Placeholder Apply now!

The Government Legal Profession Graduate Careers

Welcome to the hub for the Government Legal Profession. Unlike private practice, the Government Legal Profession acts solely for the government and related authorities. Discover more about the opportunities they have on offer. 

There are currently no live jobs for this employer

The AllAboutLaw perspective on the Government Legal Profession

A legal career within the Government Legal Profession (GLP) is renowned for the scale, reach and complexity of the work you’ll undertake. As a trainee working for the government, you’ll be working on high profile, complex cases and providing advisory services to the Government of the day.

There are typically four different departments which offer legal trainee places (i.e. training contracts and pupillages) via the GLP’s annual Legal Trainee recruitment campaign: The Government Legal Department, HM Revenue & Customs, National Crime Agency, and the Competition & Markets Authority. No matter which department you join, you’ll complete four six month seats, involving a mix of contentious and non-contentious work.

The wide range of work on offer means that no two days are the same, with trainees spending their days attending meetings with clients, undertaking research, drafting witness statements, drafting contracts and agreements and advising their departmental policy clients on a variety of matters (subject to which training seat they are undertaking).

You’ll receive plenty of responsibility from day one, with trainees responsible for numerous cases even in their first year. Trainees also receive plenty of support along the way, working closely with your team and with a dedicated supervisor. Having plenty of responsibility makes you more confident in your legal abilities, and makes you a more well-rounded lawyer. 

The Government Legal Profession recognises the importance of diversity in the legal profession. They work in partnership with organisations aimed at improving diversity, and have previously held a week long diversity scheme for those from diverse backgrounds (this has taken place online in recent years). The application process for the Legal Trainee Scheme is also very accessible. The GLP does not take into account the school or university you attended, your A-level or GCSE results. As a result of this inclusive approach, the successful candidates each year typically come from around 30 different universities.

As a lawyer in government, you’ll have the opportunity to build a rewarding career in life-changing law. Trainees praise the organisation for its commitment to providing a work-life balance, with opportunities for part-time and flexible working.

What the firm says

The work of government lawyers and trainees is challenging, unique and often headline news. We advise on most areas of law you can think of. The legal solutions we provide pervade almost every aspect of today’s society. Few legal firms can compete with the Government Legal Profession when it comes to quality of legal work and training. Our legal trainees flourish in a supportive and inclusive environment, working side-by-side with senior lawyers and policy colleagues on unique, cutting edge legal work. Our Trainees also welcome our commitment to ensuring a work-life balance, which includes opportunities for part-time and flexible working.

Advertisement

Data

Digital Trophy Cabinet

Academic requirements

Advertisement