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TSol (Treasury Solicitor's Department)

TSol (the Treasury Solicitor’s Department) provides litigation and advisory legal services to over 180 public sector clients which include government departments and agencies, research councils, the national museums and other non-governmental bodies in England and Wales. With over 600 barristers and solicitors, TSol is one of the largest legal organisations in the country.

TSol lawyers advise ministers and their policymakers on a wide range of legal questions including domestic, public and private law, European Community law, international law and human rights. The Treasury Solicitor, Paul Jenkins QC, is the Head of the Government Legal Service.

Litigation Group

The Litigation Group provides civil litigation services to the majority of government departments and public bodies, and its work often raises questions of constitutional importance. In 2010/11, the Group handled over 34,000 cases, many of which focused on administrative law, immigration, commercial and property litigation, personal injury, planning and charity matters. The Group also plays a major role in public inquiries.

Employment Group

The Employment Group provides employment litigation and advisory services to a wide range of government departments and public bodies. Lawyers in the Employment Group act for Departments of State and public bodies in cases brought before the Employment Tribunal, the County Court, the Employment Appeal Tribunal and beyond. They also advise their clients on non-contentious matters, such as employment policies and compliance with new legislation.

Advisory Divisions

The Advisory Divisions provide legal advice to ministers and policymakers of HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education, Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as a number of other smaller departments and public bodies. Lawyers in the Advisory Divisions advise on all aspects of their clients’ work, including preparing statutory instruments and assisting the passage of legislation through Parliament.

European Division

The European Division co-ordinates the advice given by legal advisers to various government departments on questions of European Community law. It also conducts litigation on behalf of the Government in the European Court of Justice.

High profile examples of recent legislation work

TSol advisory lawyers are also involved in a wide range of work. For example:
• Lawyers at the Treasury Legal Advisers are providing legal support for the Financial Services Bill.

• TSol lawyers based at the Department for Education are advising on the Education Bill which implements the Government’s education reform programme.

• TSol lawyers located with their clients at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are providing legal support for the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics

• The Central Advisory Division is supporting the Government Equalities Office (GEO) in implementing the public sector equality duty and reforming the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

• TSol lawyers advising the Cabinet Office and Prime Minister’s Office handle a wide range of legal issues relating to national security, propriety and ethics, machinery of government and information law.

Vacancies

Qualified lawyer vacancies for posts in this department are advertised through the central GLS scheme. All vacancies are posted on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway (this link will open in a new window).

Trainee Solicitors and Pupil Barristers are recruited through the GLS Legal Trainee Scheme.

Further Information

Visit www.tsol.gov.uk and www.bonavacantia.gov.uk