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 Legal Services Department is responsible for the delivery of all legal services to the Welsh Government, including advice on complex matters of public law, the handling of high profile litigation and the preparation of all Welsh Government subordinate legislation. Government Lawyers work in teams of lawyers, each dealing with a portfolio of functional responsibilities of the Welsh Government.
Government Lawyers work to a Senior Government Lawyer who is a Team Leader within a specified portfolio. Those portfolios are as designated by the Director of Legal Services, and may be the subject of change from time to time to reflect the wider organisation of the Welsh Government, the business needs of the office or to facilitate professional development within the office. Government Lawyers report to and support the posts of the Senior Government Lawyers and Deputy Directors of Legal Services.
Key tasks:
• To prepare, or assist in the production of, full instructions for primary legislation either relating to Bills forming part of the Welsh Government legislative programme or relating to Welsh provisions in UK Parliamentary Bills.
• To draft, or assist in drafting, a range of subordinate legislation and other formal documentation within the team portfolio and to monitor its passage through Assembly procedures as necessary.
• To contribute to the effective delivery of services within the team portfolio.
• To contribute to the team and ensure responsiveness to customer/client’s needs and changing circumstances.
• To undertake such other duties, responsibilities, tasks or projects as are specified by the Team Leader or a Deputy Director of Legal Services which are commensurate with the level of the post.
• To provide support and cover for colleagues within the office as directed by the Team Leader or a Deputy Director of Legal Services.
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
Legal Professional Skills
• Effectiveness in this area is about understanding and applying relevant features of the law – this includes having an understanding of the main features of public law; reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk; and being able to produce sound analysis, using secure legal research.
Making Effective Decisions
• Effectiveness in this area is about being objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. It means showing clarity of thought, setting priorities, analysing and using evidence to evaluate options before arriving at well reasoned justifiable decisions.
Engaging People - Leading and 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.
Delivering Results - Delivering at Pace
• Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same.
Job Specific Criteria.
Job Specific 1
• Sound understanding of public, administrative and constitutional law and in particular the Welsh devolution settlement.
Job Specific 2
• Basic understanding of EU law and Human Rights law (in both cases sufficient to identify potential legal pitfalls).
Job Specific 3
• The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
Assessment Process
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.
IMPORTANT - Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (meeting the professional entry criteria below) in England and Wales.
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:
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
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 Legal Services Department is responsible for the delivery of all legal services to the Welsh Ministers. It is an exciting time to be at the heart of the Welsh Government as it takes forward the new devolution settlement, with new and enhanced powers alongside undertaking critical work on EU Withdrawal. The appointment of additional public lawyers will further strengthen the ability of the Legal Services Department to support the Welsh Government at this critical time.
To gain more information on working for the Welsh Government and on the role of Welsh Government lawyers, interested candidates are cordially invited to drop in at our Open Day at our Welsh Government London office anytime between 11:00 and 15:00 hrs at, 25 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EX or at Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ , on 17th August 2017. For security purposes, please confirm attendance at the Open Day in advance by email to Barbara.brown@gov.wales
Please note that in the event of there being a large number of applicants, applications will be assessed in the first instance on the basis of evidence provided in relation to the job specifics criteria. Applications from candidates that fail to satisfy our requirements against the job specifics will not be assessed further.
There will be a written legal test undertaken at the interview stage.
Salary - The vacancies on offer are at Grade EB2 with a starting salary of £48,650 rising in stages over 3 years to £56,900. But appointments to Legal Officer at Grade MB1 with a starting salary of £43,950 will be made where successful candidates have less than three years post qualification experience. Candidates appointed as a Legal Officer will be eligible to regrade to Grade EB2 when they reach one years service or three years post qualification experience, whichever comes sooner (subject to satisfactory performance).
Pattern of work - There are a number of full time posts, but open to candidates who wish to work on a part time and/or job share basis.
There are also fixed term posts (1-2 years) with the possibility of permanent employment at the end of the fixed term period.
There are also possible opportunities for short term secondments (1-2 years).
The exercise will seek to identify a number of successful applicants either for posting immediately or for posting to opportunities that arise over the ensuing 12 months.
How to apply
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@wales.gsi.gov.uk 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)
Grievance and Complaints
This vacancy is closed to applications.