Law reform lawyers

There are currently no vacancies for law reform lawyers.

Law Commission projects are led on a day-to-day level by law reform lawyers. Law reform lawyers tend to focus on one project, often in an area in which they have specialist knowledge – though sometimes they will work across more than one area.

Law reform lawyers must be qualified solicitors or barristers, or be able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience (for example, as a legal academic or policy expert).

We primarily look for lawyers with strong research, analytical and writing skills, who would be able to pick up the legal and policy issues quickly. These roles are an excellent opportunity for lawyers to gain law reform, policy, drafting, bill development and stakeholder engagement experience.

The main duties of this post are:

• Working on one or more law reform projects with the Commissioner, the Team Manager, and (where relevant) other team lawyers and research assistants.
• Managing a project against an agreed timetable.
• Researching the law and how it works in practice (both in the UK and overseas), producing detailed research memos.
• Analysing problems with the law, identifying options for reform and testing potential solutions.
• Writing reports and other documents in conjunction with the Commissioner, the team manager and other team members; preparing these for publication.
• Analysing formal consultation responses.
• Working with the Head of Communications to organise publicity for our work.
• For some projects, instructing Parliamentary Counsel to draft legislation.
• Working with the Law Commission’s Economic Adviser to analyse the potential impact of reform options.
• Assisting with the promotion and implementation of recommendations from completed projects, contributing to the consideration of new project work and working on other legal issues as they arise.
• Engaging with stakeholders (both inside and outside Government).
• Effectively managing one or more Research Assistants.
• Assessing potential ideas for law reform and interacting with stakeholders and government officials to build the Law Commission’s programme of future work.
• Acting as an effective and cooperative member of your law reform team and the Commission.
• Acting as a leader and role model, supporting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practice.

Essential qualifications:

• Academic: you must hold a minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree in any subject (or an overseas degree qualification equivalent to a 2.1 degree); and
• Professional: you must be either a solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales, or the holder of a law 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)

The post is available to full-time workers, job-sharers or part-time workers (minimum 4 days a week). If you are looking for shorter part-time working and are not in a job share, please contact us before applying (details below). The Law Commission operates flexible working arrangements including a flexi time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.

The appointment may be fixed term, and may be on loan (from another Government Department) or on secondment. If appointed there will be restrictions on your ability to undertake private practice.

The salary range for lawyers starts at £55,720 and is graded at Grade 7. New staff will be normally appointed at the starting point of the scale; higher starting salaries will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Lawyers Diversity Work Shadowing Scheme

Interested in the lawyer role? You might be eligible to shadow one of our current lawyers through our Diversity Work Shadowing Scheme.