Director, Ministry of Justice Legal Advisers

About the Government Legal Department From energy to security, health to human rights, we help the Government deliver life changing law for citizens. 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 + Litigating on behalf of government including in public and private law cases, inquests and inquiries. + 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 2600 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., As Director of MoJLA, you will be responsible for the legal leadership of the division and the management of client relationships, with cross-cutting responsibilities in the corporate leadership, strategic direction and management of GLD. You will ensure delivery of core priorities and reinforcing the organisation's values and will need to work closely and collaboratively with other lawyers, both within and outside of GLD, and policy colleagues across MoJ. You will be supported by 6 Deputy Directors and the Business Management Team. Responsibilities include: + Providing inspiring, confident and empowering leadership, supporting your team to improve their skills and performance and develop their careers. + Promoting a culture of innovation, respect for others and high standards, in line with the GLD Values + Ensuring the delivery of high-quality and efficient legal services to MoJ and being accountable for a budget of over £13m + Building excellent relationships across GLD, the wider GLP, MoJ, Arm's Length Bodies and the Judiciary, including with Ministers and the most senior officials + Providing strategic input into the most sensitive and difficult legal matters + As a member of the GLD Departmental Leadership Group, playing a full role in the collective corporate and legal leadership of GLD and the achievement of our strategic objectives, Criminal Law Equity and Trusts Law European Union Law Land Law Public Law Law of Tort

• Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.
Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held)., 2.A statement of suitability against the ‘person specification’ (no more than 1000 words) Failure to submit all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming an inclusive employer and a great place to work. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: 2022 to 2025 for more information or go to Equality and Diversity Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact scsrecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk Selection Panels The selection panel for this campaign will be: + Paul Gray, Civil Service Commissioner + Mel Nebhrajani, Director General, Litigation with Justice and Security + Jerome Glass, Director General, Ministry of Justice + Doug Wilson, Director General, Attorney General’s Office Shortlist You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process. The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application. Assessments If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a staff engagement exercise and an Individual Leadership Assessment. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity. Informal Conversations Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, Mel Nebhrajani, prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is an optional part of the process, not part of the formal assessment process. Shortlisted candidates will also be invited to informal conversation(s) with senior stakeholders. This will be an opportunity for stakeholders to feedback to the selection panel areas for probing at final interview. Interview You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. As part of this interview candidates may be required to deliver a short 5-minute presentation and the title of that presentation will be confirmed in advance. Interviews will take place in person in London, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview. Offer, Feedback and Reserve List The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of selection decisions as soon as possible thereafter. We are not able to offer feedback to candidates not selected at shortlist stage. Shortlisted candidates who attend an interview will also be offered verbal feedback from a member of the interview panel. 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 This job is broadly open to the following groups: + UK nationals + nationals of the Republic of Ireland + nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK + nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) + nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) + individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 + Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)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).

+ The leadership skills to inspire and empower professional staff in a team with scale and complexity, supporting talent development, building a strong culture of continuous learning, flexibility and knowledge sharing. + A commitment to diversity and creating a truly inclusive working environment with the Civil Service and GLD values at its heart where diverse talent thrives through being recognised, nurtured and developed. + The ability to manage workloads and resources across a legal function, utilising external resource appropriately, with a commitment innovation, improving service delivery and value for money. + Exceptional communication skills and the ability to command credibility with senior politicians and officials, and build deep collaborative partnerships with government departments, public bodies and other organisations. + The capability to oversee a complex legal division giving creative and authoritative, risk-based legal advice that facilitates practical solutions, giving personal advice where necessary but also assuring the legal professionalism of the team and the quality of its legal advice. + Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales., Academic and Professional Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)). Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx. Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date. Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6
• , in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law
  
  Alongside your salary of £98,000, Government Legal Department contributes £28,390 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 28.97%