Senior Lawyers – Commercial Law Group

Government Legal Department
Senior Lawyers – Commercial Law Group
London - £43,916 - £50,500
Deadline: Midday on Thursday 2nd February 2023

A challenging and rewarding new context for your expertise in commercial law

The challenge 

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government, working with all the main Whitehall departments. From roads to rivers, health to human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. From developing and drafting legislation to helping to secure economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on polices to ensuring value from contracts, our work is stimulating and varied. 

The role

Commercial Law Group (CLG) is a specialist service that offers a single expert source of commercial legal advice across government. Join us and you’ll have the opportunity to engage with some of the most interesting, varied, complex and high-profile commercial work available in the UK. Our clients include government departments such as the Home Office, the Department for International Trade, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Health and Social Care, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice. We carry out a range of transactional and advisory work covering everything from high-value procurement to intellectual property. We also conduct litigation and dispute resolution. Though our legal work is often novel and challenging, CLG is friendly and welcoming, with a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork.

About you

While commercial and contract law experience is helpful, government work is likely to involve a rapid learning curve. As a starting point, you must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales (or be qualified three months from the date of your application). A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) is essential.  We also look for the ability to:

•    analyse legal commercial problems 
•    take a constructive approach to solving problems 
•    provide legally sound, risk-based advice 
•    offer sound commercial legal judgement 
•    communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally 
•    draft commercial contracts 

Benefits

GLD encourages its people to develop their skills and provides the opportunity to move between advisory, litigation, employment and commercial law services during your career, should you wish to do so. Other benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements.