MoD Property Lawyer
Location: Bristol
£50,455 - £59,740
Offer expert legal advice as a member of a key MOD property team
Who we are
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, and health to human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. The department has more than 14 client-facing advisory teams who provide legal advice on the development, design and implementation of government policies and decisions, draft secondary legislation and work with Parliamentary Counsel on primary legislation. Our vision is to be trusted by government to provide excellent and value for money services so departments want to come to us to meet their legal needs, to be known throughout the legal profession for the quality of our work, and to be the best employer for our people.
The role
Our Commercial Law Group (CLG) is a dynamic and specialist commercial legal service, and offers a single expert source of commercial legal advice across government. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Property Team works alongside the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the department within the MoD which provides the armed forces and their families with a fit-for-purpose estate that includes accommodation. As part of the MoD, the DIO is responsible for all acquisition, disposal, allocation of assets, construction and maintenance of estate infrastructure in the UK and abroad, and as the department is one of the largest landowners in the United Kingdom, when you join us there’ll be opportunities to advise on a wide and interesting range of commercial property topics.
The team you’ll join is made up of a Deputy Director, two Grade 6 lawyers, five Grade 7 lawyers and two admin support staff, and focuses on a number of specialist areas. The first of these involves advising the DIO on its real estate projects and transactions. Your work will involve assisting with initial business planning decisions, appointing and working with external lawyers, advising on commercial property law issues, drafting contractual documentation, and negotiating with buyers and tenants to ensure the best possible arrangements are put in place.
The second area you’ll work on focuses on providing advice regarding property law issues within commercial projects where infrastructure requirements arise. These projects are led by colleagues within the CLG MoD Commercial team and you’ll be working closely with them. The third area involves working with colleagues in the MOD’s General Law team as you advise on property law issues within wider cross-government initiatives.
About you
To be successful as one of our Property Lawyers you’ll have experience of working in a commercial property role, the skills to analyse legal commercial property problems, and a constructive approach to solving any issues or challenges that arise. Capable of providing legally sound, risk-based advice, you’ll have well developed commercial legal judgement, the skills to communicate highly effective advice both in writing and orally, and the ability to draft commercial property documents.
Honest and enthusiastic, and capable of delivering difficult messages with clarity, sensitivity and – where necessary – persuasiveness, you’ll have the skills to explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand. Committed to delivering a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery, we’ll expect you to be ready to manage risks and identify solutions to any issues that arise. Capable of building a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives, and prepared to challenge assumptions and compromise if needed, you’ll be committed to creating a working environment where all opinions are taken into account, and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.
You should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in your first degree (in any subject). If you hold an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1. We’ll 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.
You must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales, and you should have completed a training contract, pupillage or qualifying employment, or been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.
For more information
We host Commercial Law Group Recruitment Open Evenings, virtual sessions that provide potential applicants with an insight into the group. They also offer the opportunity to hear from CLG’s Director’s Office, Senior Leadership Team members and the MoD Property Lawyers. The session will run on Tuesday 16 May from 5.30pm-6.50pm.