3 x Lawyers, SASO (DV + Enhanced)

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

About the Special Advocates Support Office (SASO) - Litigation Directorate

Job description

Working as a SASO Lawyer: A unique viewpoint on litigation

The Special Advocates’ Support Office (“SASO”) is a unique team based in the Justice and Development Division of the Government Legal Department (“GLD”). It supports the Special Advocates, who are security-cleared lawyers in their constitutionally critical role to protect the rights of excluded parties in cases featuring Closed Material Procedure (“CMP”). Issues of national security and international relations are typically at the heart of litigation handled by the team. The successful candidate can expect to work on important, sensitive and at times high profile cases.

Many of the terms used below are explained here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/saso-manual

Special Advocates are appointed by the Attorney General and represent the interests of individuals in cases involving CMP, which covers an extremely broad range of proceedings. For example, SASO supports the Special Advocates in proceedings before the High Court of England & Wales, the High Court of Northern Ireland, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, the Parole Board, the Employment Tribunal and the Security Vetting Appeals Panel as well as in other courts, tribunals and panels across the different jurisdictions of the UK.

In order to assist Special Advocates in their role, SASO provides the following services:

1. briefing the Special Advocate(s), collating the OPEN papers and legal materials;
2. corresponding with the excluded party, the OPEN Representatives and the Information Owners’ representatives about case management directions, conferences, evidence, and preparation for hearings;
3. attending hearings and corresponding with courts in relation to directions and other procedural matters;
4. corresponding with Information Owners and courts regarding communication requests;
5. preparing CLOSED materials, and filing and serving on various parties;
6. arranging and hosting meetings for Special Advocates to discuss matters relevant to their work, including developments in the law; and
7. assisting the wider legal and academic community with matters relating to CLOSED material proceedings (including court working groups, academics, research, and discussions) and lawyers from overseas jurisdictions.

SASO lawyers are divided into OPEN and CLOSED teams. The SASO OPEN team liaises with the Attorney General’s Office (in Northern Ireland, the Advocate General’s Office) and OPEN Representatives and supports the Special Advocate(s) whilst they remain in OPEN, such as by attending OPEN conferences (to discuss case strategy) and OPEN hearings. The SASO CLOSED team handles the CLOSED side of litigation. They have access to the CLOSED material in a case and are therefore able to consider and discuss the material with the Special Advocate(s) in CLOSED, and also to attend CLOSED hearings. For this reason, SASO CLOSED lawyers are required to have Enhanced Developed Vetting security clearance.

This role is for a lawyer in the CLOSED team, but pending clearance, lawyers work in the OPEN team. The role is based in London but occasional casework-related travel may be required.

SASO’s place in the Litigation Directorate

SASO sits within the Litigation Directorate of the GLD. There are information barriers and procedures in place to ensure SASO’s independence from other GLD legal teams representing UK Government clients.

GLD’s Litigation Directorate has over 750 staff based in Bristol, Leeds, London and Manchester. It comprises four divisions, the Covid Inquiry Division, the Defence and Security Division, the Home Office and Immigration Division and the Justice and Development division. SASO is based in the Justice and Development division.

The Litigation Directorate is key to delivering GLD’s core purpose, vision and strategic outcomes. As the largest unit within GLD, delivering for clients across Government on a daily basis, handling thousands of cases and interacting with the courts, counsel and other litigants, the Litigation Directorate is key to delivering GLD’s core purpose, vision and strategic outcomes. Litigation lawyers cover a full range of judicial review challenges in areas such as immigration, planning and national security as well as the Government’s wide ranging reform agenda. They regularly litigate through the higher courts to the Supreme Court and handle cases at the forefront of the developing law.

Although SASO’s role is distinct from that of other teams within the Litigation Directorate, the successful candidate(s) will have access to key legal information, knowledge and resources across Government, as well as networks of lawyers with specialised expertise who can provide guidance and training on cross-cutting issues.

About the Role

Career Offer

For some roles, travel may be required. If you join us with less than three years of post-qualification experience (PQE), your starting salary will be £51,541.00 per annum. This will increase to £63,189 (Croydon/London) or £61,124 (National) per annum once you have successfully completed your p