Assistant Parliamentary Counsel in Harrow

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%. Contract type: Permanent. Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time. Location: Westminster, London.

About the Office

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a team within the Civil Service of around 50 lawyers and 10 support staff. Our main role is to draft Government Bills for introduction into Parliament and Government amendments to Bills as they go through Parliament on their way to becoming Acts. The Bills we draft can be hugely politically significant and topical, but may also be niche, specialised or technical. Our Office drafted the Bills that became Acts creating the NHS, nationalising and then privatising public utilities, delivering devolution, implementing Brexit and dealing with the COVID‑19 pandemic and its economic consequences. In the past 12 months alone we’ve produced bills on a wide range of subjects, including biodiversity in the oceans, renters’ rights, border security, employment rights, data protection, energy, criminal law, taxation, water, planning, women bishops, railways and the steel industry. We are committed to producing clear and effective legislation to the highest possible standards in the public interest.

Job Description

Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (APCs) assist in all aspects of the Office’s work with a view to being able to take the lead on a Bill once they are promoted to the grade of Deputy Director. APCs are supervised in their work, with the level of supervision reducing as they grow in expertise and experience, but will be responsible for drafting legislation from the beginning of their time in the Office. Although one drafter generally takes the lead on each Bill, the Office is a collaborative and non‑hierarchical environment in which all contributions are welcome. The Main Tasks Of An APC Are:

• Assist in drafting Bills which are effective, clearly written and well‑structured.
• Work with officials across Government to ensure that the process of Bill preparation, publication and Parliamentary handling is handled effectively and efficiently.
• Provide advice to Government departments on parliamentary procedure.
• Review, draft and advise on some subordinate legislation.
• Contribute to the training and development of other drafters, departmental lawyers, policy advisers and members of Bill teams.
• Contribute actively to the wider objectives of the Office.

Once they reach the required standard to take the lead on a Bill, APCs can expect to be promoted to Parliamentary Counsel at the grade of Deputy Director. Parliamentary Counsel may be further promoted to Director.

Office Structure

The Office is divided into four teams, each of which drafts Bills for a group of Government departments and is led by a Director General.

Person specification

Essential Criteria: We are looking for lawyers who are motivated to produce legislation of the highest quality and who have the following skills and attributes:

• Excellent powers of analysis and reliable judgement in applying that analysis.
• Ability to express complex ideas clearly, coherently and accurately.
• Ability to master new information at speed, work under pressure and deliver at pace.
• Ability to problem solve and come up with creative solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Good self‑awareness and a commitment to learning and developing as a professional.

We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly welcome applications from people who are disabled or who are black, Asian or from minority ethnic groups, as they are currently under‑represented in the Office.

Qualifications: You should have a good honours degree (2:1 or above or an overseas equivalent) in any subject. You must be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales or Northern Ireland or a solicitor or advocate in Scotland. Chartered Legal Executives Are Also Eligible To Apply.

Benefits: Alongside your salary of £80,000, Cabinet Office contributes £23,176 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. You’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits:

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service.
• A competitive contributory pension scheme.
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave.
• Childcare benefits.
• Interest‑free loans.
• The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens.
• Occupational sick pay.

Closing Date: 2 February 2026.