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Home > About the GLS > GLS Departments > DECC

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

About the Department

We face unprecedented challenges to our environment, our economy, and the future security of our energy supplies and the decisions we make now will affect the planet and our way of life for generations to come. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) exists to tackle these challenges. It is an exciting and dynamic place to work.

DECC is responsible for all aspects of UK energy policy, and for tackling global climate change on behalf of the UK. DECC plays a major role in international negotiations, and in promoting new low carbon technologies and energy efficiency at home and abroad. We work to increase the use of renewable energy, nuclear generation and cleaner fossil fuels. Under the Climate Change Act, DECC will oversee the UK’s carbon budgets to ensure the Government meets its European and international emissions reduction commitments. We aim to deliver our objectives, while taking steps to ensure the poorest in society can afford the energy they need.

Work of the Legal Team

DECC Legal has around 40 lawyers, headed by Scott Milligan, Legal Adviser and Director of Legal Services, and based in the Department’s HQ offices at the heart of Whitehall. We are organised into six flexible teams, and work closely with ministers and policy officials in the department and across Whitehall.
The policy and political environment is fast-moving, and DECC has a major legislative and regulatory agenda. DECC’s lawyers need to ensure the Department receives high quality advisory legal services to support the full range of its activities. It will need robust support when taking and defending challenges to controversial decisions. Major matters we expect to be advising on in the next year will include:

• International climate change negotiations
• Carbon budgets, carbon reduction and EU emissions trading
• Developing and implementing heat and energy saving policy
• New primary legislation
• Substantial secondary legislation – including implementing the Energy and Climate Change Acts.
• EU negotiations and implementation
• Facilitating new low carbon energy generation from renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage
• Recasting the planning regime for large energy projects
• Developing radioactive waste policy, nuclear regulation
• Delivering major commercial projects
• Delivering UK initiatives on nuclear non-proliferation
• Gas/electricity markets and transmission reform
• Other commercial and corporate matters
• New initiatives in energy asset and liability management.

Benefits & Rewards

As well as working on some of the highest profile issues in government, DECC lawyers belong to a high performing and friendly group, with a great deal of collaborative working between teams and with the rest of the Government Legal Service. We are strongly committed to training and development and to flexible working.
Lawyers joining DECC are assigned to a Legal Team for an initial posting usually of 2-3 years. The Group encourages its staff to take an active part in their own career development, and facilitates moves within the Department and the wider Government Legal Service to provide a broad range of experience. Pay increases are on merit, and promotion is by competition.

Vacancy Statement

Successful applicants will work in one or more of the areas listed above. Applications are welcome from all qualified lawyers irrespective of when they qualified. We also welcome applications from those who expect to qualify shortly.

We are looking for people who are willing to gain experience and skills in a number of specialist areas and to move periodically from one area to another. We will provide strong support to help you acquire the necessary expertise.

Pay

Your pay on appointment will depend upon the level for which you are assessed by the Board.

Those with less than 2 years’ qualified experience will enter the Department as Legal Officer (Senior Executive Officer Grade) with an annual salary of £34,097, inclusive of a £2,326 enhancement.

You will normally spend one year as a Legal Officer if your progress is satisfactory, and then move to the next level – Grade 7 (Legal Adviser) – for which the starting salary is £45,880, inclusive of a £2,326 enhancement.

Those with more than two years’ post-qualification experience can expect to join as a Grade 7 Legal Adviser with an annual salary of £45,880, inclusive of a £2,326 enhancement.

Prospects beyond Grade 7 include being progressed to Grade 6 (salary range £55,104 - £69,639 inclusive of a £2,326 enhancement). Progression depends on performance and demonstration of the ability to work largely unsupervised.

Location

All posts are based in central London.

Further Information

You can visit the DECC website http://www.decc.gov.uk.