G7 Planning and Infrastructure Lawyers - Bristol, United Kingdom - UK Civil Service

Description

Job summary

From energy to security, health to human rights, we help the Government deliver life changing law for citizens.

The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:

Developing and drafting legislation

Providing legal advice on policies

Securing our economic and trade relationships

Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds

Providing the Civil Service�s employment law advice

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, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.

GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.�

Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge

legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the .��

To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department�s or have a look at this which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.

Job description

About DLUHC, DESNZ Legal Directorates and Litigation Group

Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is responsible for policies on Levelling Up, planning policy, housing policy, building safety, community integration and regeneration, elections and the Union and local government. The Department has an ambitious agenda to drive up housing supply, increase home ownership, devolve powers and budgets to boost local growth and to support strong public services.

DLUHC Legal Advisers is a team of around 100 lawyers who advise DLUHC (and, in some areas, other parts of Government working on similar or related issues) across all areas of the Department�s business. The team advises policy teams within DLUHC on matters ranging from development and drafting of new legislation (Bills and statutory instruments) to areas of policy and operational delivery which have a closer interface with the commercial world such as planning and housing. The Legal Advisers support delivery across all DLUHC�s policy areas through seven legal teams each headed by a deputy director.

Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Legal Team focus on providing legal advice on the UK�s ambitious and innovative energy portfolio, with work spanning policies on carbon reduction technologies, nuclear power, clean energy and heat, energy efficiency, energy security, energy networks, infrastructure, planning, climate change and net zero obligations. In light of the government�s net zero commitments and the energy transition, the energy portfolio is in the spotlight more than ever.

DESNZ Legal has around 100 people, based predominantly in 3-8 Whitehall Place, London and growing numbers in Leeds, Bristol and Manchester. DESNZ Legal comprises seven teams. The work is fast-paced, extremely varied and always stretching and interesting. The Division�s work involves a highly diverse range of activity, including providing legal advice, preparing legislation, operational delivery and advising on all aspects of legal risk, including working alongside litigation colleagues on litigation.

GLD Litigation� Group

GLD�s Litigation Division is structured into 4 divisions. The relevant team � Planning Infrastructure and Environment Team, sits within the Justice and Development Division.

The team has around 40 people, based predominantly at 102 Petty France, London, with growing numbers in Leeds and potentially in other GLD office locations. The team represents DESNZ, DLUHC, DEFRA, DfT� as well as other government bodies in a range of public law challenges. The work of the team is extremely varied and covers the full range of public law planning litigation relating� to statutory planning appeals and high profile judicial review challenges against decisions in respect of infrastructure projects (for example airport expansion or nuclear power station consent orders) and the related legislative regimes pertaining to, for example, environmental assessments or climate change. In addition the team acts for the Planning Inspectorate in respect of statutory reviews. The work is important.

The Role

Up to 10 posts are offered across a number of teams within the Government Legal Department, as part of DLUHC Legal Advisers, DESNZ Legal Advisers and GLD Litigation�s Planning, Infrastructure and Environment Litigation Team.

DLUHC � In relation to DLUHC the teams have a range of high profile and fascinating advisory work and are currently working of implementation of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration� Act 2023. The team also advises on high profile planning case work; where planning permission and appeal decisions are taken directly by the Secretary of State.� The case work is demanding and provides excellent public law experience. Recent cases have included climate change challenges against Secretary of State decisions involving minerals extraction and environmental assessment, challenges to particular decisions to call-in applications for planning permission and challenges in relation to changes to definitions in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.

DESNZ provides legal support on national planning casework and planning policy development. The work ranges from legal support on planning consent applications for large energy infrastructure projects and overhead powerlines to working with DLUHC and DEFRA on planning reforms. The work is planning and environmentally focussed, encompassing the application of the current regime as well as supporting new developments in response to government commitments on Net Zero and Energy Security. The team also provides advisory support on judicial reviews. We are seeking lawyers with any experience in planning law, whether national or local.

GLD Litigation � In relation to GLD Litigation the team represents the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Transport in challenges to decisions which fall to their Ministers. The work of the team is extremely varied but covers the full range of public law planning litigation relating� to statutory planning appeals and high profile judicial review challenges against decisions in respect of infrastructure projects (for example airport expansion or nuclear power station consent orders) and the related legislative regimes pertaining to, for example, environmental assessments�or climate change.

The work is important, often politically and publicly controversial and regularly progresses to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Strong intellectual and analytical skills are key. We seek lawyers with post qualification experience in planning law to join the team.

Advisory Lawyers

The work of advisory lawyers is fast-paced, extremely varied and always stretching and interesting. The work involves a highly diverse range of activity, including:

providing legal advice, particularly planning, environmental and public law advice, to Ministers and officials across the relevant portfolio;

involvement in legislation, working closely with policy leads and Parliamentary Counsel, as well as advising Ministers throughout a Bill�s passage through Parliament;

drafting secondary legislation;

providing advisory support in legal challenges; and

advising on all aspects of legal risk.

Litigation Lawyers

The work of litigation lawyers is fast-paced, extremely varied and always stretching and interesting. Our litigators gain early responsibility for their own caseload within a supportive team environment, working alongside counsel from the Attorney General�s Panels. They also play a crucial co-ordination role when litigation involves several Government Departments. Lawyers work closely with policy colleagues and advisory legal colleagues in client Departments to advise on litigation risk and to develop realistic contingency plans when the litigation risk materialises. The work involves a highly diverse range of activity, including:

providing legal advice, particularly planning, environmental and public law advice, to Ministers and officials across the relevant client portfolios in the context of litigation; and

Strategic litigation support to policy officials, Ministers and advisory colleagues in legal challenges, preparing cases and attending court when necessary.

Person specification

Behaviours - Essential

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.

You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage.

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

Communicating and Influencing:�

Communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way in order to build trust.

Explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.

Take into account people�s individual needs.

Deliver difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required

Working Together:

Build strong interpersonal relationships and show genuine care for colleagues.

Create an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are taken into account and bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.

Remain available and approachable to all colleagues and be receptive to new ideas.

Managing a Quality Service

Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations.

Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery.�

Experience

Essential

Experience in Planning or Infrastructure Planning law.

Desirable

Some advisory experience. This could be gained in a private practice context, through academic study or in the legal department of a public body.

Experience in environmental law.

Experience in effective handling of public law or planning or environmental litigation.

Technical � Essential (Lead Criteria)

Legal Professional Skills:

Good knowledge, understanding and experience of planning/infrastructure planning law. Sound understanding of public law.�

Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk.�

The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.�

Sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice.�

The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.�

Good understanding of the role of lawyers in government.�

Motivational Fit � Essential

We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations. Please outline why you are motivated to join the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a role with the GLD.

For further information about Civil Service recruitment processes and Success profiles, please visit:

Qualifications

Academic and Professional
Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided ( via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).
Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.
Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date.
Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives ( 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 ( 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

*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate degree equivalence as set out below.

Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating degree equivalence (where a degree is not held).

Civil Service Code

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the core values which are set out in legislation. As a civil servant, you are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of:
��integrity� is putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests
��honesty� is being truthful and open
�objectivity� is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence
��impartiality� is acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions

These core values support good government and ensures the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does.

Behaviours

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

Communicating and Influencing

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

Technical � Essential (Lead Criteria)Legal Professional Skills:

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �59,200, Government Legal Department contributes �15,984 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Learning and development tailored to your role

An environment with flexible working options

A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

A with an average employer contribution of 27%