Details
Reference number
38+387
Salary
£30,676
London £30,676 per annum, plus a Developed Vetting Allowance of £2,500 per annum, once you have acquired the clearance, if your role involves work requiring DV clearance (specific conditions apply). If your work involves DV work in a ‘closed’, secure environment, for more than 60% of your time, after 12 months of continuous service in an applicable role your allowance will increase to £4,000. The allowance will increase to the maximum amount, £5,000, after 2 years in an applicable role.
External candidates should expect their salary upon appointment to be £30,676 per annum, plus the DV Allowance as set out above upon gaining DV security clearance.
The allowance will be withdrawn if you no longer perform an eligible role.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.+7%
Job grade
Executive Officer
This role is being offered as Permanent and is only open to UK Nationals, subject to successfully obtaining DV Clearance to retain the role. For existing Civil Servants, there is the possibility of a 2-year loan. Non-civil servants may request a secondmen
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
GLD - Litigation
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time
Number of jobs available
5
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
London - Due to the nature of the role, office attendance is required at least 4 days per week.
About the job
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 legislation
• Providing legal advice on policies
• Securing our economic and trade relationships
• Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
• Providing 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 Modern Civil Service.
To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.
Job description
About the Litigation Group, Business Management
Business Management and Litigation Group Overview
Business Management plays a pivotal role in supporting all client teams and expert services within the organization. In today’s environment, government actions and decisions face increasing scrutiny and legal challenges. Issues such as military actions overseas, immigration policies, welfare reforms, climate change, and energy policies frequently spark legal debates and high-profile challenges that capture public attention.
The Government Legal Department’s (GLD) Litigation Group handles a wide spectrum of cases, often of significant public and constitutional importance. Our public law litigation practice encompasses judicial review challenges across diverse areas, including justice, health, defence, immigration, planning, national security, and the Government’s comprehensive reform agenda.
In addition to public law, we maintain a robust private law practice, representing major Government departments such as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). These teams manage high-profile group actions and claims involving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution, among others.
Litigation Business Management Teams
Litigation Business Management (BM) Teams are integral to the operations of the Litigation Group. Each of the Group’s four divisions is supported by its own BM Team, led by a Senior Business Manager. These teams form part of a broader BM Community within GLD, comprising over 200 dedicated professionals who collaborate to ensure seamless support across functions.
The BM Profession is led by the Head Of Profession (HoP), Rachel Voss, and consists of 16 teams totalling over 350 colleagues.
Thank you for your interest in joining our Business Management community. Our work supporting government legal teams is interesting, diverse, and vital to the efficient running of GLD, the function is often referred to as the engine room of the Department. We have Teams based across different locations and government departments carrying out a range of work from a PA services, monitoring, and forecasting budgets, organising events, validating statutory instruments (legislation) and providing litigation support.
We have invested in, and restructured the Business Management function in recent years ensuring it is responsive, focused and respected as a profession. We have built career pathways and a sense of community. If you are pro-active and keen to join a dynamic team that welcomes new ideas and innovation, then we would welcome your application.
Rachel Voss
About the Role
The Role
We are recruiting Business Management Officers to provide litigation support within the Defence and Security Division. Candidates must either hold or be eligible to obtain DV (Developed Vetting) security clearance and be available to attend the office at least four days per week. The role is expected to be held for a minimum of two years upon obtaining DV clearance.
You will work closely with Litigation Lawyers and Deputy Directors, gaining insight into litigation processes and how legal services support government operations. The work is dynamic, varied, and offers an excellent opportunity to start or advance your Civil Service career in a supportive environment.
Key skills include strong organisation and communication skills, the ability to multitask effectively, and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Confidence in meeting challenging deadlines, excellent IT skills, and a keen attention to detail are essential. We provide a comprehensive induction process to ensure you are well-equipped to excel in your role.
The position involves close collaboration with Business Managers, Business Management colleagues, and legal teams across the directorate. Team sizes may vary, and all roles fall within the Business Management function, meaning you will not be managing your own legal cases or performing paralegal duties.
One of the advertised roles may also include directly supporting a Deputy Director with administrative responsibilities such as diary management and general administrative tasks.
Our Business Management staff are expected:
• To provide a high quality, professional and efficient support service to enable caseworkers to meet their targets and deadlines, thereby achieving client satisfaction and contributing to the achievement of organisational, divisional and team objectives.
• To comply with policies, standards, procedures and service level agreements set at GLD, divisional and team level.
• To comply with GLD Time Recording Policy and to meet chargeable hours target set by Division.
• The handling of sensitive court documents.
• To succeed in this role, you will have a passion for administration and business management, be highly organised, responsive, attentive to detail, and driven to deliver results.
Main Responsibilities
• To manage a broad range of varied casework support activities, including:
• Creating and indexing documentary bundles required as evidence for Defence and Security cases.
• Liaison with solicitors, clients, witnesses and court offices
• Delivering classified documents to courts, counsel, and clients in accordance with security guidance
• Dealing with communication requests from the Special Advocates Support Office, as a conduit between client departments and Special Advocates
• Arranging and sourcing counsel for Defence and Security cases
• Note taking at court, conferences and meetings with clients and counsel.
• Filing, labelling and locating documents within our document management system (CMS), secure storage and secure intranet system
• Undertaking relevant research
• Drafting and processing tasks related to costs and payments for cases.
• Supporting the wider GLD’s Business Management community
• Providing secretarial, administrative and diary/inbox support
• File Management of physical documentation and electronic files on our document management system (CMS)
This list is not exhaustive, and the successful candidates will be required to provide ad-hoc support where and when necessary.
Person specification
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential.
You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Delivering at Pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
Essential Criteria/Experience
• The ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines, managing multiple workstreams, and working well within a team
• An understanding of/ the ability to deliver a high-quality administrative service
Security Clearance
• If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to DV security clearance level, however, candidates will be able to start in role with BPSS clearance. More information about the vetting process and UK footprint can be found here
For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £30,676, Government Legal Department contributes £8,886 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• 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.+7%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Information Session
We are hosting two engagement sessions where you can come and gain valuable insights into the process of Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. Hear what industry experts have to say about their experiences, provide guidance, and answer any questions you may have.
Whether you're new to DV or seeking clarity, this is your chance to understand the process in detail. There will also be a chance to ask further questions about the role itself.
These virtual sessions aim to engage potential applicants by giving them an insight into the role.
We will be holding a candidate information session on Microsoft Teams On:
• Tuesday 11th February 2025 at 6:00pm-6.45pm
• Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 12:00pm-12:45pm
Candidates interested in attending the information session should register their interest in advance by emailing to;
melandra.roberts@governmentlegal.gov.uk
The Recruitment Process
Application
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process. This should be completed no later than Monday 17th February 2025 at 12:00 noon and will involve completing the sections in the online application outlined below: To apply for this post, you will be required to complete:
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words, demonstrating how you meet the Essential Criteria/Experience listed on page 7.
• Please provide a statement for the following behaviours listed below in no more than 250 words each.
• Delivering at Pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Working Together
Your application should demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the post, with relevant examples. It will not be sufficient to reiterate the criteria; you are expected to illustrate how you have met the requirements.
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 statement of suitability. If a high number of applications are received, we will sift on the lead behaviour Delivering at pace alone.
Interview
Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on the behaviours listed below alongside strength-based questions.
• Delivering at Pace (Lead Behaviour)
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews will take place remotely via video conference. Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview. 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.
Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final 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 for up to 12 months. We then 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 criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
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 the Civil 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 :
Melandra Roberts
Email :
Melandra.Roberts@Governmentlegal.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Email :
active.campaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk
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