Senior Paralegal - (BPSS/CTC Clearance) x4, Greater Manchester

About the job

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

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 government's 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 you 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.

Job description

About the Legal Groups

Litigation Group

The actions and decisions of government are under increasing scrutiny and challenge. Military action overseas, Brexit, immigration policy, welfare reform, climate change and energy policy are just a few of the issues that generate legal challenges that can hit the headlines.

GLD litigation lawyers conduct a wide range of often high-profile cases, frequently involving questions of constitutional importance.

Our public law litigation practice covers the full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security as well as the Government's wide ranging reform agenda.

We also have a substantial private law practice representing large Government Departments such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence in personal injury, clinical negligence, misfeasance in public office, false imprisonment, and other claims.

Litigation lawyers also provide expert representation in relation to inquests and public inquiries. We regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and offer the opportunity to handle cases at the forefront of the developing law.

Advisory Divisions

Government Departments need to draw on the skills of advisory lawyers to bring to life policies for which Ministers are accountable to Parliament and the electorate. The legal issues are often complex, novel and politically sensitive.

The legal approach may be scrutinised by Parliament, the media, courts, and other institutions, domestic, European and International projects are often fast moving and the problems brought to lawyers are often both urgent and unpredictable.

Our advisory lawyers work closely with policy officials and other professionals in the Department to find legally sound solutions to deliver Ministers'priorities, even where these change overnight.

Ministers want to reform and improve the area they are responsible for.

They are likely to be brimming with ideas about how to change things -more affordable childcare, planning regulations which support the growth agenda, limiting bankers'bonuses are some recent examples.

Employment Directorate

The Employment Directorate provides employment advice and litigation services to all GLD clients, supporting a workforce of over 450,000 and underpinning the delivery of a vast range of public services.

Our work covers everything from Employment Tribunal claims and the conduct of complex multi-party litigation to advising on staff policies and terms and conditions, collective bargaining and departmental re-organisations.

We handle litigation up to the Supreme Court and provide employment advice in the context of Ministers'political and operational drivers and the unique constitutional position of the civil servants. Along the way we learn about the environment and conditions of the vast range of public servants and office holders, including prison officers, judicial office-holders, border force officers, the armed forces and other sector specialists as well as policy officials.

The Directorate comprises around 135 employment lawyers who are based across GLD locations in London, Leeds, Manchester and Bristol. We have 8 legal teams led by Deputy Directors based in London, Leeds, Bristol and Manchester, supported by our Business Management Team.

-Sophie Williams, Legal Director-

"The Employment Directorate is a great place to work. The interest and range of employment work undertaken is second to none. We provide services for a client very much as a team, with lawyers, litigation support staff and Business Management Officers working together, everyone playing a crucial role in ensuring high standards of client service.

Our people have the benefit of excellent resources, a tailored training programme and a really strong culture of mutual support and collaboration. Diversity and Inclusion is at the core of how we manage our people and teams."

About the Role

The role involves working to deliver GLD's service to clients, with a degree of autonomy, supervised by a qualified lawyer, including preparing legal documents, case management, undertaking legal research, supporting project management and leading knowledge management.

Main activities may include:

• Supporting the Division's advisory and litigation functions, which includes providing legal research and first line review in responding to queries and instructions from clients.
• Performing legal research, analysis and drafting on a range of areas including international trade and investment law matters, as well as tasks related to Bills and secondary legislation.
• You may have line management responsibilities dependent on the division that you are allocated.
• The post-holder will advise on all legal aspects of data processing, data protection and data privacy matters, which may (depending on your team placement) include any of the following areas:
• Providing an analysis of the research and recommendations as part of the case strategy.
• Using legal knowledge to carry out legal research, utilising research to plan approach and strategy for cases. Providing an analysis of the research as part of the case strategy.
• Providing organisational support to legal teams.
• Assisting in the delivery of corporate objectives and improving the inclusivity, wellbeing and working environment for colleagues in the Division.

This list is not exhaustive; the role may involve additional duties according to business need. The specific work tasks of the role are likely to vary depending on which Legal Team to which the post-holder is allocated to.

The post-holder should be able to work independently but also have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a team and to interact with departmental/cross divisional colleagues, and other stakeholders. They will support the team in new ways of working and work closely with Senior and Junior Lawyers to maximise performance.

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more aboutSuccess Profilesand how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions (leadbehaviour)
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Key Skills andExperience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Strong knowledge of the legal issues and context in which GLD operates.
• Ability to deliver successfully in a pressurised environment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of an effective team on ad-hoc tasks and projects.
• Highly organised with good time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple demands and prioritise workloads.
• Ability to communicate with senior stakeholders within the business and external clients, being able to justify the reasons behind a decision.
• Ability to critically …