Trade Lawyers (up to 10 roles)

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 GLD Advisory Trade Teams

The advertised roles will be across GLD Advisory Trade Law teams.

GLD has approximately 200 Advisory Trade Lawyers in the legal divisions of:

• Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST)
• HM Treasury (HMT)
• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
• Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ)
• Cabinet Office
• Department for Transport (DfT)
• Home Office
• Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC)
• Department for Education

Should you be successful you will be matched to a role within one of the teams outlined, based on your CV and business needs.

Government Legal Profession (GLP) Trade Lawyers

It’s also important to note that you’ll be a part of a wider network of Government Legal Profession (GLP) Trade Lawyers.

There are government trade lawyers housed in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and the UK’s Missions to the European Union and to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (UKM is Brussels and Geneva respectively).

In gist, there is a complex ecosystem of lawyers advising on international trade matters across GLD and the wider GLP.

This mirrors a complex ecosystem of interrelated policy and operational responsibilities across government.

Welcome from Adrian Roberts, Legal Director (International Trade)

International trade law is crucial for UK growth, global prosperity, and harmonious international relations.

In this role, you will be joining a team of exceptional lawyers, in terms of collegiality, expertise and professionalism, doing a unique and important job.

Since I joined the Government Legal Profession (GLP) 24 years ago from the self-employed bar, I have never looked back: the breadth and depth of legal work covered in the GLP is amazing, whether you are negotiating and drafting treaties, advising ministers, literally making new law, or running litigation in the national or international courts.

Now is an especially interesting time but throughout your career you will often be doing the law that other people read about in the news. That’s why we are investing in GLP’s Trade Law Profession, by rolling out the GLP’s Trade Law Career Pathway.

This will ensure (1) clear professional development opportunities, and (2) that His Majesty’s Government has the right expertise to deliver for the citizens of the UK.

Adrian Roberts, Legal Director (International Trade)

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.

Trade Law Career Pathway

As mentioned in Adrian’s welcome, we are investing in a Trade Law Career Pathway for government trade lawyers. Its aim is to provide create a clear and supported career pathway in trade law, one that enables progression from paralegal all the way to Deputy Director. For example, right now we are piloting a scheme which enables G7 lawyers to move on secondment between government trade law teams. This supports their professional development and exposure. We also ran a GLD G6 Trade Lawyer campaign last year.

It is important to emphasise that all GLD Advisory Trade Lawyers are expected to advise on both Trade Law and Public Law, as government lawyers. The mix will vary from role to role.

There are broadly four areas that GLD Trade Lawyers advise on and engage in:

• Negotiation and implementation of international agreements, e.g. Free Trade Agreements, WTO plurilateral and multilateral agreements;
• EU relations, including EU reset, rights and obligations under the TCA, and the Windsor Framework;
• Policy and implementation advice in the context of trade law, e.g. sanctions, trade remedies , export controls;
• Dispute resolution in international and domestic forums, e.g. WTO and ISDS disputes, judicial reviews.

Case study: Negotiation of international agreements

• Several government lawyers will form part of the negotiating team for a free trade agreement (FTA). Many more government lawyers will be involved in providing legal advice that supports the development of the negotiated text.
• BIST leads on a number of chapters – for example, in relation to goods, services, intellectual property, sustainability and disputes. HMT leads on financial services, HMRC on customs and trade, DEFRA on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS).
• Each chapter has a ‘chapter lead lawyer’ who advises the chapter policy lead.
• Legal input to stand-alone agreements on trading arrangements also flows from lead policy responsibility, e.g. HMRC Legal leads on negotiation of agreements on customs and borders.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing targeted trade law and public law advice in a flexible range of formats (written, verbal, comment boxes etc).
• Drafting and analysing treaty text and legislation.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders (policy and legal, including negotiating partners).
• Managing a legal workstream and client relationships.
• Advising on negotiations, disputes, dispute risks, and/ or policy development.

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:

• Developing self and others (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and influencing
• 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/interview.

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Strong organisation skills, with the ability to manage a busy and varied workload to meet demanding deadlines with high quality output.
• Exceptional attention to detail, producing legally sound written work.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise when faced with competing deadlines

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 interview.

• Knowledge or experience of advising on Trade Law
• Knowledge or experience of advising on Public Law

Technical Legal Professional Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and 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 secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of lawyers in government.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. If successful for this post, you must hold or be willing to obtain SC level clearance for this role. You cannot start this position until you have obtained the higher security clearance. This usually required a five-year footprint in the United Kingdom. However, some departments can consider a three-year footprint. Your application will not be considered if you don’t have a UK footprint of at least three years. With less than three years, you won’t be able to obtain SC clearance. If you don’t have SC clearance, you can’t commence in the roles.

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:

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

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,124, Government Legal Department contributes £17,707 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (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, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 17:00 – 18:00 on Wednesday 7th October 2026.

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers working within GLD Advisory Trade Teams about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role.

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

Wednesday 7th October 17:00 – 18:00
Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 314 220 558 875 802
Passcode: nC3W6eg3

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 19th October 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. Your CV should not exceed a maximum overall word limit of 1200 words. The CV will be scored and assessed on the essential criteria of Key Skills & Experience and Qualifications set out in the person specification on slide 8.

2. A Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria for Technical Legal Professional Skills. Full details can be found in the person specification.

3. Behaviours: Developing self and others (250 words) and Communicating and influencing (250 words). For Developing self and others (lead behaviour), at this level, we are particularly interested in how you can learn new areas of law and adapt to a different working environment.

AI Usage

Civil Service Jobs states that 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

In addition to this please note that in GLD the use of AI is strictly prohibited during tests, written exercises and interviews.

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 – 481616 closing date Monday 19th October 2026 ’.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on Developing self and others and CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for this, you will then go on to a full sift on the Statement of Suitability and the Behaviour: Communicating and influencing

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. These criteria are:

• Behaviour: Developing self and others (Lead Behaviour)
• Behaviour: Communicating and influencing
• Behaviour: Working together
• Key Skills & Experience
• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Presentation - you will be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation based on the Behaviour: Developing Self and Others. This will also be used to assess Key Skills & Experience and Technical Legal Professional Skills. Please note, candidates may be asked follow up questions in relation to their presentation at interview

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 have five confirmed vacancies. However, we anticipate appointing more than five positions. It will depend on the resourcing need at the time of completing this exercise. 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

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: 481616 – Trade Lawyer (up to 10 roles) – 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

481616 - Trade Lawyer (up to 10 roles) Opens in new window (pdf, 833kB)