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Source: gov.uk (2025-06-09)

Government lawyers provide legal advice to the government and represent it in court proceedings

The government is our sole client.

Whether the government is creating new laws, buying goods and services, or defending its decisions in court, it needs significant levels of legal advice on a range of complex issues.

To carry out this work, the government needs its own lawyers and legal trainees who understand its business.

Government lawyers work closely with ministers, policy makers and other professionals. They have a unique role in helping the government deliver its manifesto and run public services.

This short film (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/lawyers-in-government) showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in.

The head of the government legal profession is the Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department (GLD) (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-legal-department).

GLD is the single largest provider of legal services to government and has legal teams providing advisory services to nearly all the main government departments.

GLD is also the main provider of civil litigation, employment and commercial law services to government.

The government legal profession also includes legal teams employed in, for example, the Attorney General’s Office (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/attorney-generals-office), HM Revenue & Customs (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office) and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-parliamentary-counsel) (not an exhaustive list). Other organisations such as the Crown Prosecution Service, Office of the Advocate General for Scotland and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also employ lawyers.

Parliamentary and advisory work

Governments use their lawyers’ skills to bring to life the policies announced in their manifestos.

Government lawyers advise whether a policy can be introduced under existing legislation and, if so, how.

If not, new primary legislation is required, meaning a law which is to be approved by Parliament.

Government lawyers play an important role in helping to prepare proposals for new laws (known as Bills) and take them through Parliament.

Where this is the case, government lawyers will work closely with officials, government ministers and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-parliamentary-counsel). They advise ministers and support them in Parliamentary debates.

Government lawyers also write secondary legislation, such as regulations, Statutory Instruments, and Orders in Council, much of which directly affects our communities.

Working on primary and secondary legislation requires a logical approach and the ability to clarify complex ideas both orally and in writing.

Lawyers also need to ensure that all the legal implications of a policy have been thought through. It is their job to make sure that the law they are helping to prepare will withstand the scrutiny of the courts and Parliament.

A lawyer’s role in the development and implementation of new legislation is intellectually demanding - and unique.

Creating legislation and being part of the process as it moves through to the Houses of Parliament is an opportunity that cannot be provided elsewhere.

It is fascinating and challenging in equal measure.

Litigation work

Litigation is the legal term used to describe the process of taking legal action.

The litigation work on offer is hugely varied and frequently high profile.

Lawyers can find themselves in a range of courts from regional Employment Tribunals all the way up to the Supreme Court (https://www.supremecourt.uk/).

The government dimension adds a unique perspective. The wider implication for future government policy is an additional and important consideration.

The significant amount of litigation work carried out can be of a private or public law nature. This involves questions of constitutional importance especially in the fields of judicial review, public interest immunity, contempt, national security and human rights.

Commercial work

As the government seeks to reduce the levels of public spending, the work of commercial lawyers has never been more important.

Whether they are undertaking large-scale complex public procurement or day-to-day transactional commercial matters, it is essential that government departments obtain value from all their contracts.

To help them to do so, departments need commercial lawyers to provide legal advice on a wide range of matters. These include public procurement law, contract law, intellectual property and state aid.

Commercial lawyers work closely with their clients. They help them develop sound policies, devise robust commercial and procurement strategies and to construct resilient contractual arrangements with suppliers.

Employment work

GLD’s Employment Directorate, embraces both advisory and litigation work, is one of the largest employment law practices in the country.

Employment lawyers act for departments of state and public bodies in cases brought before the Employment Tribunal, County Court, Employment Appeal Tribunal and beyond.

They also advise on non-contentious matters, including employment policies, practices, and compliance with new legislation.

They seek to provide their clients with training and information to help prevent employment problems in the future.