Although it may sometimes appear to be overshadowed by the glitzy attractions
of corporate law, a legal career in the public sector appeals to an entirely
different kind of agenda — maybe a different kind of person — and junior
lawyers are queueing up for the privilege of working there. That is because
public bodies offer the prospect of considerable job satisfaction and,
potentially, a much more varied and stimulating range of work than you would
enjoy in private practice.
In particular it will appeal to those who have a strong commitment to public
service. Melissa Hardee, of the City Law School, says: “In the public sector
you won’t, as a junior lawyer, be in the position of working your socks off
to create profits for other people.” Instead, Anne Petrie, of the College of
Law, observes, the motive expressed by successful applicants to the public
sector is an enthusiasm to serve the public good. “Recruiters are looking
for candidates who have a strong sense of civic duty and responsibility,”
she says.
There is also a very wide range of choice — so take your pick.
Government Legal Service
The key attraction here is the enormous range of work that it embraces across
all Whitehall departments. Career paths can develop in a flexible way,
moving from one specialism to another as the years unfold. Work-life balance
is good.
Lee Harding, training as a solicitor, is on his third seat, and is based for
the time being in the Department for Business. “I had always been interested
in public policy and had worked, after graduating, with the Youth Justice
Board before going on to my Legal Practice Course,” he says.
Already, Lee has had the chance to have some input into new government
regulations by confirming, under supervision, that they were human-rights
compliant. “I think I am more stretched intellectually here than I would be
in the private sector,” he says.
United Nations
Antonia Mulvey qualified as a solicitor in London and is now employed as a
lawyer by the UN in Africa. She was recruited after experience with the
International Rescue Committee in Darfur (a project funded by the UN).
“I cover a far wider range of legal work than when I was a practising lawyer
in London,” she says. “It varies from advising governments on judicial
reform and justice strategy to capacity building of legal aid lawyers and
paralegals. It also includes training and advising judges, prosecutors and
lawyers on legal issues as well as advising on long-term legal education and
legislative reform.”
After her university degree Mulvey undertook voluntary legal work, including
an internship with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in
Washington. “The UN offers many opportunities for lawyers abroad and in a
wide variety of contexts,” she says. “These range from legal advisers for
the UN in Geneva or New York to working in conflict environments and being
in the courtroom prosecuting those who have violated peoples’ human rights.”
Crown Prosecution Service
Lesley Williams, head of legal development at the Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS), takes pride in the quality of the experience and training offered to
its junior lawyers (which probably exceeds what is available to most
barristers in chambers). With little difference between the roles of
barristers and solicitors she points out that she is “looking for advocacy
potential” in those who are recruited, and with a guaranteed stream of work,
they are soon immersed in court work.
“By the second six they will be starting to present cases and it builds in
complexity from then on. After 18 months they will be down at the police
station giving advice.”
Competition is fierce to enter the CPS with typically 1,800 applicants for a
couple of score of places.
European Commission
Having spent virtually the whole of his career as a lawyer with the Legal
Service of the European Commission, Michel Petite retired recently as
director-general in order to join Clifford Chance. He headed a staff of 200
lawyers who provide advice on proposed legislation and decisions and
investigations into suspected breaches of EU laws. European Commission
lawyers also represent the commission at the European Court of Justice, the
EU’s highest court, and at the World Trade Organisation.
“Aside from new EU members there is open competition from across Europe for
jobs with the Legal Service, which is organised pretty much as a law firm,”
he says. “In most cases those we recruit will have had two or three years
professional experience before they join.”
The appeal of the job, he says, lies in “the sense of joining a project in
progress, in participating in a project of huge importance, in building up
Europe”.
The Armed Services
Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force are self-reliant when it comes to legal
services, although their modes of recruitment vary considerably. The Army,
for example, recruits lawyers who are qualified and promotes them to
captain. The Royal Navy, by contrast, will sponsor experienced mariners
through their legal training.
“We are looking for lawyers with a strong academic background who have the
flexibility of mind and physical robustness (not superhuman fitness) to
operate alongside the Army in peace and on operations,” Major J. B. Harris,
of the Army, says. “We have a diverse client base from senior generals to
private soldiers and our officers have to be able to deal with the varying
legal questions that arise.”
The attractions are clearly the military lifestyle and freedom from billing
targets and the rat race of civilian practice. “As an army officer the
possibilities for travel and a varied career are second to none,” Captain
Harris says. “No other organisation offers the chance to work on operations
in very challenging environments and most officers change jobs every two
years.”
Local government
“There is a perception that local government is a backwater — but it is not,”
Petrie says. “If you are working for a county council, for example, then the
scale of some of your cases is going to be pretty enormous and you will be
in a position to affect directly the council’s policy.”
With about 100 local councils offering training, the competition is
surprisingly intense. Councils are looking for good legal ability combined
with a personal commitment to public service and a desire to serve a local
community. The scope of work is, potentially, very wide — ranging across
social services, antisocial behaviour, planning, education and transport,
depending on the kind of authority you work for. Opportunities for
progression are good and with everything from sleepy rural district councils
to massive city authorities such as Birmingham there is a wide range of
choice in terms of tone and priorities.
If you're interested, here are the details:
United Nations:
www.jobs.un.org
Armed Forces: www.army.mod.uk/agc/army_legal_services/index.htm
www.raf.careers.co.uk www.royalnavy.mod.uk
Crown Prosecution Service: www.cps.gov.uk/working/index.html
European Commission: www.ec.europa.eu/dgs/legal-service/index_en.htm
and www.europa.eu/epso
Government Legal Service: www.gls.gov.uk
Local government: www.slgov.org.uk/helpandadvice
its all mental
mike, london, UK