20222023 legalLegal trainee scheme

Introduction

The work of government lawyers and trainees is challenging, unique and often headline news.

The legal solutions we provide pervade almost every aspect of today’s society. It’s a terrific responsibility.

The legal trainee scheme (LTS) is the term usedthat we use to describe the training contractavailable andwithin pupillagea opportunitiesnumber availableof within government departments.

The departments that are offering legal trainee places through the 20222023 LTS are:

• Government Legal Department (GLD)
• Government Legal Department (GLD) Commercial
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
• National Crime Agency (NCA)
• Competition & Markets Authority (CMA).

PleaseWe note that the training contracts on offer through the 2022 GLP LTS recruitment campaign are forlooking thoseto followingrecruit thehigh LPCquality routelegal (i.e.trainees GDL if applicable, LPC, training contract) to qualificationplay asan aactive solicitor.role Wein arelegal notwork currentlythat offeringreally themakes SQEa route.difference.

This short film showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.

In these video Saira (GLD) and Charles (HMRC) provide an insight into their experiences as legal trainees/post qualification.

In these articles Amy (GLD), Ben (GLD), Chantal (CMA), Ella (NCA), Helen (GLD Commercial), Jake (HMRC), Jack (GLD), James (GLD Commercial), Kyle (GLD Commercial), Milan (CMA) and Rachel (GLD DfT)DfT) discuss their experiences as legal trainees.

Apply

The application process for the 2023 legal trainee scheme is open.

Apply

The deadline for the completed application form and situational judgement test (SJT) is Midday on Wednesday 17 May 2023.

Please see below for further information on the trainee places available and sponsorship.

Please visit the ‘How to Apply’ page for further information on the application process, timetable and eligibility criteria.

Places available and location

There are around76 60 Trainee Solicitor and Pupil Barrister placespositions being advertisedoffered through the 20222023 LTS. The trainee positions are in GLD, GLD Commercial, HMRC, NCA and CMA.

The trainee placespositions available are for those who will be ready to start their training in September 20232024 andor September 2024.2025. The training programmes on offer are for a full 2 years.

The majority of placespositions available are based in London. However,However twoHMRC Traineeis Solicitoralso placesoffering beingtrainee offeredsolicitor positions based in GLDBristol and Manchester - there are basedup to 2 positions available in Leeds.Bristol Withand HMRCup thereto 4 positions available in Manchester. GLD is also offering a possibilitysmall thatnumber traineesof couldtrainee undertakesolicitor uppositions in Leeds. You will be given the opportunity to twoexpress seatsyour inpreferred Manchesterlocation duringon theirthe secondapplication year.form.

For those interested in a career in Commercial law, GLD isadditionally alsooffers offering trainees the opportunity to complete theiryour training within GLD Commercial,Commercial - i.e. Commercial Law Group (CLGp) or the Department for Transport (DfT) Legal Advisers - working across different commercial law teams.

Please see tables below for details of the trainee positions available.

2024 trainee places available - LPC route and pupillages route

The trainee solicitor positions on offer in 2024 are for the LPC route only.

HMRC is offering pupil barrister positions in 2024.

Department	Year Start	Position	Location
	Government Legal Department (GLD)	20232024	211 to 4 Trainee Solicitors	London
	Government Legal Department (GLD)	2024	51 PupilTrainee BarristersSolicitor	Leeds
GLD andCommercial 30(CLGp)	2024	1 Trainee SolicitorsSolicitor	London
	HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)	2024	28 Trainee Solicitors	LeedsLondon, Bristol and Manchester
GLD	HM CommercialRevenue & Customs (HMRC)	2024	92 TraineePupil SolicitorsBarristers	London

2025 (Commercialtrainee Lawplaces Groupavailable - LPC route, SQE route and thepupillages Departmentroute

The trainee solicitor positions on offer in 2025 are for Transportthe LegalSQE Advisersroute -and Commercial)LPC route.

GLD and HMRC are offering pupil barrister positions in 2025.

CMA will accept applications from those following the LPC route in 2025, but only where the LPC has been successfully completed at the time of applying.

London	Department	Year Start	Position	Location
HM	Government RevenueLegal &Department Customs (HMRCGLD)	20232025	323 Trainee Solicitors and 5 Pupil Barristers	London
National	Government CrimeLegal AgencyDepartment (NCAGLD)	20232025	12 Trainee SolicitorSolicitors	LondonLeeds
	GLD Commercial - CLGp	20242025	27 Trainee Solicitors	London
Competition	&GLD MarketsCommercial Authority- (CMADfT) Legal Advisers	20232025	2 Trainee Solicitors	London
	HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)	20242025	48 Trainee Solicitors	LondonLondon, Bristol and Manchester

Apply

The HM applicationRevenue process& forCustoms the(HMRC) 2025 2 2022Pupil legalBarristers London National traineeCrime schemeAgency is(NCA) 2025 2 open.

Apply

TheTrainee deadlineSolicitors London Competition for the completed application form and situationalMarkets judgementAuthority test(CMA) 2025 4 (SJT)Trainee is Midday on Tuesday 10 May 2022.

Solicitors London

We

Training wouldContract recommend/ familiarisingQualifying yourselfWork withExperience the(QWE) timetable, eligibility criteria and the application process.

Training contract structure

If your application is successful you will be allocated to one of the recruiting departments (iei.e. GLD, GLD Commercial,Commercial (CLGp or DfT Legal Advisers), HMRC, NCA and CMA)..

Your training contract will be the responsibility of that department. The nature of your training will vary according to the department you have been allocated to.

GenerallyAs speaking,part you will spend time in 4 main areas of practiceyour (knowntraining asyou ‘seats’).will Eachbe seatgiven lasts 6 months.

As a legalbroad trainee,range youof canexperience expectin togovernment havelegal two advisory seats and two litigation seats.work.

If you have a particular interest in commercial law, you may wish to consider applying for the trainingtrainee contractspositions available within GLD Commercial.

Departments only offer full 2-year training contracts or QWE and do not take into account previous training completedor elsewhere.

The table below gives examples of the training contract and post-qualification arrangements of GLDQWE, GLDcompleted Commercial, HMRC, NCA and CMA. Please note that this is subject to change and review.elsewhere.

Training Contract and Post-Qualification Arrangements

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Pupillage structure

If your application is successful you will be allocated to one of the recruiting departments (iei.e. GLD and HMRC)..

Your training will be the responsibility of that department. The nature of your training will vary according to the department you have been allocated to.

TypicallyThe the training period offered by departments will last 2 years (and will not take into account previous training completed elsewhere).

During the pupillage period (the first 12 months) your time will be split between your department and a set of external barristers’ chambers.Chambers. The remainder of the training period will be completed within your department.

You will be involved in the wide range of work in which your department and chambers are involved in. You will attend court, initially with your supervisor, carry out research for other lawyers and draft opinions.

Government departments use the services of external counsel for much of their court work. This means that legal trainees get the opportunity to work with and learn from experienced panel counsel who are leading experts in their respective fields.

Barristers working within government departments aremay be given the opportunity to conduct cases in tribunals or courts. However the extent of that opportunity canwill vary between departments and teams.

As government departments tend to use the services of external counsel for much of their court work, court-based advocacy opportunities are likely to be very limited. Candidates wishing to focus principally on ana court-based advocacy career should bear this in mind.

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NCA - Post Qualification

In NCA you will typically join one of the department’s legal teams i.e. Civil Litigation, Data and qualifyOperational asAdvisory, aDisruptions lawyer,Actions GLDLitigation, hopesEmployment and Commercial and Financial Disruptions Litigation.

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CMA - Post Qualification

Should you be offered a rangenewly ofqualified skillslawyer preparesposition lawyersat the CMA - which is not guaranteed but subject only to transitionmeeting intoour newnewly rolesqualified andlawyer improves(NQ) prospectscriteria for- promotion.you will be asked whether you prefer to join either an advisory team or litigation team.

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cartels and consumer law.

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We offeredoffer a permanentrange qualifiedof lawyerprofessional role,and atskills training through the CMA Academy, as well as access to Civil Service wide learning and development opportunities.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship arrangements for the Legal OfficerPractice level,Course in(LPC), GLDBarrister Training Course (BTC.) Thereand willthe beSolicitor’s anQualifying opportunityExamination (SQE) differs according to expressdepartments.

The aSQE preferenceroute on postings.offer However,in GLD2025 is notonly ablefor those who have yet to guaranteepass thatSQE1 alland/or preferencesSQE2.

Successful candidates will be ablerequired to becomplete metan duringSQE1 thisand/or process.

PleaseSQE2 noteprep participationcourse inunder the 2+2arrangements schemeput isin mandatoryplace –by providing the opportunityrelevant todepartment.

Whilst continuedepartments towill developaccept yourapplications careerfrom inthose GLDwho have passed SQE1, overretrospective thefunding next(prep fourcourse yearsand post-qualification.assessment) for SQE1 will not be available.

HMRC

Departments will not accept applications from those who have already passed both SQE1 -and PostSQE2 Qualification

and who are looking for qualifying work experience (QWE) only.

InDepartments HMRCare Solicitor’sunable Office,to afterprovide successfullyfunding completingfor yourthe trainingGraduate period,Diploma youin willLaw typically(GDL)/ bePostgraduate placedDiploma in aLaw litigation(PGDL)/ orCPE advisory(law team.conversion course).

AfterBelow oneprovides yeardetails postof qualificationsponsorship asavailable ain each of the recruiting departments.

Government Legal OfficerDepartment there(GLD)

• Sponsorship willis beavailable for the opportunityLPC for progressionthose tooffered Gradea 7.trainee Ifsolicitor youposition startedfor youra post2024 qualificationstart ini.e. payment of course fees and a litigationbursary teamwhere the likelihoodcourse ishas thatnot been started, or has only just started around the nexttime teamof willoffer be(i.e. advisorystarted (andduring viceSeptember versa).2023)

• UnlikeSponsorship GLD,is HMRCavailable for the BTC doesfor notthose haveoffered a 2+2pupillage Schemefor buta you2025 arestart expectedi.e. topayment moveof onBTC afees regularand basisa inbursary where the earlycourse parthas ofnot yourbeen career.started Theor varietyhas only just started around the point of workoffer at(i.e. HMRCstarted meansduring noSeptember two2023)

• Sponsorship careersis willavailable befor alike,the allowingSQE youfor tothose eitheroffered becomea specialiststrainee insolicitor place for a particular2025 areastart ori.e. spendprovision timeof inprep acourses, varietypayment of differentassessment areas.fees Thereand area opportunitiespro-rata forbursary. trainingGLD’s SQE1 and developmentSQE2 toprep enablecourses lawyerswill tobe influencedelivered howin theypartnership wishwith theirBPP career(at tovarious progressregional locations) commencing in theSeptember future.2024. The prep courses will be arranged by GLD’s Trainee Development Team

Course fees

DepartmentsGLD will offeraccept toapplications payfrom yourthose Legalfollowing Practicethe CourseLPC (route in 2025. However, sponsorship will not be available for the LPC.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

• Sponsorship is available for the LPC for those offered a trainee solicitor place to start in 2024 or Bar2025 trainingi.e. payment of course fees whereand youa havebursary where course not yet (orstarted haveor just)only just started around the course.point of offer (i.e. started during September 2023)

• ThereSponsorship is noavailable preferencefor whichthe lawBTC for those offered a pupillage in 2024 or bar2025 schooli.e. youpayment attend,of course fees and a bursary where course not yet started or whichonly electivesjust youstarted undertake.around the point of offer (i.e. started during September 2023)

• DepartmentsSponsorship willis notavailable reimbursefor yourthe SQE for those offered a trainee solicitor place in 2025 i.e. provision of prep courses, payment of assessment fees ifand youa havepro-rata successfullybursary. completedHMRC oris arelikely partwayto throughput in place an arrangement with a specific training provider for the provision of SQE1 and SQE2 prep courses commencing in September 2024

National Crime Agency (NCA)

• Sponsorship is available for the LPC for those offered a trainee solicitor place to start in 2025 i.e. payment of course fees and a bursary where course not yet started or Baronly trainingjust course.started (i.e. started during September 2023)

• YouSponsorship mayis beavailable eligiblefor the SQE for those offered a granttrainee solicitor place to start in 2025 i.e. provision of aboutSQE £5,400prep (National)courses, topayment £7,600of (London).assessment Thisfees and a pro-rata bursary. NCA is likely to put in place an arrangement with a specific training provider for the vocationalprovision yearof ifSQE1 youand intendSQE2 toprep studycourses commencing in September 2024

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

• Sponsorship is available for yourthe LPCSQE orfor Barthose trainingoffered coursea ontrainee solicitor place for a full-time2025 and,start possibly,i.e. part-timeprovision basis.of Youprep willcourses, needpayment of assessment fees and a pro-rata bursary. CMA is likely to discussput yourin eligibilityplace foran arrangement with a grantspecific withtraining provider for the departmentprovision atof theSQE1 offerand stage.
  SQE2 prep courses commencing in September 2024

Unfortunately,CMA departments will beaccept unableapplications tofrom providethose fundingfollowing the LPC route for 2025, where the GraduateLPC Diplomahas inbeen Lawsuccessfully (GDLcompleted at the time of applying. However, sponsorship will not be available for the LPC)..

SalarySalaries

Salaries willdiffer vary according to department and location.location Asand anare indication,subject to review and change.

Below provides details of legal trainee salaries currently available in each of the salaryrecruiting rangedepartments.

Government isLegal betweenDepartment £29,000(GLD)

• Current to1st £37,000year forlegal firsttrainee salary (London and Leeds): £30,157

• Current 2nd year traineeslegal trainee salary (London and £33,000Leeds): to£34,460

HM £40,000Revenue for& secondCustoms (HMRC)

• Current 1st year trainees.and Please2nd noteyear thatlegal salariestrainee andsalary terms(London): £39,111

• Current 1st year and conditions2nd areyear subjectlegal trainee salary (National): £34,404

National Crime Agency (NCA)

• Current 1st year legal trainee salary (London): £30,740

• Current 2nd year legal trainee salary (London): £38,642

• NCA also pays London weighting which amounts to review.around an additional £3,595

Competition & Markets Authority (CMA)

• Current 1st year legal trainee salary (London): £30,157

• Current 2nd year legal trainee salary (London): £34,460

Retention

Departments aim to offer all those recruited as legal trainees a permanent qualified lawyer post on successful completion of the training period. However, this can never be guaranteed.

Paralegal rolesRoles

Departments such as GLD, HMRC, NCA and CMA advertise their Paralegal opportunities on the Civil Service Jobs website.

After the LTS recruitment campaign has finished, it may be possible to offer successful candidates andand/or those on the reserve list a short-term Paralegal or Executive Officer role within thea Governmentdepartment Legalbut Department.this cannot be guaranteed.

Diversity Summer Scheme

The Diversity Summer Scheme isnormally a 1 week summer vacation placement (normally takes place during the first week of July). It has been delivered online over recentone yearsweek. and,This thisyear year,the scheme is expected to run in early MayJuly 2022.2023.

The scheme is for undergraduates or graduates from diverse backgrounds which are currently under-represented across the legal profession.

The Diversity Summer Scheme has previously worked in partnership with the following organisations:

• Aspiring Solicitors
• Law Society Diversity Access Scheme
• Social Mobility Foundation
• Bridging the Bar
• Black Lawyers Circle

If this scheme is something you might be interested in, you will need to consider joining one of these organisations as places are allocated through them.

Each organisation will also have their own application process (which we are not involved in).

Participants will get an insight into the work of government lawyers through talks and workshops. Also, there will be a few tours arranged, for example, of the Supreme Court and Parliament.

Outside of the Diversity Summer Scheme, there are no other vacation placement schemes or work experience opportunities available.

It’sHowever, it is important to understand that the Diversity Summer Scheme is not used to assess suitability for athe trainingLegal contractTrainee or pupillage.Scheme.

The application processes for the Diversity Summer Scheme and Legal Trainee Scheme are separate. If you obtain a summer placement and wish to apply for the LTS, you will need to apply through our legal trainee scheme application process.