Vacancy -- Welsh Government Lawyer

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

Office of the First Minister
Legal Services
Other
Starting at £49,625 and rising in stages over 3 years to £59,350 (if you have 3 or more years of post-qualification experience); Legal Officer - starting at £29,850 if you have less than 3 years’ post-qualification experience. You may be eligible to re-grade to the Lawyer grade and salary when you reach one year’s service or 3 years’ post-qualification experience, whichever comes sooner (subject to satisfactory performance)
Dependent on the applicant's experience in the field
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Other
There are both permanent and fixed term posts available (1-2 years) with the possibility of permanent employment at the end of the fixed term period. All of these posts are available on a job share or part time basis. There are also possible opportunities for short term secondments (1-2 years). The exercise will also seek to identify a number of successful applicants either for posting immediately or for posting to opportunities that arise over the ensuing 12 months.
N/A
Other location
Pan Wales, however the successful candidates would need to undertake frequent travel to Cardiff to attend meetings with managers / supervisors for up to 3 days per week. Additionally, for the induction period of six months, regular travel to Cardiff is required.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government is in the midst of a period of unprecedented change. With new and enhanced powers following a new devolution settlement for Wales, and the need to undertake critical work relating to EU withdrawal, 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 17 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 withdrawal and play a central role in the development of Welsh legislation.

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.

Please see a link to an applicant pack provided by the Legal department in both English and Welsh:

https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2019-10/candidate-brief-wg-lawyers-2019-en.pdf 

https://llyw.cymru/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2019-10/candidate-brief-wg-lawyers-2019-cy.pdf

Key tasks:

Specifically, the Legal Services Department is seeking to appoint lawyers who can provide additional capacity and public law expertise. If you are attracted by working at the forefront of the law, Welsh Government would welcome your interest. 

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 situation, gaining experience of working with lawyers, policy clients and Welsh Ministers to shape policy in Wales. 


Development opportunities:

As a government lawyer you will be part of the Civil Service and the Government Legal Service. Your experience will give you a unique understanding of the devolution settlement in Wales. It offers lawyers a unique opportunity to work within a dynamic environment that places them at the heart of devolved government, projects of national significance and profile, at the cutting edge of major constitutional developments, including the significant challenges raised by withdrawal from the European Union, and at the forefront of the policy and law making process.

Closing Date:

23/10/2019, 16:00

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

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

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.

Desirable
Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Can understand routine work-related conversations
Can write basic messages on everyday topics

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


Job Specific Criteria (Personal Statement):

  1. An understanding of Constitutional or Administrative law (e.g. the legal grounds for challenging decisions of public authorities), sufficient to identify potential legal pitfalls.
  2. An understanding of EU law or Human Rights law, sufficient to identify potential legal pitfalls.

Competencies (Interview):

  1. Sound legal analytical and problem solving skills including the ability to identify advantages, disadvantages and risks of possible courses of action.
  2. The ability to communicate difficult legal concepts in plain and Simple ways.
  3. The ability to collaborate effectively with others.
  4. The ability to maintain effective performance, integrity and impartiality in difficult and challenging circumstances encouraging others to do the same.

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.
  • Sift – CV and Personal Statement (October 2019)
  • If successful at sift a Legal Test at a Test Centre in either North or South Wales (November 2019).  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
  • Successful candidates will be invited for interview (December 2019)

Please see a link to an applicant pack provided by the Legal department in both English and Welsh:

https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2019-10/candidate-brief-wg-lawyers-2019-en.pdf 

https://llyw.cymru/sites/default/files/inline-documents/2019-10/candidate-brief-wg-lawyers-2019-cy.pdf

Nikita Worrad - nikita.worrad@gov.wales - 03000 625413

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@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)

Grievance and Complaints

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.

This vacancy is closed to applications.