Knowledge Development Lawyer, Immigration Litigation

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 Litigation Directorate & Immigration Litigation Team

The Litigation Directorate currently comprises four divisions with around 900 people based in Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, London, 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.

Home Office and Immigration Division

The Home Office and Immigration Division (HOID) is currently made up of seven teams comprising around 255 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 DWP, DHSC, 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.

The Immigration Litigation Teams

The Immigration Judicial Review Teams sit within HOID, and represent the HO in all judicial review challenges to its immigration decisions. They cover a vast array of areas, including, but not limited to: Asylum, Deportation, Entry Clearance, Leave to Remain, Human Trafficking, British Nationality and Passport-related decisions in England and Wales.

In Appeals from the First-Tier Tribunal to the Immigration Tribunal the Home Office is usually represented by Home Office Presenting Officers and the Teams are only occasionally instructed to deal with such Appeals.

The Teams deal with all such Tribunal Appeals when they progress to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

A word from our Director - Diane Wills, Director of Litigation

Thank you for your interest in these roles. We can 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.

The work of our directorate is critical to ensuring the government is able to govern well, within the rule of law. We are at the heart of many of the cases you will hear about in the media on a daily basis and our lawyers take great pride in knowing that their work has real impact for wider society.

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

Career Offer

For some roles, travel may 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 may 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.

For Newly Qualified lawyers with under one year’s experience, GLD operates a ‘2+2’ scheme, whereby these lawyers are allocated to two, 2-year postings over their first 4 years working with GLD; 2 years in a contentious team (litigation or employment), and a further 2 years in a non-contentious advisory post, or vice-versa. The scheme is voluntary and is intended to help Newly Qualified lawyers to develop a broader range of skills and stay ‘fresh’ in working on different areas of law and in new environments.

About the Role

This is a significant role in the Litigation Directorate and the post holder will be responsible for embedding and continuing to improve best KM practice in their assigned teams, and in the directorate as a whole. Our lawyers all have their own collective and individual responsibilities for knowledge sharing and learning. The post holder will be expected to facilitate and influence the way in which our lawyers meet their responsibilities and to foster a culture of knowledge sharing and learning in immigration and beyond.

Post holders will be expected to demonstrate good personal legal and strategic analysis, judgement and pro-activity and to forge strong relationships with senior colleagues and supporting communities across GLD as well as government departments, external stakeholders and providers. The post holder will work within a team of KDLs, each of whom have responsibility for one of the 4 primary working groups within the directorate. These working groups are: Inquiries, Public Law, Private Law and Immigration.

The post holder will report directly to the senior KDL for the directorate and will work closely with members of our senior leadership team and our KM Champions, as well as our GLD-wide colleagues in the Legal Knowledge and Learning Division, Professional Development team, Digital team and Change team.

As part of the Knowledge and Development Lawyer (KDL) offer within GLD, there is an established and expanding KDL network designed to promote the sharing of best practice. This is supported by a dedicated training program tailored to enhance the additional skills developed by KDLs.

Participating in the development of the Directorate’s integrated annual Knowledge & Learning plans and objectives that align with the Litigation Directorate Vision and strategy and with the GLD KCI strategy.

Current awareness and horizon scanning – monitoring, curating and promoting relevant developments in law and practice across a variety of knowledge and learning platforms to ensure that lawyers are kept up to date. Liaising with the legal information team to ensure that the team have access to relevant online research services and collections.

Knowledge creation and knowledge sharing – creating and collecting knowledge and facilitating the onward flow and sharing of knowledge whether through collaboration by colleagues or by using online knowledge and learning platforms.

Paying particular attention to knowledge requirements for effective lawyer on-boarding and also carrying out knowledge debriefs when a lawyer leaves the team. Facilitating the creation and update of lead lawyer notes, checklists, know-how, standard documents and precedents.

Knowledge collection management – ensuring that knowledge collections are uploaded and maintained on relevant knowledge and learning platforms and that appropriate tagging against taxonomies is carried out.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal training – organising and delivering training both remotely and in person on various topics, including induction training and guidance, working with legal training sub-groups and with L&D specialists in the People Development team to design and deliver training, promoting training on offer, liaising with panel law firms to deliver training, liaising with clients in relation to their training needs.
• Lawyer research – signposting and procuring training on research resources and carrying out research on specific issues.
• Supporting our clients with legal awareness publications, training and the on-going development of material for the client portal gld.digital.
• Expertise – identifying colleagues with relevant expertise and promoting that expertise.
• Supporting the priorities of the appropriate Centres of Excellence.
• Innovation– participating in innovation programmes, promoting improvement to legal process and liaising with panel firms to learn from their experience.
• Ongoing development - attending and participating at in-person seminars, training events, away days and conferences in order to develop further knowledge and share knowledge and learning.

Person specification

Behaviours

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

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

• Communicating and Influencing (lead Behaviour)
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Experience in knowledge development, this can be either formal or informal and delivering training.
• Demonstrable experience of conducting litigation with personal responsibility for casework, including drafting, advising on merits, and contributing to litigation strategy.
• Experience of working across multiple litigation matters and through key stages of the case lifecycle.

Desirable - 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 / or interview.

• Experience drafting and/or curating knowledge resources.
• Experience in Immigration Litigation.

Technical Legal Professional Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Reliable legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk. The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• The ability to conduct sound analysis and use secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose legal knowledge resources.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.
• The ability to facilitate and present training both in person and over digital platforms.
• The ability to use digital tools and resources with a high level of competency.

Desirable -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 / or interview.

• The ability to make effective use of digital tools that employ Large Language Models (e.g. copilot).

Motivational Fit

• An understanding of the role of lawyers in Government.
• An appreciation of the value that the Knowledge Lawyer role can bring to the delivery of legal service at GLD.
• A high level of motivation to develop a new role, to act proactively and to work independently

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

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:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• - Reliable legal judgment and appreciation of legal risk. The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• - The ability to conduct sound analysis and use secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose legal knowledge resources.
• - The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.
• - The ability to facilitate and present training both in person and over digital platforms.
• - The ability to use digital tools and resources with a high level of competency.

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 (opens in a new window).

• 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

We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer.

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 Monday 20th July 2026 at12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, achievements and qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be scored and assessed on the essential criteria of Experience and Technical Legal Professional Skills set out in the person specification.

2. A Statement of Suitability of no more than 1250 words demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for Experience, Technical Legal Professional Skills, Motivational Fit and the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing and how this can be transferred to the role. Full details can be found in the person specification. Please ensure the Statement of Suitability has a subheading for Experience, Technical Legal Professional Skills, Motivational Fit and Communicating and Influencing.

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

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.

STAGED-SIFT: If there are a large number of applications the panel will

conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, you will then go on to a full sift on the Statement of Suitability. For this reason, please address each criteria/behaviour in your statement of suitability individually, under clear headings.

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.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the person specification, alongside scenario-based exercises and strength-based questions.

These criteria are:

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Experience

Presentation - you will be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation on one of two predetermined cases at the start of your interview. This will be used to assess Technical Legal Professional Skills and the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing.

Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

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 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 : People Scout
• Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk
• Telephone : 01179234417

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 compl