Vacancy -- Assistant Legislative Counsel

The Office of the Legislative Counsel is a team of specialist lawyers responsible for the drafting of Welsh laws. Our primary purpose is to give effect to Welsh Government policies by drafting Acts of the National Assembly for Wales. We also advise the Government on matters of legislative competence, interpretation and procedure. 

Legislative Counsel are required to draft law that implements the policy objectives of the Welsh Government in a way that is linguistically clear as well as legally effective. This is a challenging and intellectually demanding task, involving detailed analysis of legal issues, policy objectives and existing legislation. It also requires an exceptional degree of accuracy and attention to detail. 

Assembly Acts must fall within the devolved competence of the National Assembly for Wales: this requires them, among other matters, to be consistent with European law and the rights protected by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Office drafts legislation in both Welsh and English: Assembly Acts must be enacted in both languages, with each language having equal legal status. 

We also seek to draft legislation in a way that is consistent with the Government’s wider responsibility to the rule of law. The way in which laws are drafted makes a key contribution to a properly functioning legal system: laws must be drafted clearly to promote public understanding and to avoid unfair enforcement; laws must avoid contradictions, and laws must not command the impossible. 

We share a responsibility, along with legislators and policy makers, to maintain the clarity and order of laws applicable to Wales on what is commonly referred to as the statute book. The Welsh Government is committed to making Welsh law more accessible by consolidating the legislation applicable to Wales into Codes, and providing tools to help people find and understand Welsh legislation.

We are seeking to make up to four appointments to the role of Assistant Legislative Counsel.

The post holder’s primary responsibilities are to draft legislation, and advise Government lawyers and policy makers in connection with the drafting of legislation. 

The post holder will be included as part of the Legal Profession within the Welsh Government for all matters, including Continuous Professional Development. 

Key tasks are: 

• To produce effective draft legislation.
• To analyse instructions for proposed legislation thoroughly and effectively, including by reference to existing legislation, policy objectives, the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales, constitutional and administrative law, European law, and Convention      rights.
• To understand and advise on procedural matters thoroughly and effectively.
• To communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with Welsh Government lawyers, policy makers and where appropriate staff of the National Assembly for Wales Commission, for the purposes of analysing instructions on proposed legislation, producing drafts, and advising on procedural matters.
• To acquire and apply knowledge of new areas of law and contribute to office learning.
• To work effectively to assist the production of bi-lingual text for legislation.
• To develop and maintain good relations with the Legal Services Department and other Welsh Government Departments.

This post provides the opportunity to work as part of a committed and highly skilled team, in a unique and vibrant legal environment operating at the cutting edge of law, politics and the Welsh devolution settlement.

 

Upon successful completion of an initial two year probationary period as a level 1 Assistant Legislative Counsel (on the Grade 7 pay scale), the post-holder will become a level 2 Assistant Legislative Counsel (on the Grade 6 pay scale). There is subsequent potential for progression through periodic internal boards from Assistant Legislative Counsel to a higher grade of Legislative Counsel. Further promotion to more senior levels is also possible as and when specific posts arise.

02/06/2019, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.