Early Talent  

Early Talent opportunities

GLD offers a variety of legal and cross-functional professional (non-legal) Early Talent opportunities which are all advertised on Civil Service Jobs. Some further information on each of these routes can be found below:

• Cross-Functional Professional Apprenticeships

  • GLD offer various apprenticeships, including accountancy, business administration, commercial procurement, digital and technology, human resources, and more.
  • These opportunities will be advertised on Civil Service Jobs which will detail essential criteria and candidate eligibility.
  • Each apprenticeship will include structured training with 20% off the job learning and ongoing support from an assigned tutor/coach.
  • There will be an End Point Assessment (EPA) required for completion and certification.
  • Enrolling onto the apprenticeship will include eligibility checks, initial assessments, preboarding checks, and compliance documents.

• Solicitor Apprenticeship

  • Apprentices are employed on a permanent contract as an Executive Officer Paralegal within GLD (minimum 30 hours a week), supported by 20% off the job study allowance and a Legal Supervisor.
  • It is a 6-year programme with the first 4 years spent studying for a law degree and the last 2 years moving to the Graduate programme to complete SQE1 and SQE2 where upon successful completion, you can apply to become a qualified Solicitor and move to a Legal Officer role.
  • This apprenticeship is aimed at those with eligible Level 3 Qualifications e.g. A levels/Paralegal Apprenticeship/CILEx Level 3/BTEC/Diploma.

• Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship

  • Apprentices are employed on a permanent contract as a Higher Executive Officer in a Senior Paralegal role within the GLD (minimum 30 hours a week), supported by 20% off the job study allowance and a Legal Supervisor .
  • It is a 30- or 36-month programme depending on your eligibility; apprentices will complete placements on an internal rotation structure, working to complete SQE1 and SQE2. You will then return to the original team for the last 6 months to complete the End Point Assessment. Upon successful completion of these activities, apprentices can apply to become a qualified Solicitor and move to a Legal Officer role.
  • This apprenticeship is suitable for those who have completed qualifying law degree with a minimum 2:2 or a non-law degree minimum 2:2 and conversion course. Further eligibility information will be provided on the job advert.

• Paralegal Roles and Apprenticeships

  • GLD is developing a career pathway to support paralegals gain professional qualifications.
  • Permanent paralegal positions and apprenticeships are advertised on the Civil Service Jobs website, across various teams and divisions within GLD.
  • Paralegals will work with the Head of the Paralegal Profession, who is responsible for ensuring there are clear pathways into the profession, a structured career route for those seeking to progress as Paralegal Professionals, and opportunities for individuals who aspire to become qualified lawyers.
  • This route offers a pathway from paralegal roles to qualified lawyer positions within GLD, incorporating the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

• GLD Legal Trainee Scheme

  The GLD Legal trainee scheme offers training to qualify as a Solicitor or Barrister. This involves creating legislation, providing legal advice to ministers, and representing the government in courts.

  Trainees are supported by comprehensive resources and guidance to meet regulatory requirements and prepare for a career in government law. 

  Trainee Solicitors: Will undertake four six-month placements (seats) over two years, covering both contentious and noncontentious areas. Following successful completion of these placements, our trainees will be assessed against the SRA Practice Skills Standards to qualify as a Solicitor. 

  Pupil Barrister Trainees: Will focus on applying and developing the competences set out in the Bar Standard’s Board’s Professional Statement. The pupillage period comprises of a 6 months’ non-practicing seat (in an Immigration team Litigation Group) and a 6 months’ practicing seat in a set of Barristers Chambers. On successful completion of the pupillage period, our pupils will apply for their full practising certificate and become qualified barristers but will remain as trainee barristers for a further 12 months. GLD are different in that we have a 2-year training period for barristers, which aligns with the training for solicitors and ensures that all trainees get the same breadth of experience in government legal work.

  Application process: Trainee Solicitor and Pupil Barrister trainee positions will be advertised at separate points throughout the year, however both routes follow the same application process. This consists of:

  • A brief online application form asking for location preference and confirmation of eligibility based on nationality and academic criteria.
  • Candidates will then need to complete a Situational Judgment, Verbal Reasoning, and Critical Reasoning Test.
  • Candidates who pass these tests will be invited to complete a Video Interview – a 20-minute interview to assess motivations and essential behaviours.
  • Candidates who pass this stage will be invited to Assessment Centre which will involve a written exercise and panel interview to discuss advice and core behaviours; includes strength based and motivation questions.

  Recruitment Cycle:

  • Solicitor recruitment: Applications usually open from April – May. In 2024, there were 60 Trainee Solicitor positions being offered through the 2024 Legal Trainee Scheme, with the positions starting in September 2025 and September 2026.
  • Pupil Barrister recruitment: This campaign will open in January 2025. The positions will be advertised on the Pupillage Gateway and GLP website in November.

  Eligibility:

  Both campaigns will require a minimum 2:2 honours in an undergraduate qualifying law degree; or a minimum of a 2:2 honours in a non-law subject (or overseas equivalent) with a minimum pass in the Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)/ GDL law conversion. Full eligibility, qualification, nationality and residency information will be included on the job advert.

  To find out more information on the trainee schemes and to register your interest in the upcoming campaigns, please visit: GLP website.