10 x Lawyers Home Office (HOLA)

Job description

About the job

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. 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 headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join 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 you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 - 2027.

Job description

About the Home Office Legal Advisers (HOLA)

Home Office Legal Advisers (HOLA) provides legal advice to the Home Office. The Home Office mission is to keep the public safe and our country secure. Its priorities include controlling immigration, cutting crime and preventing terrorism.

The Home Office plays a fundamental role in the security and economic prosperity of the UK.

The Directorate is comprised of some 120 plus lawyers and business management staff based in 2 Marsham Street, London SW1, Croydon, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol. It has nine legal teams and a business management team. HOLA has two Legal Directors, Henry Ripley who oversees the five immigration teams, and Gary Howard, who oversees the four security, crime and policing teams.

At HOLA, you'll be part of a dynamic, nurturing and high-performing legal Directorate with a strong emphasis on collaborative working. With a keen emphasis on personal development, there is ample opportunity for colleagues to represent HOLA in the Government Legal Department (GLD) corporate activities and to take part in diversity and inclusion groups and undertake training opportunities relevant to their work and career.

Through interesting, fast paced, and challenging work, HOLA provides great opportunities at all levels for professional stretch and development - all with the help of supportive, friendly colleagues.

Career Offer

For some roles, travel may be required. If you join us with less than three years of post-qualification experience (PQE), your starting salary will be £51,541 per annum. This will increase to £63,189 (Croydon/London) or £61,124 (National) per annum once you have successfully completed your probation period and either reach three years of PQE or complete one year of service, whichever comes first.

While previous experience or knowledge may be relevant to some vacancies, Government work is likely to involve a rapid learning curve to acquire legal skills and knowledge not required in private practice. Strong intellectual and analytical skills are important. We will provide support to help you acquire the necessary expertise and have a thriving CPD-accredited in-house training programme.

GLD encourages its people to develop their skills and provides opportunities to move between advisory, litigation, employment and commercial law services during their careers.

For Newly Qualified lawyers with under one year's experience, GLD operates a '2+2' scheme, whereby these lawyers are allocated to two, 2 year postings over their first 4 years working with GLD; 2 years in a contentious team (litigation or employment), and a further 2 years in a non-contentious advisory post, or vice-versa. The scheme is voluntary and is intended to help Newly Qualified lawyers to develop a broader range of skills and stay 'fresh' in working on different areas of law and in new environments.

The Role

You will be providing legal advice to support the delivery of the goals of the Home Office by drafting legal advice to Ministers and providing written and oral briefings to officials. There may be the opportunity to provide oral briefings to ministers. You will be advising on high profile, complex, precedent-setting legal issues with significant political and reputational implications, frequently attracting significant media attention. You may be required to provide advice at short notice in response to Parliamentary questions and media briefings. The legal teams across Whitehall frequently work together, creating opportunities to work cross-Whitehall with policy and legal partners.

We have a substantive portfolio of primary and secondary legislation in HOLA The role of the advisory lawyer is to support policy leads in developing fit for purpose legislation. This includes testing proposals to ensure they are robust and workable, and - for primary legislation - drafting instructions to Parliamentary Counsel. Secondary legislation is drafted both in-house within HOLA and also through working closely with specialist drafters within the wider GLD.

The Department is frequently involved in litigation, and you will be required to work closely with litigation colleagues within the GLD to ensure the Departments are fully equipped to respond to those challenges.

Our teams cover a broad spectrum of work. On the immigration side of HOLA, we advise on a whole range of migration issues, including asylum, refugees, resettlement schemes, border control, small boats, international strategy, EU cooperation and reset, work and study routes, passports, and appeals reform. On the security and public safety side, HOLA advises on crime reduction, creating safer neighbourhoods, supporting victims and protecting vulnerable people including tackling violence against women and girls and modern slavery. We also advise on national security, AI, online harms, police powers and integrity and efforts to combat serious, organised crime.

The exact role will depend on the experience and interests of the candidate as well as the Departmental priorities at the time of appointment.

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing a quality service
• Working Together

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Excellent public law skills.
• Experience of giving fast-paced advice in a legal environment

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.

• A keen interest in one or more of the areas HOLA advises on, including immigration law

Technical Skills

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Sound understanding of general 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.
• Ability to work in a technical area alongside both policy and operational colleagues

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.

• Knowledge and experience (whether academic or in practice) of one or more of the areas HOLA advises on, including immigration and/or nationality law.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. If successful for this post you must hold or be willing to obtain SC level clearance for this role. You cannot start this position until you have obtained the higher security clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levels before completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorship will be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates.

Qualifications

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:
1.Contract Law
2.Criminal Law
3.Equity and Trusts Law
4.European Union Law
5.Land Law
6.Public Law
7.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).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,124, Government Legal Department contributes £17,707 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

Learning and Development

Benefits of working for the Civil Service

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you'll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you'll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

As the lead for the Government Legal Profession, we offer a tailored programme of development for all Legal Professionals joining the organisation through our Government Legal Training Programme and

Legal Learning Framework, which includes:

• Foundation pathway, to support colleagues in their first 12 months
• Practitioner pathways for colleagues in four core areas of work
• Core Curriculum

We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer.

Alongside this we support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.

There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

• Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes - cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
• Beyond Boundaries - cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
• Mentoring and Coaching - we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The Recruitment Process

Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is Thursday 17th September 2026 at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history and qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. This will be used to assess Key Skills & Experience as set out in the Person Specification. The CV will be scored.
2. A personal statement of no more than 500 words demonstrating your Technical Legal Professional Skills as listed under personal specification.
3. Please provide individual statements for the following behaviours listed below in no more than 250 words each.

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing a quality service
• Working Together

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: [email protected] .Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 477276 & vacancy closing date Thursday 17th September 2026.

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.

If a high number of applications are received, the panel will conduct a 2 staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, you will move on to the 2nd staged sift on Personal Statement and all 3 behaviours, Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour), Managing a quality service and Working Together.

Lead Behaviour will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria at sift / and interview.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Assessment - Written Exercise

If you successfully pass the sift you will be invited to undertake a written exercise. You will be emailed information and asked to prepare a paper based on a legal scenario. This exercise will be conducted online at a pre-agreed time. This will be assessed against the Technical Legal Professional Skills set out in the person specification.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, alongside strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour)
• Managing a quality service
• Working Together
• Key Skills & Experience
• Technical Legal Professional Skills

Your interview will take place online.

Offer

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.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an 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. We 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 basic (or equivalent) 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 theCivil 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 : [email protected]
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

What do I do if I have a complaint?
You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn't been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact [email protected] in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number - Job Title - Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.