Government lawyers provide a range of legal services to a wide range of government organisations, including central Whitehall departments.

They undertake high quality legal work and have the opportunity to move around and work in different areas of law and practicethroughout their careers. For those who choose to specialise in a particular area of law or practice, there are opportunities to do so. Other benefits include a good work life balance; flexible-working opportunities and access to high quality training and development programmes. 

Types of work

Whether the government is creating new laws, buying goods and services, investigating mergers which could restrict competition, setting the annual budget and collecting the right amount of tax, employing people, fighting organised crime or defending its decisions in court, it needs significant levels of legal advice on a whole range of complex issues. To carry out this work, the government needs its own lawyers who understand its business to provide legal services to a wide client base – including a range of central government departments and other government bodies.

Providing legal advice to the government is an important element of the work. Government lawyers work alongside ministers and officials as they seek to turn government objectives into policy and law and enforce regulation. Their work is determined by the business in which their departmental clients are engaged.

The legal work is interesting, intellectually challenging, varied and often unique. The opportunity to be involved in creating and implementing new legislation is simply not available elsewhere. Our litigation lawyers represent the government in the highest courts – with more cases at the Supreme Court each year than any other organisation! The outcome of cases can have wide implications for government policy and even raise questions of constitutional importance.

The legal trainee scheme

A number of government departments recruit legal trainees (trainee solicitors and pupil barristers), each year, via the Government Legal Profession legal trainee scheme. Recruitment is usually two years in advance. However, a number of places are also available for those looking to start their training sooner.

The departments which typically offer legal trainee places through the LTS are the:

Government Legal Department (GLD)

Government Legal Department (GLD) – Commercial Law Group

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

National Crime Agency (NCA)

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Our legal teams are based around the country, with regional offices, for example, Bristol, Leeds, and Manchester.

Our trainee solicitor positions are based in London, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester.

GLD's commercial law trainee scheme offers the opportunity to complete all your training in commercial law.

If you reach the final stage of the recruitment process, you will be given an opportunity to express a preference for joining one of the participating departments. If you are successful, your legal training will be the responsibility of that department.

Departments hope to offer those recruited as legal trainees a permanent qualified lawyer position on successful completion of the training period, although this can never be guaranteed.

Who should apply

Government departments are looking to recruit talented people from diverse backgrounds who can demonstrate excellent analytical ability, decision-making, teamworking and communication skills. Since government lawyers have the opportunity to work in different areas of law and practice throughout their careers, rather than specialise in a particular area, they are also looking for people who will be able to apply their legal skills flexibly and for evidence of innovative thinking. And because the work is often high profile and can have a significant and positive impact upon the lives of millions across the country, the lawyers they recruit will be motivated about public service.

Diversity summer scheme 

The diversity summer scheme is delivered virtually, over a week, and is targetted at undergraduates or graduates from diverse backgrounds which are currently under-represented across the legal profession.

Gor further information, please visit the GLP Website.

The diversity summer scheme is an entirely separate scheme from the annual legal trainee scheme.

The training period (whether you are looking to qualify as a solicitor or barrister) will be for two years. Departments do not take into account previous training or qualifying work experience completed elsewhere.

Whilst the broad structure of the training may be similar to what you will find elsewhere, the nature of the work is likely to be very different. You will be given early responsibility and will undertake real work for real clients from an early stage.

You will experience a range of interesting and challenging legal work – and may have the opportunity to participate in the legislative process itself.

Training contract/QWE structure

The nature of your training will vary according to the department you have been recruited to.

The general structure of the training period will, however, involve four training 'seats' each of six months in duration, involving a mix of contentious and non-contentious legal work.

Whichever department you join, you can expect to be involved in a broad range of challenging legal work that is both high profile and unique to government. There will also be a strong support network in place.

We are offering a full two years' qualifying work experience (QWE) for those looking to qualify via the SQE route.

The SQE (i.e. SQE1 and SQE2) must be passed prior to the start of the two years' QWE with the relevant department.

We are looking to recruit high quality trainees from a wide range of backgrounds.

As an organisation we are committed to being diverse and inclusive, so that we truly represent the UK community that we serve. This involves attracting and supporting talented people from all backgrounds to develop their careers with us.

We are also proud to have a very wide range of networks that provide a forum to bring together and provide support for those with a common interest, including a range of Diversity Networks and Legal Trainee Network.

Please see GLP website for details of the sponsorship (i.e. funding) available for the LPC/BTC/SQE. 

Salaries and funding will vary according to department.

• Contentious
• Non-contentious
• Commercial

• In-house
• General Commercial
• Corporate & Commercial
• General Practice

• London
• Leeds
• Manchester
• Bristol

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Black Lawyers’ Directory
• Social Mobility Foundation