Litigator

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by HM Revenue & Customs. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from HM Revenue & Customs

Talent Acquisition Partner @ HM Revenue & Customs

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 20th November 2025

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Location

Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Stratford

About HMRC Legal Group

About HMRC Legal Group:

Across HMRC Legal Group we provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes:

• The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.
• The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.
• Work on new legislation.
• Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.
• Legal advice to ExCom and staff.

We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants’ and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.

These vacancies are for G7 Litigators in HMRC Legal Group in the Tax Litigation Function within the Litigation Directorate. Specifically, the vacancies are in the First-tier Tribunal Litigation and Strategic & Counter Avoidance Litigation teams. Successful candidates may be offered a position in either of these teams.

The successful applicants will work with team colleagues to deliver an effective and professional litigation service that supports and continuously improves the work of compliance, whilst safeguarding the rights of taxpayers and the reputation of HMRC. This will include representing HMRC at the First-tier Tax Tribunal (FTT), liaising with Decision Makers, Review Officers and Policy specialists whilst also championing HMRC’s commitment to customer focus, continuous professional development, equality & diversity and health & safety.

See what it’s like to work at HMRC: find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question. Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

G7 Litigators will be expected to develop a high level of knowledge, skills and understanding and work as part of a fast-paced Litigation team but may also be asked to support colleagues in other parts of HMRC Legal Group and the wider HMRC.

Advocacy is an important part of being a litigator and successful candidates will be expected to advocate in the Tribunal.

G7 Litigators are also expected to lead on projects, including group litigation and wider pieces of work which support HMRC Legal Group and the wider HMRC.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include:

• Working a wide range of standard and complex / challenging tax appeals that require an in-depth analysis of the issues and the ability to be able to research and interpret the relevant legislation underpinning the decision.
• An ability to understand and interpret large amounts of information, drawing conclusions on litigation strategy and legal risk.
• Making detailed written submissions to the Tribunal outlining HMRC’s case.
• Presenting hearings at the FTT (in person or via video) and/or supporting colleagues who are presenting at the FTT.
• Undertaking application hearings before the FTT.
• Working to and complying with Tribunal Directions.
• Ensuring the Decision Maker is kept up to date at all times, especially if they are to be called as a witness.
• Checking the Decision Maker’s witness statements.
• Identifying and collating bundles of evidence for hearings and managing bundle preparation.
• Attending case conferences, face to face and by telephone.
• Liaison with and coordination of paralegal support.
• Robust organisation and management of litigation caseload including file management, management information systems and processes.
• You will be a strong leader with the ability to work independently and at pace to lead wider projects in a well-structured and organised manner, impacting across HMRC Legal Group and wider HMRC.

Please note this isn’t a gateway role into the wider Government Legal Profession.

Person Specification

Grade 7 Litigators are well rounded professionals with experience in managing and resolving disputes in an effective, results oriented fashion. They may be tax professionals, legal professionals or both in combination. They will typically have the following key skills:

• Communication – Have excellent written and verbal communication skills. This role requires Litigators to advocate complex litigation appeals before the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber). As such, the panel are looking for clear evidence that the candidate has the communication skills (written and oral) to undertake the role.
• Influencing Stakeholders – Adept in communicating with and influencing internal stakeholders confidently, with proactivity. Litigators are often required to confidently convey complex principles, fact patterns, points of law and Tribunal procedure to internal stakeholders. The panel are specifically looking for evidence of an ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Working under Pressure – Litigators are often required to balance competing workloads and pressures, including Tribunal deadlines. The panel are looking for evidence of notable workload management and prioritisation of tasks.
• A strong leader with the ability to lead on projects and wider work across HMRC Legal Group. Litigators may be required to undertake \’wider roles\’ in HMRC Legal Group, including leading Knowledge Management subjects, partaking in corporate activities, and assisting other Litigators. The panel are looking for evidence of an ability to lead in wider work.
• Adept in analysing large amounts of complex information (which may include case papers, legislation, and case law) and identifying points of relevance. Litigators are required to hold cases throughout the litigation process, including the analysis of case papers and preparation of pleadings. The panel are looking for evidence of an ability to analyse, understand and condense large amounts of information in preparation of HMRCs case.

Qualifications

A legal qualification and be already qualified as a solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive, or have completed LPC, SQE 1 and 2 or BPTC/BVC (or equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland) or

A tax qualification (CTA/AIIT etc.) or internal HMRC tax qualification (Direct or Indirect Tax) at level of TSP or predecessor qualification.

Successful candidates may also demonstrate that they have completed the HMRC Legal Group Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) and learning routeway to at least level 3 or have successfully completed the HMRC Legal Group practical assessment framework (PAF).

Experience

Grade 7 litigators routinely deal with cases where there is significant ambiguity, novelty or complexity about the matters under dispute. They take leadership on resolution of issues and liaise with stakeholders to ensure Departmental objectives are met, resolving competing priorities without losing confidence and buy-in. The ability to manage multiple competing deadlines and re-prioritising workload when called for is critical to success in the role.

Candidates must have experience of dealing with complex tax matters and/or conducting complex litigation which demonstrates capability for this role.

Candidates will need to demonstrate with specific examples how they meet both essential criteria in their 500-word response on essential criteria in order to proceed to full sift.

Other Information

Successful applicants may be required to complete a Training Assessment Period; further information will be provided to the successful candidate(s)

HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can’t guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.

There will be a need to travel across the UK for hearings with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes.

Please note that the merit list for these roles will be in a location basis, meaning we will fill posts in merit order as per the number of posts based in each location.

Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.

Candidates should be aware that there may be a short delay in taking up post if successful in their application. The successful candidates’ start dates will be aligned for the purposes of organising and delivering an initial package of learning and training.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Legal
• Government Administration and Government Relations Services