Government Legal Department Jobs – Control Lawyer

About the job

Location: Leeds, London

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

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.

About the BEIS Legal Directorates

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is a Ministerial Department, focused on building a stronger, greener future, tackling climate change, unleashing innovation and making the UK a great place to work and do business.

BEIS Legal Advisers is the largest GLD Advisory Division with 176 people. We advise BEIS, together with a number of its Partner Organisations. We cover a very wide spectrum of work, from space travel to oil rigs and the “gig” economy to climate change. Rarely a day goes by when something we are doing isn’t in the news. We have 14 teams (13 Legal and one Business Management Team), based in 1 Victoria Street, but currently with significant hybrid working. One of our Directors operates from Leeds and we will be looking to expand our regional presence in the future.

Job description

About the Role

Up to 3 posts are offered within the Industry and Subsidy Control Team in BEIS Legal Advisers. The Team is focussed on providing legal advice relating to regulation of subsidy control and BEIS’s significant programmes of financial assistance to industry and business. The work in the team is exceptionally varied and successful candidates will expect to work on matters including advising on the implementation of the new UK domestic subsidy regime and advice on major financial assistance offered by BEIS on an ad hoc basis and through schemes, including the through the Automotive Transformation Scheme and the British Business Bank. As expert subsidy control lawyers we also support lawyers in other teams in BEIS on the subsidy control aspects of the UK’s ambitious and innovative energy portfolio, with work spanning policies on carbon reduction technologies, nuclear power, clean energy and heat, energy efficiency, energy security, energy networks and infrastructure and climate change. We also support government departments more widely as the Government Legal Department’s Centre of Excellence in Subsidy Control law and lead an extensive training programme on subsidy control law for the GLD and other government departments and public authorities.

Person specification

Below are details of the Success Profile that make up this role.

You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview stage.

We’ll assess you against the following during the selection process:

Motivational Fit

We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations. Please outline why you are motivated to join the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a role with the GLD.

Communicating and Influencing

Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust. Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand. Take into account people’s individual needs. Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required.

Working Together

Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives. Challenge assumptions while being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress. Build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues. Ensure consideration and support for the wellbeing of yourself and individuals throughout the team.

Managing a Quality Service

Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations. Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery.

Experience in the law relating to Subsidy Control and State aid.

Technical Legal Professional Skills

• Knowledge and experience of subsidy control law. Sound understanding of public law.
• Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk.
• The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• Sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.
• Good understanding of the role of lawyers in government.

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Selection Process

Application Process

Your application should include:

• A Suitability Statement addressing the following question:

‘Why are you pursuing a G7 BEIS Energy Lawyer position with the GLD at this stage in your career?’ (maximum 500 words)

• A form of words addressing your Legal Professional Skills (maximum 750 words); and
• A form of words addressing your Motivational Fit (maximum 500 words).

Information Session

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will be hosting an information session on Tuesday 1st November between 12:30-13:30 to provide potential candidates with further information about the Department and the role.

To sign up for this session please email [email protected]

Assessment

If sifted for assessment you will invited to take part in an online written legal exercise directly before your interview.

The interview will include a short oral presentation and questions relating to this legal scenario as well as questions relating to the Behaviours as outlined below.

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 person specification.

Interview

Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in the Person Specification, alongside scenario-based exercises and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information on the day and time to prepare.

• Legal Professional Skills
• Motivational fit
• Managing a Quality Legal Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Interviews will probably 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.