2x Deputy Director, Defra Legal Advisers (Circular Economy / Marine & Fisheries)

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

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 fulfil 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.

Defra Legal Advisers (DLA) provides legal advice across the full breadth of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Defra is responsible for protecting and enhancing the environment, supporting a thriving food, farming and fisheries sector, safeguarding animal and plant health, and driving sustainable economic growth.

DLA advises on some of the most complex, high-profile and politically significant issues facing Government. Our lawyers support Ministers and officials across the full policy lifecycle, from the development of policy and legislation through to implementation and delivery. As a member of the DLA Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in delivering the DLA Strategy and leadership pledge, helping to build a directorate that delivers for Defra's priorities, promotes inclusion and collaboration, develops its people, and provides high-quality legal services across Government.

We are recruiting two Deputy Directors to lead legal teams operating at the forefront of Defra's agenda:

Deputy Director, Circular Economy will lead a team providing legal advice on major environmental reforms, including waste crime and enforcement, recycling and waste reform, extended producer responsibility, product sustainability reforms and a significant programme of secondary legislation supporting the Government's circular economy ambitions.

Deputy Director, Marine and Fisheries (Oceans) will lead a team advising on marine conservation, fisheries management, international marine negotiations and environmental protection. The team supports Ministers on complex domestic and international legal issues, including fisheries agreements, marine protected areas, biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and other strategically important marine priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate legal leadership in a key priority area for government
• Personally advise the Secretary of State and Ministers on all aspects of domestic and international law
• Support others to advise Ministers on both international and domestic law in a complex legislative landscape
• Build networks that enable you to operate seamlessly across boundaries
• Exercise sound political and legal judgement
• Be a strong team leader, fully committed to the development of your team
• Support the development of a newly configured team, fostering close links to other teams in DLA; and
• Play a critical leadership role in DLA as part of our SLT

These roles offer the opportunity to provide legal leadership on matters of national importance, working directly with Ministers and senior officials on legally and politically sensitive issues. You will help shape policy outcomes, influence decision-making across Government and contribute to the strategic leadership of Defra Legal Advisers.

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx. Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date.

Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:

1. Contract Law

2. Criminal Law

3. Equity and Trusts Law

4. European Union Law

5. Land Law

5. Public Law

6. Law of Tort

• Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.

Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Application

To apply for this post you need to complete the application on Civil Service Jobs. The deadline for this application is 1st September 2026 at 12:00 Midday. You can search for the job using the reference number below.

In your application you will be assessed on the following: addressing the Technical Legal Professional Skills and the following behaviours:

• A CV setting out your employment history including key experiences, and qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess the key skills and experience and technical legal professional skills, as set out in the Person Specification slide, as a first stage sift.
• Personal statement of 1250 words addressing the Technical Legal Professional Skills and the following behaviours: ​

Leadership​

Working Together​

Developing Self and Others ​

Managing a Quality Service

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that all documents contain your full name.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

CV Guidance for candidates

Please note that CV forms part of the online application form.

Please find the following guidance on how to populate the three sections of the CV when completing the online application: You will be asked to provide your, employment history and qualifications.

For Employment History – please add your employment history, you can set out the roles you have completed in the past with start to end dates. Please include your key experiences in this section

For Qualifications – please list the details of your relevant education and qualifications achieved.

Failure to complete all documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. Should you encounter any issues with your online application or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@governmentlegal.gov.uk.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk . Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – 474899 & vacancy closing date 1st September 2026.

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through Civil Service Jobs once your application has been submitted.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on the CV alone. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the two-stage sift where their Personal Statement will be assessed.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required experience in their CV will not progress to have their Personal Statement assessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the first stage of the two-stage sift.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Assessments

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise.

These assessments do not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.

Informal Conversations

Shortlisted candidates will also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder, James Maskell, prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is an optional part of the process, not part of the formal assessment process.

Interview

You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

As part of this interview candidates may be required to deliver a short 5 –minute presentation aligned to the person specification and the title of that presentation will be confirmed in advance. This will be scored on key skills and experience.

Interviews will take place in-person in-person at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. Full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Offer, Feedback and Reserve List

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all candidates will be advised of selection decisions as soon as possible thereafter. All advertised dates are subject to change at short notice.

We are unable to offer feedback to candidates who have not attended an interview. Candidates who attend an interview will also be offered written feedback from a member of the interview panel.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.