Vacancy -- Government Lawyer - Public Law
Working for the Civil Service
The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
Vacancy Details
Purpose of Post:
The Welsh Government is in the midst of a period of unprecedented change and challenge with a need to undertake critical work in connection with, amongst other things, EU transition and the response to, and recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic. The Legal Services Department within Welsh Government is seeking a number of highly talented lawyers to strengthen its capacity at a critical time in UK and Welsh affairs.
With more than 100 lawyers and support staff, organised across a wide variety of subject areas, the Legal Services Department is the largest of its kind in Wales. It is responsible for the delivery of all legal services to Welsh Government. This work places government lawyers at the heart of devolved government. They advise on complex matters of public law, on projects of national significance, on major constitutional developments, on addressing the challenges of EU transition and play a central role in the development of Welsh legislation.
The posts advertised are within public administrative law subject areas.
If you are attracted by working at the forefront of the law, Welsh Government would welcome your interest. You could be newly qualified, an experienced lawyer seeking to apply your skills in a new and different context, or attracted by an environment which offers and embraces flexible working arrangements. Applications from those who are not yet qualified are also welcome but appointment will be conditional on qualification having been obtained prior to start date. Applications from those who have previously expressed an interest in joining the Welsh Government legal team would also be welcome.
Key tasks:
Specifically, the Legal Services Department is seeking to appoint lawyers who can provide additional capacity and public law expertise
You will provide legal advice in a fast paced, public law environment where often the issues are high profile and significant in terms of the developing UK constitution. You will work in a team, gaining experience of working with lawyers, policy clients and Welsh Ministers to shape policy in Wales.
For further details of these roles, please read the Candidate information pack https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2020-11/legal-services-information-pack-en.pdf
Development opportunities:
Closing Date:
Eligibility
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:
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.
Equality and Diversity
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.
Disability Confident
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
Welsh Language Requirements
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.
Social Partnership
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.
Competencies / Job Specific Criteria
Competencies;
Setting Direction – Making Effective Decisions
- Identify the main issues in complex problems, clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations to seek best option.
Engaging People – Leading & Communicating
- Lead by example, communicate in a truthful straightforward manner with integrity, impartiality and promoting a working environment that supports the Civil Service values and Code.
Engaging People – Collaborating & Partnering
- Seek constructive outcomes in discussions, challenge assumptions but remain willing to compromise when it is beneficial to progress.
Delivering Results – Delivering at Pace
- Maintain effective performance, in difficult and challenging circumstances encouraging others to do the same.
Job Specific Criteria;
- An understanding of Constitutional or Administrative law (e.g. the legal grounds for challenging decisions of public authorities), sufficient to identify potential legal pitfalls.
- An understanding of EU law or Human Rights law, sufficient to identify potential legal pitfalls.
Assessment Process
Application Form evidencing all competencies and job specifics.
CV
An initial sift will be undertaken on job specific responses, only those applicants who meet the minimum requirement will proceed to the next stage. A second sift will then assess the competencies, only those applicants who meet the minimum requirement will be invited to the next stage.
Interview stage (if successful at application stage sift);
Candidates who pass at the sift stage would be invited to undertake a legal test and only those that pass the test would be invited for interview. The job specific criteria and competencies will also be assessed at this stage.
The test will be based around the Government of Wales Act 2006. Please find attached the link in preparation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/32/contents
Feedback;
Feedback for the sift stage will only be provided once the scheme has been completed.
Other Information
- 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.
Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (meeting the professional entry criteria below, or equivalent) in England and Wales. Trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and those training to be Chartered Legal Executives may also apply but appointment will be conditional on qualification having been obtained prior to start date.
Professional entry 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:
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Equity and Trusts Law
- European Union Law
- Land Law
- Public Law
- Law of Tort
Chartered Legal Executives should note that the Welsh Government will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6).
The CILEx Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice is set and assessed at level 6, honours degree level. For those already holding a qualifying law degree, CILEx also offers a new Graduate Fast-track diploma which can be used instead of the LPC or BPTC to complete your legal studies. Once you have completed the Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice you will need to complete a period of qualifying employment and then you will be able to apply to become a Fellow of CILEx and use the designation CILEx.
As part of the pre-employment checks successful candidates will be required to provide evidence that they are qualified lawyers.
How to apply
All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system. If you have an impairment 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 an impairment 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)
Grievance and Complaints
This vacancy is closed to applications.