10577 - Law Commission: Special Counsel for Wales

General Information

Salary The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419 pro-rata, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257 pro-rata. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Part Time, Flexible Working Vacancy Approach External Location National Region National, Wales Closing Date 03-Nov-2025 Post Type Fixed Term Civil Service Grade Grade 6 Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 10577

Descriptions & Requirements

Job description

Job Title

Special Counsel for Wales

Grade

6

Line Manager

Head of Public Law and Law in Wales

Closing Date

03/11/2025

Summary

• We are looking for an experienced lawyer to join the Law Commission as Special Counsel for Wales; an exciting new position intended to promote the Law Commission’s work in Wales. We are looking for an outstanding candidate to influence our strategy, make an immediate impact and create a legacy for high-quality law reform in Wales.
• This specialist position provides a unique opportunity to strengthen and develop the Law Commission’s relationships with key stakeholders in Wales across the Welsh Government, the Senedd and the legal and third sector, and contribute to the development of the law in Wales.
• The successful candidate will work closely with the Law Commissioner for the Public Law and Law in Wales Team, as well as the Head of Legal, to provide targeted leadership ] and support the selection, development and management of law reform projects on devolved law[MJ7] . The Law Commissioner will remain responsible for all projects, with the team lawyer assigned to a project leading day to day work on each project.

The Law Commission: sixty years of cutting-edge law reform and legal expertise

The Law Commission is the statutory body set up under the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed. It operates as an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.

The Commission’S Aims Are:

• To ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and as cost-effective as possible.
• To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform for consideration by the Senedd and Parliament.
• To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes.

From regulating coal tip safety and agricultural law in Wales, to devolved Tribunals and renting homes, we look at important and relevant areas of law that are causing problems for people or businesses and make recommendations for reform where needed.

Much of our work is high-profile and secures significant interest from Senedd Members, the public and the media. Since our first report relating to the law of Wales on Renting Homes in 2013, the law in Wales team has delivered five law reform projects, all of which have been or are being implemented.

We are now seeking an innovative and strategic thinker, with the ability to forge strong and effective relationships, to help lead our work in Wales. This is a great opportunity for an experienced legal leader who is committed to the development of the law in Wales.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Main duties of the postholder

• The postholder will be expected to work closely with the Law Commissioner and the Team Manager for the Public Law and Law in Wales Team, as well as the Head of Legal, to provide targeted leadership and advice in relation to law reform in Wales.
• During the one-year term of the post, the postholder will be expected to shape the direction and strategy of the Law Commission’s work in Wales in the longer-term. Any extension to the term will be by negotiation and agreement during the term.
• The postholder will be expected to proactively nurture, grow and maintain relationships with important stakeholders in Wales, including members of the Welsh Government and the Senedd, the Judiciary, Office of the Legislative Counsel, academics and practising lawyers, and members of the third sector.
• The postholder will contribute to the selection, development and management of law reform projects ] dealing with the law in Wales.
• The postholder will work collaboratively with other Team Managers and senior leaders in the organisation, providing advice and expertise in relation to projects affecting the law in Wales, including making contributions to formulating policy in such projects.
• The postholder will also work with the Head of Communications with a view to promoting effective communication across the Commission with Welsh stakeholders.
• The postholder will be line managed by the Head of Team (who reports to the Head of Legal) and subject to direction from the Law Commissioner for the Public Law and Law in Wales Team.
• The postholder will be supported by, and may be required to line manage, a dedicated member of the civil service fast stream.
• They will act as a leader and role model, supporting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practice.

The Person

Experience:

Essential Criteria

• Professional: You must be a solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive qualified to practise in England and Wales, or the holder of a degree who can demonstrate a comparable level of legal ability (for example, as an overseas professionally qualified lawyer, a legal academic or a legal policy expert).
• Excellent networking and stakeholder engagement skills and confidence, with the ability to use existing contacts in Wales, and to build new relationships across the Law Commission, the Welsh Government and the legal and third sector community in Wales.
• The ability to bring strategic thinking to promote law reform in Wales, exercising sound judgement and bringing together a wide perspective of views to enable the Law Commission to meet its objectives in Wales.
• Strong and clear communication skills, in order to provide clear, evidenced advice and briefings, both written and oral, on complex policy areas to Law Commissioners, senior stakeholders and, as appropriate, Ministers, and having the advanced writing skills necessary to support the Commission’s corporate and reform publications, as and when such contributions are needed.
• Experience at a senior level of one or more of Welsh devolution, the law in Wales and/or public law.

Highly Desirable Criteria

• Experience of participating in existing legal or policy networks in Wales or concerning the law in Wales.
• Fluent Welsh speaker.

Behaviours:

• Leadership - show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
• Communicating and influencing - communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others.
• Working together - form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
• Delivering at pace - take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• understand needs and use evidence, diverse input, and sound judgment to reach clear conclusions.

Selection Process

You will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework on Experience and Behaviours. The Experience and Behaviours we are seeking in candidates can be found above. Please refer to the Civil Service Success Profiles framework for more details at Grade 6: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

There will be two stages to the selection process. For the first stage, you will be assessed against the above behaviours. Please also provide a CV  and write a statement of suitability (750 words maximum) explaining why you want to work for the Law Commission and the reasons for applying for the role of special counsel for Wales. Please remove references to education institutions, qualifications and personal information in order to comply with the Civil Service's name-blind commitment.

Applicants who are successful at the first stage will be invited to interview.

At the sifting stage you will be assessed on your Experience and Behaviours. If there is a high volume of applicants, candidates will be sifted on the basis of Experience and the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. At the interview stage you will be assessed on your Experience, Behaviours and motivational fit for the role.

Further information on the post and our ways of working

The post is a fixed-term appointment for 12-months for an estimated period of 90-days, at between 0.4 to 0.6 FTE (2-3 days per week). Any extension in the term will be by negotiation and agreement during the term. As the role is part-time we do think it can realistically be undertaken as a job share arrangement.

The Law Commission operates flexible working arrangements including a flexi time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. This is a National role open to candidates based outside London, although candidates applying outside of London will be expected to attend at the London office on a regular basis in accordance with business needs, for example for critical meetings with the Commissioners. The Law Commission has a Cardiff-based office (at Churchill House) shared with other Ministry of Justice staff and Arm’s Length Bodies.

The postholder will be expected to attend, with other Commission staff, our regular engagements in Wales, for example meetings of the Wales Advisory Committee (which meets twice a year), the Legal Wales Conference, and any ad hoc meetings with the Welsh Government, Senedd officials, and key stakeholders in Wales. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate and will be subject to regular review.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

If appointed there may be restrictions on your ability to undertake private practice or academic work, to the extent necessary to avoid conflicts of interest and comply with Civil Service rules.

If your application is successful, you will receive a formal letter offering you an appointment that will explain your terms and conditions of service in detail. Your appointment will include a period of probation.

Suitable candidates who are not successful will be held on a reserve list for future posts; such posts may be available in the next 12-months and offered to suitable candidates on the reserve list.

Salary

This role is graded at Grade 6 with a salary range of £64,841.40 to £73,052. The postholder will be reimbursed for any travel and work expenses incurred in relation to official business.

Membership of the Government Legal Profession

The Government Legal Profession (GLP) networks together Government lawyers and trainees, who between them provide legal services across the whole spectrum of government activities. Some are members of the Government Legal Department (GLD): others (like Law Commission lawyers) are not part of the GLD but are part of the wider GLP network. The GLP also maintains close links with lawyers in other parts of the Government, such as the Crown Prosecution Service.

A solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales will, on joining the Law Commission, have access to the networking benefits and opportunities of the wider GLP. This will also apply to overseas qualified lawyers who fulfil the nationality requirements and are eligible to practise in England and Wales under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Information about the QLTS (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme) can be obtained from the SRA (www.sra.org.uk).

Equal opportunity & diversity information

We are committed to treating people openly and with respect. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from candidates regardless of their ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, sexuality, disability, marital status, age, and race. For further information, please see the following:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/diversity-guidance

Interviews

Interviews are expected to happen in early December 2025. They may be virtual or in-person. This will be confirmed nearer the time.

If you would like to discuss these posts further, please contact:

Further Information

Henni Ouahes, Head of Public Law and Law in Wales and Connor Johnston, Senior Lawyer in the team.

Email:  mailto:henni.ouahes@lawcommission.gov.uk[MJ46]  and connor.johnston@lawcommission.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible Working Hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

Moj:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 10577

Hmpps

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 10577

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Application Form Stage Assessments

Behaviours A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered. Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together Delivering at Pace Making Effective Decisions Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview Stage Assessments

Interview Dates Expected Early December Behaviours Leadership Communicating and Influencing Working Together Delivering at Pace Making Effective Decisions Technical Motivational Fit. Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Level of security checks required Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)