NQ - 25 + PQE - Commercial Lawyers, LEEDS - 3, 4 or 5 day week

Hays Legal is exclusively partnering with Government Legal Department on this major campaign to hire 20 commercial lawyers. Please only reply to this if you wish to be based in Leeds. This is an ongoing campaign and repeat applications will not be considered.

Exciting opportunities exist for commercial contracts lawyers (minimum NQ to experienced) to join Government Legal Department's Commercial Law Group.

Whether you are newly qualified to sub 3 years (joining as a Legal Officer) or more experienced and ready to join as a Grade 7 lawyer (3 years PQE and above) Hays Legal would be keen to hear from you.

About the Commercial Law Group (CLG):

CLG was formed in June 2014 and is a fast-evolving group of c.240 lawyers. CLG's formation and growth reflects the increasing importance of commercial skills to government, as new projects and programmes are increasingly delivered through commercial arrangements.

GLD commercial work is unique: we work in small teams, often closely embedded in departments, combining our legal expertise on all aspects of the government's commercial relationships with knowledge of public law and government.

Our work is often at the forefront of major government initiatives and includes many of the government's highest profile and most sensitive matters.The CLG teams advise a range of government departments including but not limited to: Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Service, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Education, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Work and Pensions, Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence.

Our lawyers have a high level of responsibility and work on some of the most consistently challenging, interesting, varied, complex and high-profile commercial legal work available. The issues that we advise on impact the lives of citizens across the UK. We have been and continue to be at the forefront of supporting government commercial efforts to meet the challenges faced over the last decade. We work alongside legal teams advising on policy decisions and implementation. CLG is high performing, friendly and welcoming, with a strong and established culture of collaboration and teamwork, excellent KM and specialist training and support. D&I is at the core of how we manage our people and teams.

Areas of work include but are not limited to general commercial law, contract law, procurement law, grants, subsidy control and data protection.

Salary & Benefits:

Grade 7 Lawyers (3 years + PQE) will start on a basic salary of £59,200 in Leeds (£61,200 in London) plus generous benefits

Legal Officers (NQ - sub 3 years) will start on a basic salary of £51,541

• A generous pension contribution of 28.97%, please refer to Home - Civil Service Pension Scheme for further details
• Holidays - 25 days per annum (rising to 30 days after 5 years' service)
• plus one privilege day for monarch's birthday
• plus 8 bank holidays
• plus buy and sell annual leave (the ability to buy up to an additional 5 days)
• As part of our smarter working policies GLD employees are (subject to the requirements of the role) expected to work at least 60% of their contracted hours each week from a GLD office
• Possibility of in year reward and recognition bonuses
• Pay advances
• Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan (Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle).
• Sick Pay (Occupational Sick Pay)

This is a fantastic opportunity to join GLD and undertake cutting edge work in a truly collegiate environment.

To hear more and to understand the criteria and recruitment process, please contact our exclusively instructed consultants FOR LEEDS ONLY:

Leeds - Adele Callaghan or Sam Higgins T: / E: or

Interested lawyers must complete and return the "Essential Criteria" to Hays by midday Monday 16th February 2026.

Please note, no actions will take place over the festive period from w/c 15th December for this campaign. Please expect to hear back from Hays w/c Monday 5th January 2026.

Desired Skills and Experience
Exciting opportunities exist for commercial contracts lawyers (NQ to experienced) to join GLD's Commercial Law Group.

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