Senior Inquiry Lawyer

Government Legal Department; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A major government legal agency in the UK is seeking lawyers for important public inquiries. Positions are available as full-time or part-time roles in the Public Inquiries and Defence and Security Divisions. Ideal candidates will have substantial public law experience and the ability to represent Government parties effectively. The roles may require higher security clearance. The agency promotes professional development and offers flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Access to a valuable civil service pension

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Substantial experience working on public inquiries.
• Ability to manage teams and provide expert legal representation.
• Confidence in using legal analysis and research.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to inquiries.
• Represent Government parties in high-profile inquiries.
• Manage teams, including Grade 7s and paralegals.

Skills

Public law understanding

Legal research

Effective communication

Strategic thinking

Job description

We are looking for lawyers to work on important public inquiries. These vacancies are for permanent roles in the Public Inquiries Division and Defence and Security Division (both are within GLD's Litigation Directorate).

The Public Inquiries Division in the Litigation Directorate aims to enhance our expertise in this area, to greater professionalise our service, improve our offer to our clients and share best practice. We've worked on the following inquiries:

• Grenfell Tower Inquiry
• Infected Blood Inquiry
• Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
• Undercover Policing Inquiry
• UK Covid-19 Inquiry
• Southport Inquiry
• Nottingham Inquiry
• Manston Inquiry

Meanwhile, the Defence and Security Division manages public and private law litigation, inquests and inquiries, including high-value personal injury and clinical negligence claims for the MOD (such as PTSD cohort actions, overseas operations, group actions, and Northern Ireland Legacy cases). We advise departments including DWP, DHSC, DfT and Highways England on data protection and property disputes and defend road network claims.

Depending on the post, you will provide expert representation to Government parties in an inquiry; or you will be providing legal advice and support to the inquiry itself.

Higher security clearance will be needed to carry out the full range of responsibilities, in some of the roles.

The roles can be worked full‑time, part‑time or as part of a job share. For some, travel may be required.

Grade 6 Senior Lawyers have important leadership roles across our organisation. You can expect to line manage up to four Grade 7s and/or lead a mini team of up to seven people including paralegals.

You have a sound understanding of public law, backed by substantial experience of working on, or for, public inquiries. A strategic and creative thinker, you're able to see legal issues in their context and advise accordingly. You're confident conducting sound analysis and using secure legal research to produce timely, fit for purpose advice. Plus, you're an effective communicator, both orally and in writing.

We'd like to see how we're a good fit for you and your aspirations, paired with a good understanding of lawyers in Government. Tell us what motivates you to join the Government Legal Department and what your contribution will be.

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government, working with all the main Whitehall departments. From energy to security, from roads to rivers, health to human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. From developing and drafting legislation to helping to secure economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on policies to ensuring value from contracts, our work is stimulating and varied. GLD encourages its people to develop their skills in a nurturing environment. Other benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements.

Much more than the law

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. 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 cross-cutting expert service groups for Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law provide specialist legal services to a wide range of government departments and public bodies.

We are a non‑ministerial government department with more than 2,300 employees, around 1,800 of whom are solicitors or barristers. The department is based primarily in London but has teams in Bristol, Manchester, and Leeds.