12880 - Law Commission - Senior Lawyer - Commercial and Common Law Team - 12880 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Law Commission 1 X Grade 6 Senior Lawyer –Commercial and Common Law Team

The Law Commission of England and Wales is recruiting a senior lawyer to work in the Commercial and Common Law team. This is an opportunity for experienced lawyers to lead on challenging and high-profile law reform, to guide and support the work of law reform teams, and to contribute to the wider success of the organization.

About the Law Commission

The Law Commission offers an unrivalled opportunity to work on some of the most complex legal and policy questions facing our society.

The Commission has, for 60 years, had a unique role – independent, but at the heart of Government. Its aims are:

To ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and cost-effective as possible.
To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform.
To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes.

The Law Commission is an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. It has a judicial Chair, four Commissioners, and around 80 members of staff. Its work is organised into four areas: Property, Family and Trust Law; Commercial and Common Law; Public Law and the Law in Wales; and Criminal Law.

The Commercial and Common Law, or ‘CoCo’ team, is led by Professor Solène Rowan. Its work covers a wide range of topics including commercial and consumer law and other areas of private law. Our recent work on tech-related projects has spanned electronic trade documents, electronic signatures, private international law and our report on digital assets, which led to the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025. We are also working on two projects relating to the law of business organisations: friendly societies, and co-operative and community benefit societies, a project on objects in museum collections, and high-profile work on the product liability regime. Future work will include work on deeds, and on trusts.

Further information about the Law Commission and its work can found at www.lawcom.gov.uk/.

Ways Of Working

At the Law Commission, we believe in and promote alternative ways of working in order to recruit and retain the best talent, so this role is available as full-time, part-time or job-share (where an application is made by a job-share partnership). We also offer flexible working patterns including a flexi time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.

The way our projects are resourced means we plan in terms of full-time equivalents, but we welcome applications from job share partnerships, who may work more than 1 full time equivalent jointly. We also welcome applications from those wishing to work part-time, but if you wish to work fewer than four days / week then we would regard that as a job share and need to be satisfied that a second job share applicant was available. It would be helpful to know in advance if you wish to work in a job share arrangement. Contact details are set out below if you would like to discuss with us in advance of applying.

We are committed to treating people openly and with respect. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: Diversity and inclusion – Law Commission

Further information can be found at https://lawcom.gov.uk/working-at-law-commission/.

The Role

Main duties:

The following duties will be undertaken in addition to and alongside the responsibilities of Team Lawyer in the supporting attachments in the job advert.

Using law reform expertise to support the successful law reform work of the team, including:

Leadership of complex law reform project work

Leading the project to which allocated autonomously, with minimal guidance from the Team Head – to include:

strategic planning
resource planning
risk management
influencing and building relationships with key stakeholders inside and outside Government;
Where working on a multi-lawyer project, managing the Grade 7 team lawyer(s) working on that project in addition to management responsibilities for any SEO Legal Assistants and HEO Research Assistants;
Looking widely across Government, Parliament, the media and stakeholders to identify and manage major risks to the project or legislation to which allocated;
Leading, or providing senior steer to team lawyers working on, particularly complex, high-risk, high-profile or otherwise challenging law reform work.

Using expertise to guide high-level delivery by the team

Working with the Team Head in:
identifying the team's resource needs and allocating work appropriately across the team’s projects, switching resources as necessary to achieve goals;
identifying and negotiating new projects and planning timetable, funding, resourcing, terms of reference and MOU;
using influencing skills to negotiate on behalf of the Commission with Government, Office Parliamentary Counsel, Parliamentary authorities and others to secure implementation of law reform projects;
Supporting and coaching team lawyers (particularly new lawyers) as required;
Providing expert law reform guidance as required in respect of the other law reform work of the team – showing political awareness and an understanding of the Law Commission as an organisation;
Providing expertise on good law reform practice to team lawyers.
Seeking out new ways to deliver outstanding law reform, trialling and reviewing these.

Working alongside the Team Head and Commissioner in the leadership and management of the team. To include joint working with the Team Head on, or by delegation taking sole leadership of, agreed areas of responsibility such as:

Team reporting
providing team updates and reports to the Board, Chair, CEOs and Head of Legal, as required;
overseeing the production of briefings from the team for the Chair, CEOs etc;
leading the team’s contribution to corporate publications (including Annual Report and Business Plan);
leading responses to other requests for information eg in relation to the Lord Chancellor’s Statement to Parliament, the Welsh Advisory Committee etc.
Team HR:
leading the successful recruitment of lawyers, legal assistants and research assistants;
overseeing the design and delivery of appropriate induction for new team members;
providing guidance to team lawyers on the management of the performance of Research Assistants and Legal Assistants.
Engagement
providing oversight of the team's dealings with members of the public (including FOI requests), where relevant ensuring compliance with relevant law and Commission guidelines;
leading the team’s provision of assistance with answers to Parliamentary questions and replies to Ministerial correspondence.

Visible and proactive leadership across the Law Commission including:

As an essential requirement, delivering a cross-Commission corporate initiative, to be agreed with the Chief Executives and Head of Legal. This may include:
leading and delivering one of the PSAG strands on an ongoing basis, and being accountable to the Chief Executives for delivery;
development of a programme of law reform;
leading and delivering major HR changes;
briefing and advising the Chair on Parliamentary appearances;
Deputising for the Team Head to represent the team at meetings of Team Heads and SMT/SLT;
Supporting external meetings of the Chair, Commissioners, Chief Executives Head of Legal and other members on SMT on high-profile/high-impact matters affecting the wider work of the organisation;
Working with the Head of Legal in relation to the organisation and delivery of the Commission’s international work;
Contributing material to, and encouraging and coordinating team members’ contributions to, the Law Reform Manual.

Role modelling

Acting as a role model in respect of corporate work and encouraging team members to contribute to the wider success of the Commission;
Acting as a leader and role model, supporting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practice;
Role modelling inclusive leadership, being open to alternative views and ensuring that within teams and across the Law Commission we are providing an inclusive and respectful environment for all staff.

Skills and Experience

Essential qualifications:

Academic: You should usually hold a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree in any subject (or an overseas degree qualification equivalent to a 2.1 degree) but we will take into account subsequent experience if your degree class is lower than this; and
Professional: You must be:
a solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales; or
somebody who can demonstrate a comparable level of legal ability, for example:
a legal academic;
an overseas professionally qualified lawyer; or
a legal policy expert.

Essential Experience

You should be a confident leader, with an ability to bring positive change within a small high- performing team

You must be able to show demonstrable skills in legal policy and law reform, including:

Experience of project management and stakeholder management.
Experience of complex legal analysis and/or dealing with complex legal argument – this may include drafting legal opinions, undertaking legal research and advising clients.
Experience of drafting documents – this may include experience of: drafting documents that explain complex areas of law, advance complex legal arguments, or are for publication.
Experience of supervising others – this could include overseeing trainee solicitors or pupils and/or other lawyers, supervising staff or postgraduate students, or leading a small team.
Knowledge and expertise of areas of law relevant to the work of the Commercial and Common Law team.

Location

Successful candidates will be based at 102 Petty France, London.

All full-time Law Commission staff are expected to attend their base location (or the London office) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Salary

This role is graded at Grade 6.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Duration

The posts are permanent. Successful applicants may join on loan from another Government Department, or on secondment.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework on Behaviours and Experience. Please also refer to the Civil Service Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Grade 6): Success Profiles - GOV.UK

At the sift stage you will be assessed on your Experience (see “Experience” below) and Behaviours (see “Behaviours” below). Applications may initially be sifted on their demonstration of meeting the Experience criteria.

Candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage will undertake an interview to gauge their suitability for the role. The interview will assess your Experience and Behaviours.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability during the application process in order to demonstrate your experience in law reform and legal policy, any elements of your career history or achievements that are relevant to this role (including those mentioned under Essential Experience above), and your technical knowledge of the law relevant to the work of the CoCo team.

Behaviours

You will be asked to demonstrate the following three behaviours:

Delivering at pace – you must be able to take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive
Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
Changing and Improving – Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

Candidates Invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out in person. We will consider requests for an online interview if your circumstances require.

Interviews are expected to take place in January.

If your application is successful, you will receive a formal letter offering you an appointment that will explain your terms and conditions of service in detail. Your appointment will include a period of probation.

If appointed, you will become a civil servant and will be subject to the Civil Service Code and there will be restrictions on your ability to undertake private practice.

Suitable candidates who are not successful will be held on a reserve list for future posts; such posts may be available in the next 12 months and offered to suitable candidates on the reserve list.

Near Miss

At interview stage, if candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to the Grade 6 role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a Lawyer role at Grade 7.

Membership of the Government Legal Profession

The Government Legal Profession (GLP) networks together Government lawyers and trainees, who between them provide legal services across the whole spectrum of Government activities. Some are members of the Government Legal Department (GLD): others (like Law Commission lawyers) are part of the wider GLP network.

A solicitor or barrister qualified to practice in England and Wales will, on joining the Law Commission, have access to the networking benefits and opportunities of the wider GLP. This will also apply to overseas qualified lawyers who fulfil the nationality requirements and are eligible to practice in England and Wales under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Information about the QLTS can be obtained from the SRA (www.sra.org.uk).

Contact information

If you have any questions about the role or have any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@lawcommission.gov.uk. Please quote the Job Role in the subject line.

If you require any assistance, please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email: Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

Annex A - The STAR method

Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did, and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.

Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.

Where are you?
Who was there with you?
What had happened?

Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.

What was the task that you had to complete and why?
What did you have to achieve?

Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.

What results did the actions produce?
What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?
Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?

Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 12880

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 12880

Ministry of Justice

12880 - Law Commission - Senior Lawyer - Commercial and Common Law Team

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