SCS1 Deputy Director – GLD Department for Business and Trade Legal Advisers

Job summary

The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:

Developing and drafting legislationProviding legal advice on policiesSecuring our economic and trade relationshipsEnsuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of poundsProviding the Civil Service�s employment law advice

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, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.

GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.� �

Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the .��

To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department�s or have a look at this which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.

Job description

About DBT Legal Advisers

Adrian and I joined DBT LA in the last seven months (Jane in November and Adrian in March).� We have found it to be a warm, welcoming Division with a strong and professional work ethic and a skill set to match.� The breadth and depth of the legal work covered by the Division is amazing and the work is of great national and international importance and public interest.� Anyone wanting to come and join us would have an opportunity to be involved in some of the most interesting and important work being done across Government right now.� We look forward to reading your application.

Jane Hill & Adrian Roberts

We provide legalisation and advice services across DBT, including to: Competitions, Markets and Regulatory Reform Group, Corporate Services, UK Export Finance, Trading Systems, Trade Policy, Implementation and Negotiations, Strategy and Investment, Business Group, and Domestic and International Markets and Exports.

Our teams offer expertise in many areas including international trade and investment law, treaties and international negotiation, commercial law in an international context, competition, insolvency, corporate, consumer and public law, product safety, regulatory issues and legislation.

The Team

This vacancy is within the Services (Domestic Frameworks) and REUL Implementation Team.�

The Services (Domestic Frameworks) and REUL Implementation team provides advice and legal services relating to:

domestic services legislation, including legislation implementing services provisions in free trade agreements and imposing services sanctions against the Russian regimethe services and professional qualifications chapters, and the wider overview, of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020the services chapters of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, including the governance arrangements for those chaptersthe recognition of professional qualifications, including the negotiation and implementation of international provisions in free trade agreements, domestic regulation and the Professional Qualifications Act 2022the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and Cross Whitehall co-ordination on assimilated law (formerly known as retained EU law) matters

The team is a part of the GLD Europe Centre of Excellence with specific expertise on retained EU law and assimilated law.

Please note that�this�team and it's responsibilities, could be subject to change�following the�election and�any�subsequent�change to the structure of�DBTLA.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join DBTLA�s senior leadership team; leadership and team management of our Advisory lawyers is a substantial part of the role.

Key responsibilities:

The post holder will be a key member of the Division�s senior leadership team (SLT) and will be expected to take specific corporate responsibility for the collective leadership of the Division, with allocated responsibilities to be agreed with the successful applicant.Ensure that risk based legal advice is provided to DBT ministers and officials which demonstrates an understanding of the Department�s business and offers solutions;Provide visible and strategic legal leadership in relation to key areas of DBT policy;Provide visible and effective leadership of the Division as part of the senior leadership team;Engage staff and lead a flexible, confident, innovative, efficient and supported team;Develop the skills and capability of the people in your team.

Civil Service Code

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the core values which are set out in legislation. As a civil servant, you are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of:

�integrity� is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests�honesty� is being truthful and open�objectivity� is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence�impartiality� is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions

These core values support good government and ensures the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does.

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you provide evidence and examples of proven experience of these selection criteria.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Legal Professional Skills �

Able to pick up new areas of work quickly.�Expert knowledge of the relevant Government context and see legal issues in this wider context.�Ability to think strategically and bring wider legal experience and knowledge to help solve an issue.�Ability to think creatively and give authoritative legal advice facilitating practical solutions.�Effectively manage legal risk.�Ability to communicate effectively in all formats.�Ability to oversee the quality of work of other lawyers, providing support and challenge.�Provide sound direction to others and take responsibility for the professional work of a team.�Contributes to corporate objectives and, where appropriate, to the wider GLP�The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

Leadership�

Remain visible and approachable to all colleagues and stakeholders.Actively promote the reputation of the organisation with pride, both internally and externally.Display passion and enthusiasm for the work, helping to inspire colleagues and stakeholders to fully engage with the aims and long-term vision.Embed a culture of inclusion and equal opportunity for all, where the diversity of individuals� backgrounds and experiences are valued and respected. Work to influence the strategy, direction and culture to increase effectiveness.

Working Together

Proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of contacts across the organisation and externally.Embed an inclusive culture of creating positive and supportive teams who consider the diverse needs and feelings of other colleagues.Ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of all individuals across the organisation.�Set out clear expectations that bullying, harassment, and discrimination are unacceptable.�Encourage and establish mechanisms to share knowledge and resources across boundaries to support the business.�

Managing a Quality Service �

Clarify and articulate the�diverse requirements of�customers and delivery partners.Use customer insight to drive high quality and efficient service delivery which is a good investment of taxpayers money.�Work collaboratively with customers and delivery partners to manage, monitor and deliver agreed outcomes.�Identify areas for improvement and make appropriate changes to reach professional excellence.�Breakdown complex aims into clear, practical and manageable plans.�Identify the resource requirements to support implementation.Ensure risks are monitored and managed to prevent issues with service delivery wherever possible.

Making Effective Decisions �

Act decisively and make bold, unbiased decisions at a strategic level.Make sense of a wide range of political and national pressures and influences to develop strategies which meet organisational goals.Clearly communicate the purpose and reasons for recommendations and decisions.Consult with others where necessary to ensure decisions meet the diverse needs of the end users.Accept and respond to challenge constructively.Clearly recommend the best option articulating risks and impacts on economic, environmental, political and social factors.

Qualifications

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 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 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 degree equivalence (where a degree is not held).

Behaviours

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

LeadershipWorking TogetherManaging a Quality ServiceMaking Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �76,000, Government Legal Department contributes �20,520 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an average employer contribution of 27%

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