The Role
Grade 6 Senior Commercial Lawyers play a key leadership role, providing direction to teams and supporting Deputy Directors in the delivery of commercial legal services to central government departments, executive agencies and Arm's Length Bodies.
If successful, you will be expected to operate as a highly experienced, independent and practical commercial lawyer, with the technical knowledge and gravitas to gain the confidence of senior clients, ministers, stakeholders and colleagues. You will lead, manage and develop other lawyers within your team and provide strong professional leadership, helping to build capability across the organisation in line with corporate objectives.
You will develop strategies and be responsible for delivering high-quality legal advice on a range of complex and challenging projects, often to demanding deadlines. You will need to be comfortable working at pace and exercising sound judgement in relation to matters of national importance, drawing on strong legal and strategic analysis, pragmatism and pro-activity.
The Work
Commercial lawyers in CLG provide advice across a broad range of commercial legal matters, which may include:
- commercial contracts
- public procurement
- public law aspects of commercial work/commercial decision making
- information technology
- intellectual property
- information law (including GDPR) where it arises in a contractual/commercial context
- construction
- grants and Subsidies Control
Commercial lawyers also work closely with colleagues across GLD and, where appropriate, external law firms and counsel, providing commercial legal advice to support government departments with their commercial activities.
Key requirements of the role
- Good commercial and contract law experience (including contract drafting) AND/OR good public procurement experience is essential
- excellent powers of analysis of legal commercial problems together with a sound commercial legal judgement
- an ability to lead and develop a mini-team, setting strategy and direction
- an ability to support Deputy Directors and contribute to wider senior leadership of CLG
- an ability to negotiate effectively
- 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
- a constructive approach to solving problems along with reliable legal judgement and the ability to provide legally sound, risk-based advice
Experience
Essential - must be demonstrated at application
You will be an established and experienced commercial OR public procurement lawyer, able to provide professional leadership and operate confidently and independently on complex commercial OR public procurement matters.
You will have a sound understanding of:
- commercial law gained through advising clients across a range of matters, including drafting commercial contracts, advising on contract interpretation and contract management, problem solving and providing strategic commercial advice; and/or
- public procurement law, including advising on regulated procurements in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and/or the Procurement Act 2023.
Technical Legal Skills
Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview
- Commercial and contract law experience and/or public procurement law experience
- able to draft and advise on commercial documents
- able to analyse legal commercial problems
- a constructive approach to solving problems
- able to provide legally sound, risk-based advice
- sound commercial legal judgement
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Developing Self and Others
- Seeing the Bigger Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Qualifications
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
Senior Commercial Lawyer - Manchester employer: Government Legal Department
The Government Legal Department (GLD) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment where Information Lawyers can thrive. With a strong emphasis on training and development, employees are empowered to grow their legal expertise while contributing to meaningful public service across various locations including Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Croydon. Joining GLD means being part of a national team that plays a crucial role in advising government bodies on data protection and Freedom of Information, making a real impact in the public sector.
Contact Details:
Government Legal Department Recruitment Team
