Senior Planning Knowledge Development Lawyer (KDL)

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

About Legal Operations, Legal Knowledge & Learning Division

The Legal Operations directorate is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of GLD's legal services. The directorate includes Legal Knowledge and Learning (LKL), Legal Delivery, the AI Programme and the Bona Vacantia divisions. The directorate focuses on enabling an effective, efficient and engaged GLD.

LKL equips government lawyers with the relevant knowledge, skills and tools to provide outstanding legal advice to ministers and officials.

As a multi-disciplinary team, we provide a portfolio of services spanning legal learning, knowledge development, online information services and knowledge systems.

Sitting at the heart of the Government Legal Profession, we develop lawyers’ knowledge and capability, connect lawyers, support legal communities and facilitate sharing of knowledge and collaboration across government.

By caring about our lawyers as lawyers, we support their professional development at every stage of their careers through an extensive programme of learning opportunities.

Through our commitment to excellence and innovation across all our activities, we help GLD achieve its vision of being "an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism".

The LKL Division is responsible for:

• knowledge development
• knowledge systems
• legal information
• legal knowledge & communities
• legal learning

The Role

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated planning lawyer to take up the newly created role of Planning Law Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer (KDL) role. This is a unique opportunity for a planning lawyer to equip GLD lawyers with the planning knowledge and legal training to advance the government’s planning priorities. This is a pivotal and impactful role that will offer the role holder the opportunity to develop skills in a high-profile role working with senior leaders across GLD. It is a “lawyer plus” role, combining deep legal expertise with broader engagement and requires some project leadership.

The role is intellectually challenging with a high level of autonomy. It will suit a self-starter who can work with a high degree of leadership and who wants to enhance their skills in stakeholder and customer engagement; communication and facilitation; project planning and delivery; and legal skills improvement.

You will work closely with the Head of Legal Knowledge and Learning (LKL) and the GLD Planning Working Group. You will also work with other KDLs and colleagues across GLD, the broader GLP and with panel firms supporting planning law activities.

You will be a key member of the LKL Division, bringing important legal expertise to projects and work across the LKL strategy.

In this knowledge development role, the successful candidate has the unique opportunity to shape their work approach and see the immediate impact of it.

Initial activities on coming into post will focus on relationship building, taking stock of existing knowledge resources and needs, and objective setting.

Your responsibilities will focus on building and increasing awareness of planning law knowledge ensuring all our lawyers are up to date with developments in planning law, horizon scanning, bringing in best practice to support the government’s planning aims and to “professionalise” planning law know-how at GLD, and include the following:

• Collaborating with the GLD Planning Working Group and LKL Division colleagues to create, develop and keep under review objectives and action plans
• Monitoring, evaluating and promoting/explaining relevant planning law developments
• Creating, curating and promoting planning law know-how for GLD/GLP lawyers across a variety of knowledge and learning platforms
• Enhancing our efforts to develop client planning law awareness and capability building on our current gld digital and legal awareness offer
• Collaborating across GLD to ensure individual legal team needs in relation to planning law capability are met effectively and efficiently
• Monitoring and reporting on the impact of these activities
• Pro-actively collaborating and sharing skills with lawyers working on centres of excellence, other KDLs and LKL colleagues and promoting the role of KDLs across GLD

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
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Applicants will need practical experience of advising on planning law issues;
• Applicants will need practical experience of creating and managing know-how in relation to planning law

Technical & Legal Professional Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Have a sound understanding of planning law
• Have reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• Demonstrate the ability to think strategically, creatively, to see legal issues in their wider context, and to advise accordingly
• Show sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose legal knowledge resources

Essential -Qualifications – Minimum Eligibility Criteria

• Must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor or Barrister

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 Knowledge Management in a professional legal organisation.

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:
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
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Technical & Legal Professional Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £74,960, Government Legal Department contributes £21,715 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%

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 Monday 12th October 2026 at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. An online CV setting out your qualifications, career history, 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. This will be used to assess Key Skills & Experience.The CV will be scored.
2. A personal statement of no more than 750 words demonstrating your Technical & Legal Professional Skills and Motivational Fit.
3. Please provide individual statements for the following behaviours listed below in no more than 250 words each.

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Changing and Improving

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.

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.

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 – 481394 & vacancy closing dateMonday 12th October 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 and experience, technical & legal professional skills and motivational fit outlined in the person specification.

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 to the full sift on the personal statement and on the two behaviour statements Leadership (Lead Behaviour) and Changing and Improving.

Leadership (Lead Behaviour) may be used in the event of a tie break.

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 strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Key Skills & Experience
• Motivational Fit

Your interview will take place online.

As part of this interview candidates will be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation assessing you on Technical & Legal Professional Skills and Communicating and Influencing with follow up questions.

The presentation question will be confirmed in advance and full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to 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 basic (or equivalent) 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 : 0117 923 4417

Recruitment team

• Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk

Further information

What do I do if I have a complaint?
You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

481394 G6 Planning Senior KDL Opens in new window (pdf, 575kB)