Senior Litigation Lawyer DV + Enhanced Checks

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

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

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.

A word from our Director

Thank you for your interest in this role.

We 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. This is an exciting year for us as we embark on our delivery plan to realise our vision for 2025-27. We aspire to be a brilliant place to work, providing an outstanding legal service to meet the unique litigation and public inquiry needs of government, supporting its aim for a more productive and agile state. We want to be recognised as experts in the legal management of government litigation and in assisting government and Inquiry Chairs on public inquiries. You will play a key role in helping us to deliver this, alongside leading a division with a wide range of work, on issues which are critical to government’s priorities.

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

Diane Wills -Director of Litigation

About the Litigation Directorate

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 work requires Developed Vetted 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 Vetted 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 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 a few 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 and The UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

The Role

Grade 6 lawyers have important leadership roles across our organisation. In the Litigation Directorate, post-holders will line manage up to 5 Grade 7s lawyers and/or lead a mini team of up to 10 people including paralegal and litigation support staff. They will be expected to provide strong professional leadership while holding a caseload of complex and challenging cases in both the private and public law teams.

If successful, you will lead, manage, develop and supervise the work of other lawyers within your mini-team. You will need to be comfortable working at pace and exercising judgement in relation to matters of national importance. You will be expected to role model sound professional skills and to provide strong professional leadership, helping to build capability in the organisation in line with corporate objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

As a litigator and dispute resolution specialist you will be involved in conducting litigation on behalf of government, providing legal advice on litigation, disputes, contentious and some advisory matters, for example intellectual property, across the full range of clients.

Litigation experience or aptitude is an essential requirement in supporting the other Senior Lawyers and Deputy Director in successfully delivering the work of the team, and being part of the senior leadership of that team. Proactive and collaborative working with external delivery partners, helping to quality control their input and to hold them to account for delivery to time, cost and quality in relation to their litigation and disputes work.

You will be expected to demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills as well as strong skills of legal and strategic analysis, sound judgement, pragmatism and pro-activity. You will also be expected to make a valuable contribution to the wider team and the Litigation Directorate as a whole through playing a proactive role on matters such as knowledge management, training, projects and other corporate opportunities that demonstrate GLD Values.

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:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Excellent all-round legal skills and significant experience of managing fast-paced, risk-based and solution-focussed legal work with a sound understanding of public law and significant experience of or aptitude for litigation.
• Experience of working in a busy and diverse team, with proven ability to lead, manage develop and supervise other lawyers and professions, role‑modelling high standards of legal and professional practice and building capability in line with corporate objectives.
• Significant experience in being able to multitask and prioritise, think strategically and creatively. Managing complex and high-profile matters while being able to see legal issues in their wider organisational, political and operational context and exercise sound judgement.

Technical - Legal Professional Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Sound understanding of public law and significant experience of or aptitude for litigation.
• Reliable legal judgement 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 skills to produce timely and fit-for-purpose advice.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.

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 DV security 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.

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.

Sponsorship and Visas

Visa sponsorship is not available for these posts.

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 21st April 2026 from 12.30pm to 13:15pm

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers and GLD's Security Team working within Litigation, about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role and Developed Vetting (DV) process.

If you are interested in further information on the role please join the session via the link below:

Tuesday 21st April 2026 from 12.30pm to 13:15pm by clicking on the Teams invite below:

Join the meeting now

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/338604547376854?p=dUfwoq7m7IxqOyHfm7

Meeting ID: 338 604 547 376 854

Passcode: MF3dP3mY

Qualifications

Academic and Professional
Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).
Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.
Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date.
Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed
(i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:
1.Contract Law
2.Criminal Law
3.Equity and Trusts Law
4.European Union Law
5.Land Law
6.Public Law
7.Law of Tort
*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.
Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• Technical - Legal Professional Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £76,405, Government Legal Department contributes £22,134 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%

Learning and Development

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.

The Recruitment Process

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 5th May 2026 at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. A 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 set out in the Person Specification slide, as a first stage sift. The CV will be scored.

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 two-stage sift.

Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the two-stage sift where their personal statement will be assessed.

The CV forms part of the online application form.

Your CV must not exceed 250 words in the section titled ‘Employment History’ and must not exceed 800 words in the section titled ‘Previous Skills and Experience’. The system will not stop you from typing when you have reached the above detailed word count, it is for you, the candidate, to ensure that the word count is not exceeded.

CV Guidance for candidates

Please note that CV forms part of the online application form.

Please find the following guidance on how to populate the three sections of the CV when completing the online application: You will be asked to provide your, employment history, previous skills and experience, and qualifications.

• For Employment History – please add your employment history, you can set out the roles you have completed in the past with start and end dates.
• For Previous Skills and Experience - please add your experience, skills, achievements, key responsibilities, and any transferable skills you can bring to this role.
• For Qualifications – please list the details of your education and qualifications achieved.

2. A Personal statement of no more than 1250 words in total, demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for Key Skill & Experience and Technical Legal Professional Skills in no more than(750 words in total for both) and evidence of how you meet the following behaviour Leadership (Lead Behaviour) in no more than (500 words).

Please ensure the personal statement is given a subheading for each criteria; Key Skills & Experience, Technical Legal Professional Skills (750 words in total for both) and for behaviour Leadership (Lead Behaviour) (500 words) and adhere to the word limits as set out above.

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 – 457429 & vacancy closing date Tuesday 5th May 2026 at 12:00 Midday

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 & Experience and Technical Legal Professional Skills outlined in the person specification.

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 asked to complete a written exercise and oral presentation on the day of the interview. You will be asked follow up questions on these exercises in the interview, you will be asked behaviour or scenario-based questions and strength-based questions. You will be assessed against the criteria listed in the Person Specification.

These criteria are:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others
• Key Skills & Experience
• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Written exercise –

• This will assess Technical Legal Skills

Oral Presentation –

• You will be asked to conduct a 5-minute oral presentation in the interview which will assess your Technical Legal Skills and Communicating and Influencing.
• Full detail 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.

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 grad