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Graduate |
Home > Graduate Recruitment > Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions How many departments can I apply to? Candidates apply to the GLS first. Once they have passed the sift process and are invited to interview, they will be asked to nominate two departments which they would like to work for. Where possible, we will attempt to allocate candidates to their chosen departments, although this cannot be guaranteed. What happens after I apply? Candidates who meet the basic nationality and academic eligibility requirements will be asked to sit an online verbal reasoning test. A panel of GLS lawyers will mark the applications of candidates who pass the verbal reasoning test and the highest scoring candidates will be asked to attend an assessment centre. The assessment centre comprises three parts – a written exercise, a group exercise and an interview in front of a board of panellists (usually 3). When will I know whether I have been successful? All candidates can expect to hear within a week of the last day of assessment centre. Will I spend the whole of my training period in one department? GLS training contracts are tailored to individual needs and can involve time spent in another legal team. GLS pupil barristers spend part of their pupillage in Chambers. Is there a preference for solicitors or barristers? The Legal Trainee Scheme is open to both those wishing to study as a trainee solicitor or pupil barrister. In recent years, departments have provided more places for trainee solicitors and full details on the number of places available are available on the GLS website. Trainees and pupils are both involved in the full range of casework conducted by their department. They will benefit from the supervision of a senior colleague who will ensure that they have a good balance and range of work. GLS lawyers from both sides of the legal profession are required to provide legal advice, prepare legislation and participate in civil litigation. Whilst some lawyers in departments such as the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Departments for Work and Pensions and Health may occasionally have the opportunity for specialist prosecution and tribunal work, opportunities for GLS barristers to engage in advocacy are limited and candidates wishing to focus principally on an advocacy career should bear this in mind. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Nationality The GLS is part of the wider Civil Service and therefore the general Civil Service nationality rules apply. Candidates must be a UK or Commonwealth citizen or a national from the European Economic Area (EEA). If relevant, all applicants must hold an appropriate work and residence permit. Certain non-EEA family members of EEA nationals may also be eligible for appointment. Please note that sponsorship for work permits is not available. I have a student visa. Can I apply? No. Those on student visas are prohibited under Civil Service Nationality Rules from being granted an extension of stay for employment for which a work permit is required and cannot be accepted for Civil Service appointment. Course Fees Will the GLS pay my LPC/BVC/CPE course fees? Because of the timing of the legal trainee competition, candidates may not learn whether or not they have been successful until they have paid all or part of their LPC/BVC fees. Where a candidate has started their course, most departments will make a proportional payment based on the number of months remaining. Candidates who have successfully taken and passed their LPC/BVC should not expect to have their fees reimbursed.
Yes, as long as you have a 2:1 degree in your
first degree discipline (which need not be in law), you will be considered
for the posts advertised. All applicants must have successfully completed
their CPE and LPC/BVC before starting the legal trainee scheme. Does the GLS accept applications from older candidates? Yes. Candidates are assessed purely on merit. The highest scoring candidates at the sift and assessment stage will be offered a position. My A Levels are poor. Does this matter? No. Candidates are not asked to provide details about their A Levels on the application form. All candidates are expected to take an online verbal reasoning test as part of the application process instead. I have a 2:2 degree and a Masters Degree. Can I apply? No. You must have obtained a 2:1 in your first degree disciple to be eligible to apply. Qualifications apart, what does the GLS look for in its candidates? We are looking for candidates who display excellent powers of judgement, analysis and communication. All candidates must demonstrate a clear interest in, and motivation for, public service and the GLS. They should be able to exhibit some knowledge or appreciation of the type of work performed within the GLS and describe what attracts them to it. They should also be able to demonstrate some evidence of team working (i.e. working with others to achieve a common goal). Training – and beyond Are all posts based in London? Over 80% of GLS posts are in London and candidates should expect training places to be based in the London offices of the participating departments. Upon qualification, lawyers are free to move to the regional offices. Will I spend the whole of my training period in one department? GLS training contracts are tailored to individual needs and one seat may be spent in another department. Those candidates in a department without a litigation department may spend one seat in the Treasury Solicitor’s department. Pupil barristers will spend part of their pupillage (either the first 6 or middle 4 months) in chambers. What’s the salary? Salaries are set by individual departments. Trainee solicitors’ and pupil barristers’ first year salaries are currently in the range of £22,640 to £24,900. The pay range for the second year is currently £24,600 to £27,050. The basic starting salary for newly qualified lawyers is currently in the range of £27,000 to £38,000, depending upon department. Progression thereafter is based on merit. Will I be able to use my language skills in the GLS? Knowledge of foreign languages is always beneficial, though not essential. The GLS offers opportunities for work within a European context. Candidates keen to take advantage of such opportunities would be able to put their language skills to use. Is there travel involved? It depends on the work of the individual legal team. Some lawyers undertake frequent trips to Brussels and other EC centres. Others travel within the UK - but most lawyers are largely office-based. Is the GLS an equal opportunities employer? All GLS organisations are part of the UK Civil Service. They comply with legislation and the Codes of Practice issued under such legislation. We believe that all eligible people must have equality of opportunity for employment and advancement on the basis of their suitability for the work. What do I do if I have a complaint about the selection process? GLS departments' processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Code which can be found at www.civilservicecommissioners.org. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, please contact Jenny Underhill (GLS Secretariat) on 0207 210 3581 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.
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