Commercial Property Lawyer x2

About the Government Legal Department

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

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 governments 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 y ou 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 .

About the Commercial Law Group (CLG)

CLG was formed in June 2014 and is a fast-evolving group of around 240 lawyers. CLG's formation and growth reflects the increasing importance of commercial skills to government, as new projects and programmes are increasingly delivered through commercial arrangements.

GLD commercial work is unique: we work in small teams, often closely embedded in departments, combining our legal expertise on all aspects of the government's commercial relationships with knowledge of public law and government.

Our work is often at the forefront of major government initiatives and includes many of the governments highest profile and most sensitive matters.

Our lawyers have a high level of responsibility and work on some of the most consistently challenging, interesting, varied, complex and high-profile commercial legal work available. The issues that we advise on impact the lives of citizens across the UK.

We have been and continue to be at the forefront of supporting government commercial efforts to meet the challenges faced over the last decade. We work alongside legal teams advising on policy decisions and implementation.

CLG is high performing, friendly and welcoming, with a strong and established culture of collaboration and teamwork, excellent KM and specialist training and support. D&I is at the core of how we manage our people and teams.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) Property Team

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Property Team was set up in 2006 and joined CLG in January 2023.

We provide property law advice to the Ministry of Defence, the largest UK Government Department and the second largest landowner in the UK.

The team is led by Deputy Director Alison Hinch and consists of two Grade 6 lawyers, six Grade 7 lawyers and two business management support staff.

What do we do?

The Ministry of Defence has a huge and complex support structure that spends more than 14 Billion each year in equipping, supplying and supporting the UKs Armed Forces.

A key role in this work falls to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the department within MoD which provides the armed forces and their families with a fit-for-purpose estate that includes accommodation.

As part of MoD, DIO is responsible for all acquisition, disposal, allocation of assets, construction and maintenance of estate infrastructure in the UK and abroad.

The MoD Property Team is a busy team of lawyers, working alongside DIO. There are opportunities to advise on a wide and interesting range of commercial property topics, the work of the team is varied and never routine.

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 51,541.00 per annum. This will increase to 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.

For newly qualified lawyers with under one years experience, CLG operates a 2+2 scheme, whereby these lawyers are allocated to two, 2-year postings. The scheme is optional and is intended to develop a broader range of skills and stay fresh in working on different areas of law and in new environments.

Key Role Responsibilities

Advice is given on the following particular specialist areas:

• Advising the Defence Infrastructure Organisation within the MoD in its real estate projects and transactions
• Assisting in initial business planning decisions, appointing and working with external lawyers
• Advising on commercial property law issues
• Advising on Private Finance Initiative (PFI) related issues including exit
• Drafting contractual documentation
• Negotiating with buyers and tenants to ensure the best possible arrangements are put in place.
• The work calls, amongst other skills, for the ability to understand the commercial property world and practice;
• Advising on property law issues within commercial projects where infrastructure requirements arise.
• Projects are led by colleagues within the CLG MoD Commercial team, and you would be working closely alongside them
• Advising on property law issues within wider cross-government initiatives
• Working closely alongside colleagues in the General Law team in MoD Legal Advisers London Team

Behaviours ...