We have 8 legal teams led by Deputy Directors based in London, Leeds, Bristol and Manchester, supported by our Business Management Team.

“The Employment Directorate is a great place to work. The interest and range of employment work undertaken is second to none. We provide services for a client very much as a team, with lawyers, litigation support staff and Business Management Officers working together, everyone playing a crucial role in ensuring high standards of client service.

Our people have the benefit of excellent resources, a tailored training programme and a really strong culture of mutual support and collaboration. Diversity and Inclusion is at the core of how we manage our people and teams.”

– Sophie Williams, Legal Director

Career Offer

For some roles, travel will 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 will 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.

We are recruiting up to 10 employment lawyers into Grade 7 Lawyer posts. These posts are varied and can be litigation focused, advisory focused or within the Employment Directorate’s TUPE and Transactional Hub or Industrial Relations Hub.

Our Employment Lawyers have a high level of responsibility in delivering the strategic advice required by clients, whether in litigation or advisory matters. They have to take into account the specific employment framework of the civil service and the varying appetite for legal risk of Ministers and departments, coming up with solutions to staffing issues and mitigating risk. Their work is supported by a strong team culture of collaboration and support, excellent KM and specialist training and close working with AG Panel Counsel.

Successful candidates will be expected to demonstrate the necessary skills and experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Conducting Employment Litigation, mainly in the Employment Tribunal but also claims in the High Court and County Court;
• Advising clients on a range of employment law matters;
• Advising clients on the application of TUPE to commercial transactions and staff transfers within the public sector;
• Advising clients on industrial relations matters

Successful candidates will be expected to play an active role in their Team, the Employment Directorate and wider GLD, including contributing to client training, diversity and inclusion activities, knowledge management and the supervision of less experienced members of staff.

Whilst there will be vacancies for appointed candidates to work out of GLD’s offices in London, Leeds, Manchester or Bristol, candidates should be aware that their line management will be provided out of different location from that where there are based, at least initially.

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 13:00 – 13:45 on Tuesday 17th March 2026.

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers working within Employment Directorate, 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 register your interest by in advance by emailing:

christopher.bullett@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Person specification

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the criteria 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.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a quality service
• Working together
• Delivering at pace
• Communicating & influencing

Experience

You will be a lawyer with experience of:

• Working in an employment law team
• Advising on UK employment law
• Conducting cases in the UK Employment Tribunals

Technical Legal Skills

• A sound understanding of UK employment law gained through advising clients and conducting cases in the Employment Tribunal across a broad range of employment law issues.
• An ability to approach legal issues applying sound analysis, secure legal research and reliable legal judgement.
• An ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• A good understanding of how to approach legal risk in advising government

Motivational Fit

• Motivation for a career in the Civil Service and GLD in particular
• An understanding of the role of lawyers in Government
• A keen interest in employment law

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. 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

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:
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:

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

Technical skills

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

• Technical Legal Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,124, Government Legal Department contributes £17,707 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%

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

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, Experience and Technical skills.

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 Tuesday 31st March 2026 at 12:00 midday.

1. In your application you will be assessed on the following: An online CV setting out your career history including: Job title, Employer name, Start and end dates, 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. The CV will be scored and assessed on the Experience criteria of the person specification.

2. A Statement of Suitability of no more than 1250 words demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for Technical Legal Skills , Working Together and Motivational Fit (Full details can be found on slide 7 ) and how this can be transferred to the role, by answering the following questions:

• Describe a situation when you have applied your understanding of UK employment law to analyse and resolve a legal matter, considering legal risks and applying reliable legal judgment.
• Describe a situation where you have successfully motivated people to work well together.
• Why are you motivated to join the Government Legal Department’s Employment Directorate?

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 – 450021 & vacancy closing 31st March 2026.

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.

Please note, if a high number of applications are received, we will sift on CValone.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD will 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 will 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, Written test (assessing Technical Legal skills and communicating and influencing) prior to interview and strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour: Working Together
• Behaviour: Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour: Communicating and influencing (assessed throughout the interview and written test)
• Technical Legal Skills
• Experience

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 will contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

• Why are you motivated to join the Government Legal Department’s Employment Directorate?

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 : Caroline Essex
• Email : caroline.essex@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.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: 450021 - Employment Lawyer – 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

G7 Employment Lawyer Opens in new window (pdf, 628kB)