Legal Officer

targetjobs UK; Sandhurst; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Joining the Army Legal Services as a Legal Officer offers a unique opportunity to practice law across various specialties without the typical constraints of billable hours. This role includes commanding responsibilities, extensive training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and opportunities for international travel, while providing comprehensive annual leave and benefits.

Benefits

38 days annual leave

Free medical and dental care

Lower living costs

Free gym and sports facilities

Qualifications

• Must be between 23 and 32 years old.
• Qualified in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland.
• Completed training contract or pupillage.

Responsibilities

• Involved in prosecuting soldiers at courts martial.
• Advising commanders on rules of engagement.
• Training and developing leadership skills.

Skills

Legal expertise

Leadership

Fitness

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Job description

Deliver leadership advice in challenging environments.

Joining the Army Legal Services (ALS) offers a challenging and varied role as a Legal Officer. You could be involved in prosecuting soldiers charged with offences at courts martial or advising senior commanders on rules of engagement during operations abroad. This role provides an opportunity to practice law without timesheets or billable hours targets and to work across a range of legal specialisms. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to travel the world and gain postgraduate qualifications.

You will train at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where you will learn basic military skills, study tactics, and undertake tasks designed to develop your leadership and command abilities. Following this, you will join the Directorate of Army Legal Services for your specialist legal training, covering areas such as military law, the law of armed conflict, international humanitarian law, and intelligence law. You will then spend three months with a combat or combat support unit to gain practical experience of Army life from a non-legal perspective, which is essential for understanding the organization you will advise.

To qualify, you must be between 23 and 32 years old, a qualified solicitor, barrister, or Scottish advocate, qualified in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, and have completed your training contract or pupillage. You must also pass a basic fitness test.

Start the adventure of a lifetime. As a Professionally Qualified Officer, you will begin your career with management responsibilities, commanding a team of soldiers. No prior experience is required—through world-class training at Sandhurst, you will develop transferable leadership skills and qualifications to motivate and support your team.

Beyond the Royal Military Academy, you will continue to learn and grow through adventurous training and international travel. Being an officer is a global adventure, whether leading expeditions, running operations abroad, or delivering humanitarian aid.

You will receive 38 days of annual leave each year (plus bank holidays and extra leave after operations), free medical and dental care, lower living costs, and free gym and sports facilities. Typically, you will work from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, unless you are away on operations or training exercises.