Trade Lawyers (up to 10 roles)

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 GLD Advisory Trade Teams

The advertised roles will be across GLD Advisory Trade Law teams.

GLD has approximately 200 Advisory Trade Lawyers in the legal divisions of:

• Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST)
• HM Treasury (HMT)
• Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)
• Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ)
• Cabinet Office
• Department for Transport (DfT)
• Home Office
• Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC)
• Department for Education

Should you be successful you will be matched to a role within one of the teams outlined, based on your CV and business needs.

Government Legal Profession (GLP) Trade Lawyers

Its also important to note that youll be a part of a wider network of Government Legal Profession (GLP) Trade Lawyers.

There are government trade lawyers housed in the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and the UKs Missions to the European Union and to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (UKM is Brussels and Geneva respectively).

In gist, there is a complex ecosystem of lawyers advising on international trade matters across GLD and the wider GLP.

This mirrors a complex ecosystem of interrelated policy and operational responsibilities across government.

Welcome from Adrian Roberts, Legal Director (International Trade)

International trade law is crucial for UK growth, global prosperity, and harmonious international relations.

In this role, you will be joining a team of exceptional lawyers, in terms of collegiality, expertise and professionalism, doing a unique and important job.

Since I joined the Government Legal Profession (GLP) 24 years ago from the self-employed bar, I have never looked back: the breadth and depth of legal work covered in the GLP is amazing, whether you are negotiating and drafting treaties, advising ministers, literally making new law, or running litigation in the national or international courts.

Now is an especially interesting time but throughout your career you will often be doing the law that other people read about in the news. Thats why we are investing in GLPs Trade Law Profession, by rolling out the GLPs Trade Law Career Pathway.

This will ensure (1) clear professional development opportunities, and (2) that His Majestys Government has the right expertise to deliver for the citizens of the UK.

Adrian Roberts, Legal Director (International Trade)

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 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.

Trade Law Career Pathway

As mentioned in Adrians welcome, we are investing in a Trade Law Career Pathway for government trade lawyers. Its aim is to provide create a clear and supported career pathway in trade law, one that enables progression from paralegal all the way to Deputy Director. For example, right now we are piloting a scheme which enables G7 lawyers to move on secondment between government trade law teams. This supports their professional development and exposure. We also ran a GLD G6 Trade Lawyer campaign last year.

It is important to emphasise that all GLD Advisory Trade Lawyers are expected to advise on both Trade Law and Public Law, as government lawyers. The mix will vary from role to role.

There are broadly four areas that GLD Trade Lawyers advise on and engage in:

• Negotiation and implementation of international agreements, e.g. Free Trade Agreements, WTO plurilateral and multilateral agreements;
• EU relations, including EU reset, rights and obligations under the TCA, and the Windsor Framework;
• Policy and implementation advice in the context of trade law, e.g. sanctions, trade remedies , export controls; ...