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Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

Employer
Cabinet Office - Office of the Parliamentary Counsel
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
£62,100 (pay award pending)
Closing date
22 Oct 2018
Reference
1595112

View more

Practice area
Public law
Contract type
Permanent
Hours
Full time
PQE
3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, 7 years+
Position
Barrister, Solicitor
Sector
Public sector/Charities

Job Details

Assistant Parliamentary Counsel

Cabinet Office

Grade: Legal Assistant Counsel

Salary: £62,100 (pay award pending)

Location: London

Ref: 1595112

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a team within the civil service of some 50 lawyers and 10 support staff. We draft Government Bills for introduction into Parliament and handle related Parliamentary business. 

Legislative drafting involves analysis of a department’s legislative proposals, getting into the detail of how best the policy should be implemented in law and devising a suitable legislative structure, as well as drafting the legislative provisions themselves. 

Assistant Parliamentary Counsel can expect to work on Bills with one or two more experienced colleagues. They are supervised in their work, with the level of supervision reducing as they grow in expertise and experience. 

The main tasks of an Assistant Parliamentary Counsel are: 
• to assist in drafting Bills which are effective, clearly written and well-structured (including in particular both drafting and reviewing the work of more experienced drafters); 
• to work with officials across Government to ensure that the process of Bill preparation, publication and parliamentary handling is handled effectively and efficiently; 
• to provide advice to Government departments on parliamentary procedure; 
• to review, draft and advise on subordinate legislation; 
• to contribute to the training and development of other drafters, departmental lawyers, policy advisers and Bill team members; 
• to contribute actively to the wider objectives of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in particular those of providing a high-quality drafting service, leading the legislative drafting profession within government, and promoting good law. 

We have an extensive induction and training programme, though new entrants usually find they learn most on the job from working with more experienced colleagues. It takes a number of years to acquire sufficient skill in drafting, familiarity with parliamentary procedure and other relevant knowledge and judgement to be able to take the lead on a Bill. Once they reach the required standard to do that, Assistant Parliamentary Counsel can expect to be promoted to Parliamentary Counsel (Deputy Director) in the Senior Civil Service (pay range from £73,000 plus allowance (pay award pending)), and there are opportunities 
to reach more senior posts. 

Person Specification: 

We are looking for intellectually capable lawyers who are motivated to produce legislation of the highest quality. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people who are disabled or who are black, Asian or from minority ethnic groups, as they are currently under-represented in our workforce. 

Skills and competencies. 

Successful candidates will be able to provide evidence of the following skills during the selection process - 

• excellent powers of analysis; 
• ability to devise creative and constructive solutions to legal problems; 
• ability to translate complex ideas into a clear and coherent structure; 
• skilled use of language, attention to detail and commitment to accuracy; 
• ability to master new areas of law at speed, across the legal landscape; 
• resilience to work under pressure and an ability to deliver at pace; 
• reliable legal judgement; 
• ability to work collaboratively; 
• good self-awareness and a commitment to learning and developing as a professional.

  Qualifications

You should have a good honours degree (2:1 or above or an overseas equivalent) in any subject. Applicants who do not have a 2:1 degree are considered only where strong evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided. 

You must be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales. 

If you have a genuine interest in working for Government, and are excited about developing a career with the Cabinet Office you can find out more at:

 https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=1595112

Closing date: 23:59pm on 22nd October 2018.

Company

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is based in Whitehall and consists of about 55 staff (40 of whom are legislative drafters).  A person appointed would work as part of a team of drafters collaborating with departmental lawyers and other officials in the preparation and handling of Government Bills. 

Company info
Location
Whitehall
London
United Kingdom

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