Paralegal - Litigation (DV Clearance + Enhanced Checks) x 1

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 Litigation Directorate

The Litigation Directorate currently comprises four divisions with around 900 people based in Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, London and 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. The actions and decisions of Government are under increasing scrutiny and challenge. We deal regularly with matters of significant constitutional and national importance such immigration policy, welfare, climate change and energy policy. Litigation lawyers cover a full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security as well as the Government’s wide ranging reform agenda. Litigation Directorate also has a large private law practice representing large Government departments such as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and other claims. They regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and handle cases at the forefront of the developing law. Litigation also has a Public Inquiries Division who are responsible for providing legal support and advice to government departments and witnesses in respect of numerous public inquiries and government reviews.

A word from our Director

“Thank you for your interest in this role. 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!”

- Diane Wills, Director of Litigation

About the Teams

Defence and Security Division

The Defence and Security Division is made up of six teams, amounting to around 180 (including lawyers, paralegals and business management colleagues). The Division is responsible for public and private law litigation, inquest and inquiry work for a range of government departments and public bodies including the Ministry of Defence in two private law teams and one public law team. The Division also handles public law litigation (and some private law litigation) for a range of other government departments and public bodies including the UK Intelligence Community, Foreign, Common and Development Office (FCDO), National Crime Agency (NCA), Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Home Office (non-immigration public law work). We also have a specialist team dealing with private law and inquest work for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Transport (DfT) and National Highways Limited, as well as some Companies House work. We also have a newly established Inquiries response team that advises and represents HMG in high-profile, highly sensitive national security public inquiries, currently focused on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan and the State’s role in Northern Ireland Troubles matters. Some of our workstreams in the team requires Developed Vetting clearance.

Home Office and Immigration Division

The Home Office and Immigration Division is currently made up of seven teams amounting to around 270 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 Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and 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.

Justice and Development Division

The Justice and Development Division is made up of seven teams amounting to around 280 people (including lawyers, costs draftspersons, paralegals and business management colleagues). The Division is responsible for all public and private law litigation for a range of government departments and public bodies including for the Ministry of Justice (including HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as well as public law litigation for: the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) including the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department for Education (DfE), the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), HM Treasury (HMT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Division also has a specialist Costs Team that provides support in relation to costs across all the divisions of Litigation Directorate as well as the wider GLD and our client departments. The Special Advocates Support Office (SASO) is also part of the Division, providing an invaluable service in respect of National Security litigation. This team also requires Developed Vetting clearance.

Public Inquiries Division

The Public Inquiries Division is made up of five teams amounting to around 165 (lawyers, paralegals and business management and project management colleagues). The Division is responsible for providing legal support and advice to government departments and witnesses in respect of numerous public inquiries and government reviews. We also provide legal support to Inquiry Chairs filling key roles on Inquiry Legal Teams in several public inquiries. Members of the Division have provided, or are providing, support in respect of many important public inquiries including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, Undercover Policing Inquiry, UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Nottingham Inquiry, Southport Inquiry, Manston Inquiry, Orgreave Inquiry and the Grooming Gangs Inquiry. Some roles in this team also requires SC and Developed Vetting clearance.

A Note on Security Clearance

This campaign is open to applicants able to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, which requires a 10 year UK footprint and for the post holder to be a full UK National or hold dual/multi-nationality.You can find further information on clearances later on in this pack. If you would like to apply for one of our Paralegal roles but are unable to achieve this level of clearance please see adverts 461066 (BPSS/CTC clearance) and 461303 (SC clearance), which require lower security clearance levels.

Reserved Posts

Only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service. Reserved posts are generally those which, due to the sensitive nature of the work, require special allegiance to the Crown such that they can only be held by a UK national. Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996.

DV Uplift allowance

These posts attracts a 10% salary uplift (Recruitment and Retention Allowance) for GLP staff who obtain and maintain DV Enhanced clearances, and work in a CLOSED environment at least 60% of the time.

The DV Uplift allowance is non-consolidated and non-pensionable. The allowance will be withdrawn if: The individual no longer meets the relevant eligibility criteria, is no longer in an eligible role, the individual’s DV clearance expires.

The Role

A GLD paralegal is someone with legal knowledge, experience and/or qualifications who undertakes legal tasks to support lawyers. The role involves working to deliver GLD’s service to clients under an appropriate level of supervision including in preparing legal documents, undertaking legal research, supporting project management and promoting knowledge management. When the business need arises, the post-holder will be expected to support Business Management colleagues with their work. The specific work tasks of the role are likely to vary depending on the Division and Team to which the post-holder is allocated. The post-holder should have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a team and to interact with departmental/cross divisional colleagues, and other stakeholders. They will be able to prioritise work effectively, work to deadlines and showcase behaviours that align to GLD’s culture and values.

The main activities are likely to include:

1. Client Relations

• Acting at all times in accordance with GLD’s standards and policies and maintaining a professional, responsible, responsive and courteous service to maintain GLD’s excellent reputation with stakeholders and clients.
• Providing legal support to lawyers to help them build and maintain good relationships with clients.

2. Research

• Carrying out legal research, presenting results and using it to inform notes or first drafts of advice.

3. Project management

• Assisting with the management of large-scale projects such as inquiry response, litigation and other dispute resolution and coordinating these elements across Government departments.
• Planning and implementing legal projects for the team, including providing process updates.
• Making effective use of information and case management/filing systems (whether electronic or hard copy), including storing and retrieving information.

4. Knowledge management

• Collating and disseminating legal know-how and updates from a range of sources.
• Assisting with management of Knowledge Management (KM) material for the Division, including ensuring that the Division’s knowledge is well maintained and easily accessible, supporting the Division’s contribution to GLD’s KM activities.

5. Legal Service Delivery support

• Supporting lawyers by undertaking legal tasks on their cases, including:
• Case management including through the use of CMS.
• Ensuring court and other deadlines are met, including diarising key dates on a case.
• Managing and responding to case correspondence.
• Reviewing documents provided by the client for disclosure, redacting and advising the client as appropriate, dealing with opponents on disclosure.
• Taking client instructions.
• Preparing the content of indexed bundles for Counsel, witnesses or the court/tribunal.
• Instructing counsel to advise and attend hearings.
• Attending conferences with Counsel.
• Attending hearings at Court or tribunals to support Counsel and clients.

6. Drafting and writing

• Drafting, or supporting lawyers in drafting legally effective documents including advice for clients, instructions for Counsel or external lawyers, prognosis letters, and witness statements.

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:

• Managing a quality service (Lead Behaviour)
• Delivering at pace
• Working together

Key Skills and Experience

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Ability to deliver successfully in a pressurised environment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of an effective team on ad hoc tasks and projects.
• Highly organised with good time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands and prioritise workloads.
• Ability to communicate with senior stakeholders within the business and external clients, being able to justify the reasons behind a decision.

Technical: Legal Professional Skills

Essential – must be demonstrated at application

• Demonstrate the ability to think critically and assist on legal matters under the supervision of lawyers, showcasing a high interest in the subject matter and willingness to learn.
• Ability to find, analyse and assess documents to extract relevant legal information.
• Ability to draft documents which are legally effective and accurately reflect the client's instructions.
• Have an eye for detail, accuracy and uphold confidentiality under all circumstances.

Qualifications

One of the following:

• CILEx Level 3
• Paralegal apprenticeship, with certificate of end point assessment/successful completion
• NALP Paralegal practice award, certificate or diploma
• An award in legal studies including legal degrees or non legal degrees with a law conversion course

Where candidates do not hold one of the above, they should demonstrate experience of working in a law-based team or paralegal role.

Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date. You must hold one of the above qualifications or work-based experience before you can start your role.

Motivational Fit

Why are you interested in joining GLD?

Candidates should include in their response how they meet the Aspiration, Engagement and Ability descriptors set out below:

• Aspiration – a desire to progress and learn
• Engagement – a commitment to the values of the Civil Service and GLD
• Ability – the ability to handle increasingly complex issues

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. If successful for this post, you must hold or be willing to obtain DV+ Enhanced checks for this role. You can start this position while obtaining this clearance level, however continued appointment will be conditional upon obtaining the required security clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

For these roles you must be willing to obtain DVsecurity clearance once in post. This role will also require the post holder to be inducted onto the STRAP regime. STRAP is a regime that regulates access to sensitive intelligence material which requires more protective handling than is afforded by the standard arrangements for government assets. To be eligible to apply for STRAP, applicants must hold full UK Nationality or dual/multi-nationality, subject to one part being British and the other part to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Clearance also typically requires a 10-year, verifiable UK-based footprint, where individuals have not been out of the UK for more than 6 months. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application. Please note, this is a reserved post.

Sponsorship and Visas

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Linked Vacancy

If you submit an application for this role, you will not be eligible to apply for 461066 - Paralegal – Litigation (BPSS/CTC Clearance) or 461303 – Paralegal – Litigation (SC Clearance). If you do so we will class your application as a duplicate and the system will not accept the further application. You may only apply for one of these three roles.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,744, Government Legal Department contributes £9,775 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.

Cross-Functional Professional

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.

Apprenticeships - We have a range of apprenticeships on offer across all professions with the opportunity for all employees to explore a profession specific apprenticeship to support their development in role.

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, Ability and Experience.

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference 461303. The deadline for this application is Monday 1st June 2026 at 12:00 Midday.

Step 1: Civil Service Tests Online

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Civil Service Online test: Verbal Test. You can find out more information and guidance on the tests, including options to take practice tests.

If you are unsuccessful in passing these tests you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass the test, you will then automatically progress to the next stage of completing the full application.

We suggest you allow enough time to complete the full application online, prior to the closing date and time, Monday 1st June 2026 at 12:00 Middayas once the application is closed you will no longer have access to the ability tests and the application. Please note there is scheduled

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 – 461833 & vacancy closing date 1 June 2026’.

Step 2: Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference 461303. The deadline for this application is Monday 1st June 2026 at 12:00 Midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CV setting out your qualifications, career history, and educational achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. This will be scored and used to assess Key Skills and Experience and Qualifications as set out in the Person Specification.
• A personal statement answering the following criteria.
  • Motivational Fit: Why are you interested in joining GLD?
  • Technical: Legal Professional Skills

Please ensure you have separate subheadings for the 2 criteria, and the maximum word count is 750. We recommend 250 words are used on Motivational Fit, and 500 on Legal Professional Skills.

• Behaviour statements (250 words each) for Managing a quality service (Lead Behaviour) and Working together.
  
  Lead Behaviour 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.

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, key skills and experience and technical legal professional skills outlined in the person specification.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a three-part staged sift. The initial sift will be on the CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, your application will then be sifted on the personal statement. If you pass this stage, your application will then be sifted against the behaviour statements.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their CV will not progress to have their personal statement assessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the first stage of the three-stage sift. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the three-stage sift where their personal statement will be assessed.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their personal statement will not progress to have their behaviours assessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the second stage of the three-stage sift. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their personal statement will progress to the third stage of the three-stage sift where their behaviours will be assessed.

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.

Step 3: Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification and strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Behaviour: Managing a quality service (Lead Behaviour)
• Behaviour: Delivering at pace
• Behaviour: Working together

Your interview will take place online

Lead Behaviour 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 interview.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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