Can anyone give me their experience of working in the government legal service?

[ApplesOranges]

Could anyone give me their experience of working for the GLS ie

• type of work
• flexibility
• pressures

-team spirit -autonomy

Many thanks!

Thanks hungrydieter that's really helpful! So is everything you do 'checked' by someone above? I don't suppose you're left drafting legislation etc alone?!

I hate that underlying anxiety over making multi million pound decisions- I suppose I'm curious if it's the same

Apples what I generally say to people is that to thrive in commercial law you have to get a buzz from doing big deals, which I never did, I just found it stressful and not fun. In the GLS I get a buzz from other things - walking into Parliament, the Royal Courts of Justice, the European Commission, meetings with Ministers, representing the Government as part of a team. So I find it exhillarating in a way that commercial law wasn't for me. But you do work alone to a certain extent - and are relying on your own judgment

Wow sounds very exciting! Yes I need a confidence boost. I've been working with some difficult people and micro managed in my current role.

I think you'll find the culture a breath of fresh air. We have lots of former city lawyers who have never looked back

The other thing to remember is we don't have "clients" as such. We call the policy officials clients but it's shorthand - the real client is the Government of the day. So you're not people-pleasing to the same extent

Thanks! So typical day- you get a query from a policy official which you look over research and go back? Discuss with team leader if needs be? With litigation posts are you instructing barristers or doing advocacy alone?

Yes, in an advisory team that'd be reasonably typical, with some longer term drafting projects too depending on team. A lot of commenting on ministerial briefing or consultation documents etc. Yes, with limited exceptions advocacy is done by panel counsel (independent barristers).

Thanks!

I’m sorry to resurrect a zombie thread but thought this was the easiest way to reach out to people who work for GLS!

OP, did you go for it?! How is it?

I have just applied for GLD, currently in private practice PI litigation work.

I hadn't noticed this was a zombie thread until I read the last comment but I would have thought that the people who work for the GLS were very capable and bright - the recruitment process is tough. Good luck Bellygrumble. I did know someone who worked for the GLS but it was many years ago now.

I wonder what it's like being asked to draft something that you know to be wrong/in breach of other laws/treaties, such as the Northern Ireland Protocol bill being contrary to the TCA.

@Bellyrumble do research Success Profiles recruiting, which will be helpful if you make it to the interview stages. There are some videos floating around on YouTube too. It's an odd system and very difficult to tell how you've done, but having interviewed recruits on the panel for GLD, I have to say that it does make it really easy to identify good candidates who communicate well and can think through strategies on the spot.

My one key hint is that every single question is an action question - it's not how you think or feel, it's about what you DO. And I include the ones that are "give us your first reaction" questions in that.

Best of luck. I loved my time in GLD, and I'd happily go back at some point although I also love what I do now.