Lawyer

Job summary

About us

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing, and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

Job description

The role

We are looking for experienced legal practitioners – irrespective of personal and professional background - to support and deliver our mission across a range of legal disciplines and practice areas. Many of the areas we cover are unique to the world of intelligence and national security and all of which are exciting, varied and at the cutting-edge of the law. Previous experience of national security law is not essential.

Working in one of our legal teams (but with the expectation that over time you will work across all our legal teams), you will deal with novel, complex and challenging legal issues arising from the delivery of MI5’s mission. You will advise on: operations and investigations; the development and deployment of technical capabilities; data and information acquisition, use and sharing; the use of executive powers and the disruption of terrorist and hostile state activity; litigation and engagement with oversight and scrutiny bodies; and the development of new legislation and powers.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference to the safety of the country and its citizens, with immediate responsibility coupled with plenty of on-the-job support and career and professional development to help you build new skills and areas of expertise. Plus, with no client time recording or billable hour requirements, you will be able to focus on delivering sound legal advice and creative solutions that support our national security mission.

We are looking for potential and the ability and desire of lawyers to pick up new areas of law and new responsibilities. Lawyers may have the opportunity to lead cross-disciplinary teams of lawyers and non-lawyers, and lead on particular projects and areas of work, but there are no direct line management responsibilities.

Some aspects of the role might require travel around the country or internationally, but this is infrequent and not an expected day to day aspect of the job.

Please note that interviews for this role will take place in early 2027

Person specification

About you

You will be asolicitor or barrister,qualified to practise in England and Wales, with a minimum of 2 years’ Post-Qualification Experience (PQE). You do not need national security law experience to apply. We are more interested in your potential, your intellectual curiosity and your desire and ability to develop expertise in new areas of law.

You will have the ability to find creative solutions to complex legal problems, drawing on your experience and judgement. Whether your background is in criminal, public, human rights, immigration, data and information, family, corporate and commercial, litigation or any other area of law, you will bring a perspective that can add something new to our work.

You will be persuasive and diplomatic, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and able to handle complex and sensitive casework with credibility. You will be capable of making sound risk-based judgements and have the ability to operate independently. You will have the insight to know when to seek support and assistance and a desire to work as part of a supportive and collaborative team. You will be seeking a career with real purpose and will want to make a positive difference.

Benefits

Training and development

You will have the potential to develop into an effective all-round national security lawyer but you do not need to know everything when you join us. From day one, you'll have a comprehensive induction, both into the specific legal team you join and into the wider legal department and national security legal community. This will be followed by on-the-job training and a personal development plan tailored to you. You will also have access to courses through our internal training academy, alongside wider professional development support in a close-knit environment where lawyers are encouraged to keep learning, however experienced they already are.

Alongside your line manager, you'll be allocated a mentor and a buddy within your team, giving you both immediate, practical support as you settle in and an ongoing source of guidance as you grow. Beyond the development support we offer, you will also have ownership of the way you would like to grow, including identifying and pursuing the opportunities that match your own goals. Training here works across different timeframes: in the short term, it is about getting you up to speed as quickly as possible; over the longer term, it is about building deep expertise in your field of specialism while still having room to branch into new areas as your interests evolve.

Rewards and benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £86,779 or £96,097 (depending on experience) plus other benefits including:

• 25 days of annual leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
• opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• a dedicated development budget
• an interest-free season ticket loan
• an excellent pension scheme
• a cycle to work scheme
• facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• paid parental and adoption leave.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Equal opportunities

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website.

We’re Disability Confident

MI5 is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident scheme. This