G7 HOLA/Litigation Immigration Lawyer

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Job description

Grade 7 Immigration Lawyer

Government Legal Department

Salary: £43,916 with less than 3yrs PQE increasing to £50,500 after one year

Location: London

Use your talent to shape the UK's future

Who we are

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government. We work with all the main Whitehall Departments and our work touches on nearly all aspects of public life, from roads and rivers to health and human rights.

The department has more than 14 client-facing advisory teams who provide legal advice on the development, design and implementation of government policies and decisions, draft secondary legislation, and work with Parliamentary Counsel on primary legislation. Our expert service groups for Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law provide specialist legal services to a wide range of government departments and public bodies.

GLD's Employment Group provides employment litigation and advisory services to central government, with a client base of over 55 government departments and other public bodies.

We're recruiting more than 10 Employment Lawyers in to the Home Office Legal Advisers ("HOLA") division of the GLD which provides advisory services to the Home Office across the full range of its work.

There are four immigration teams in HOLA, and our work is interesting and varied. We cover the full range of immigration and nationality law, including work on immigration routes, asylum, citizenship and deprivation, immigration fees, the legacy of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, work on borders and enforcement and on addressing the consequences of the Windrush scandal.

The role

The Home Office draws on the skills of its advisory lawyers to bring to life policies for which Home Office 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 and international projects are often fast-moving and the problems brought to lawyers are often both urgent and unpredictable. Home Office advisory lawyers work closely with policy and operational officials and other professionals in the Department to find legally sound solutions to deliver Ministers' priorities.

Home Office advisory lawyers are involved both in the development of new primary legislation, such as the Nationality and Borders Bill currently going through Parliament, and the implementation of policy reforms and Acts of Parliament by drafting secondary legislation. We also need to anticipate possible legal challenges and provide officials and Ministers with clear legal risk assessments. Where a challenge is made, we work closely with colleagues from the Immigration Litigation teams. A significant number of Home Office litigation makes its way to the Supreme Court.

HOLA currently consists of some 100 lawyers of whom just over half are in the four immigration teams, each led by a deputy director. The immigration teams are in turn led by Diane Wills, our Director, who is a passionate advocate for career development and social mobility in the workplace. In addition to the extensive training offered by GLD, we have a vibrant programme of Divisional meetings to update on key GLD messages and, through longer sessions, develop leadership and management skills.

About you

A qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with license to practice in England and Wales, you'll have a sound understanding of public law, reliable legal judgement and a sound appreciation of legal risk. You will be able to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and produce timely and fit for purpose advice. As a strong communicator, you'll be able to make effective decisions, manage conflicting pressures and work to challenging deadlines. Ideally you will have experience of working on an Inquiry or similar inquisitorial process, though this is not essential for the role provided you have a good understanding of the role of lawyers in government.

This role requires candidates to obtain an SC clearance before joining. You must have lived in the UK continuously for the last 5 years in order to clear the SC level checks, therefore, applications from candidates who haven't lived in the UK continuously for that period will not be considered.

For more information or to apply, click the 'APPLY' button.