The Government Legal Department has told the Gazette that it is committed to the ‘levelling up’ agenda despite seeking to recruit 50 lawyers based in London.
According to a job advertisement posted on gov.uk, the non-ministerial department is looking for applications from candidates ‘whatever stage’ of their career to fill 50 posts in the capital. Salaries for the 50 London posts range from £43,916 to £50,500. The application window closes on 31 August.
Earlier this year ministers announced plans to move UK government functions and civil servants out of Whitehall to ensure ‘levelling up’ was not directed from London. Questions submitted to GLD chiefs at a staff meeting last year revealed discontent over a wide range of matters, including pay, morale and IT.
Asked about the high number of London-based posts, a GLD spokesperson told the Gazette: ‘The GLD has an ongoing need to recruit a talented and highly capable workforce to replace natural turnover. This includes continuing to recruit roles in London but also increasingly in other locations, particularly Leeds and Bristol.’
The department added that it continuously reviews capacity and capability to meet the demand for legal services across government ‘at best value to the taxpayer’. It would continue to have a presence in London but is committed to the levelling up agenda and ‘actively expanding’ its pre-existing offices in Bristol, Leeds and other locations.
GLD has nearly 2,800 staff, including 2,100 solicitors and barristers, who provide a legal service to the majority of government departments. Its work includes advising government on policy, preparing primary legislation and drafting secondary legislation.
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