Ministry of Justice

Law Commission Grade 7 Lawyer – Public Law and Law in Wales Team 

The Law Commission of England and Wales is recruiting a lawyer to work in the Public Law and Law in Wales team.

The vacancy arises in the context of our upcoming project on automated decision making (“ADM”) in the public sector. This is a scoping review which will consider the law governing decisions made by or for public bodies using algorithmic processes and artificial intelligence, including the varying degrees of human input and oversight over these decisions. Administrative law has developed to promote the accountability of human officials, not automated systems (such as AI). There is therefore no bespoke legal framework governing the use of ADM by the state to make decisions affecting the public. This raises fundamental legal questions, several of which remain unexamined or unanswered. Our scoping review will consider how to develop a coherent legal framework to facilitate good and lawful use of ADM systems. This project forms part of the Law Commission’s 14th Programme of law reform. The initial scoping stage is expected to take 18 months, with the potential for further, substantive strands of law reform work to follow.

The Public Law and Law in Wales team has carried out two law reform projects at the intersection between the current law and technology. Our report on automated vehicles was implemented by the Aviation Act 2024. Our final report on our autonomy in aviation project is due to be published imminently. Our current projects are mentioned further below.

This campaign is open to all who meet the eligibility criteria in the wider advert within Civil Service Jobs.

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. It offers stretching, high quality work, the chance to make a positive difference to our society, access to fulfilling learning and development, and a positive work-life balance.

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 as 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 70 members of staff. Its work is organised into four areas: Public Law and the Law in Wales, Family and Trust Law, Commercial and Common Law, and Criminal Law. 

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

Ways Of Working

This role is available as full-time only. We also offer flexible working patterns. 

The way our projects are resourced means we plan in terms of full-time equivalents, but we welcome applications from established job shares, who may work more than 1 full-time equivalent jointly, and from people who might be interested in forming a job share arrangement. Contact details are set out below if you would like to discuss with us in advance of applying.

The Law Commission operates flexible working arrangements including a flexi-time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.

Location

This is a national role, and successful candidates can work from their nearest regional hub (their “base location”). In order for the Law Commission to meet its evolving business needs, all full-time Law Commission staff are expected to attend their base location 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. Informal hybrid working arrangements may be available as agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. Arrangements may be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and will be subject to regular review.

However, candidates are also expected to attend the London office regularly (e.g. once each month) in line with business and team needs. Many of our in-person meetings take place in London, for example at Parliament, with officials and Ministers across Whitehall, and with legal stakeholders in and around the City of London and the Royal Courts of Justice.

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

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

About our lawyers

We recruit brilliant, innovative lawyers from a wide range of backgrounds to join our teams. But our lawyers are not just lawyers. They engage in policy making, legislative procedure, project management and leadership. They examine legal and policy issues from every angle, engage closely with a huge range of stakeholders from all walks of life, draft clear and compelling consultation papers and reports, and work with Government officials to take our work forward in Parliament. While lawyers in private practice apply the law to individual cases, lawyers at the Law Commission have freedom to consider what the law should be, for everyone. 

About the Public Law and Law in Wales team

The Public Law and Law in Wales team extends to public law and regulation in England and Wales. The team has also undertaken a number of projects for the Welsh Government on matters of devolved law in Wales. Our work covers a broad range of issues that have a significant impact on individuals, businesses and wider society. The Public Law and Law in Wales team has a varied portfolio of work ranging from environmental law, transport, planning law and health and social care. In addition to the ADM project, our current work includes projects on: compulsory purchase, environmental legislation and farming, and transport accessibility. We are in the final stages of projects on aviation autonomy and new funerary methods.

The Role

The main duties for the role include:

• Leading, or co-leading, one or more law reform projects against an agreed timetable with the Commissioner and the Team Head, including its day-to-day and strategic management.
• Leading research of the law and how it works in practice (both in England and Wales, across the UK and overseas).
• Analysing problems with the law, identifying options for reform and testing potential solutions.
• Engaging with stakeholders, both inside and outside Government.
• Writing consultation papers, reports and other documents in conjunction with the Commissioner, the Team Head and other team members, and preparing these for publication.
• Analysing consultation responses.
• Working with other professionals within the Law Commission including: the Head of Legal, the Head of Communications to organise publicity for our work; and potentially the Economic Adviser to analyse the impact of reform options; and Parliamentary Counsel to draft legislation.
• Assisting with the promotion and implementation of recommendations from completed projects (including potentially working as part of a Bill Team to take legislation through Parliament) and contributing to the consideration of new project work.
• Managing one or more Research Assistants.
• Contributing to the corporate culture of the Law Commission, for example through supporting and leading activities on areas including learning and development, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and recruitment.

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;
• a CILEX lawyer;
• an overseas professionally qualified lawyer; or
• a legal policy expert.

Experience:

The following experience is desirable:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of public and administrative law generally, together with: o experience of, or ability to master the interaction between public law and technology, or

o a track record demonstrating an ability to acquire knowledge of complex areas of law quickly.

• Experience of complex legal analysis and/or dealing with complex legal argument – this may include 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 law reform - this may include experience of analysing the current law to identify the need for reform, researching and comparing alternative law and legal frameworks to identify alternatives to the current law, and developing and communicating proposals for law reform.
• Experience of line management or supervising others – this may include overseeing trainee solicitors or pupils and/or other lawyers, supervising staff or postgraduate students, or leading a small team.

Salary

This role is graded at Grade 7. New staff will normally be appointed at the starting point of the scale; higher starting salaries will be considered in exceptional circumstances.

If you are already a civil servant and are successful in an external recruitment competition for a role with us, your starting pay will be the better of:

• promotion terms or transfer terms, as appropriate; or
• pay on appointment arrangements (minimum of pay range)

Duration

The post(s) is fixed term for up to 24 months. Subject to business needs, there is a possibility that the fixed term could be extended, or that in due course the post could be converted to a permanent position. 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,

Experience and Technical Skills, set out below. Please also refer to the Civil Service

Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Grade 7): Success Profiles - GOV.UK

At the sift stage you will be assessed on your Experience and Behaviours. In the event of a high volume of applications, applications may initially be sifted on their demonstration of the lead behaviour (making effective decisions) and the statement of suitability. 

Candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage will undertake an interview. At this stage, candidates will be assessed on the same 4 behaviours. Candidates will also be asked to prepare a presentation and complete a written piece of work to gauge their suitability for the role. These exercises will assess your Behaviours and Technical Skills. 

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV and Statement of Suitability during the application process in order to assess your demonstrable experience and career history.

Your Statement of Suitability should set out your motivation for applying for this role, your relevant achievements, and your experience or knowledge relevant to the public sector ADM project (experience of the intersection between public law and technology or alternatively how you demonstrate your ability to acquire knowledge of complex areas quickly).

Behaviours 

• Delivering at pace – you must be able to take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive
• Making effective decisions – you must be able to use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice, carefully considering alternative options, and the implications and risks of decisions
• Working together – you must be able to form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally
• Communicating and influencing – you must be able to communicate with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm

The lead behaviour at the sifting stage is Making effective decisions.

Technical

We are very interested in receiving applications from lawyers or academics who have particular experience or knowledge of the law as it automated decision making in the public sector, or the interaction between public law and technology.

We are also interested in receiving applications from lawyers or academics with a general public and administrative law background, who can demonstrate their ability to acquire knowledge of complex areas of law quickly.

In all cases, we are looking for people who have and an interest in law reform and working at the Law Commission.

Motivational fit: At Interview, you will be asked to demonstrate your motivation for the role and how you align with the technical requirements above.

(written test) Legal skills: Those who pass the initial sift (written application) will be invited for interview. Before the interview you will be asked to undertake a short-written test. At interview you will be asked to prepare a short presentation. These will be used to assess your legal skills.

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 June 2026. 

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. 

Further information can be found at: Current vacancies – Law Commission.

Near Miss 

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

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. 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 (QLTS). 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