EoI - TP - Legal Secretary to the Advocate General (SCS 1)

Expressions of interest are invited for this exciting opportunity on level transfer or temporary promotion to Deputy Director (SCS 1) as Legal Secretary to the Advocate General, Office of the Advocate General. 

This opportunity is available to suitably qualified colleagues from the Government Legal Service for Scotland, the Government Legal Profession and other permanent civil servants.

Overview

The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is the UK Government's Scottish legal team. The Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General (LSAG), which the Legal Secretary heads, is part of OAG and supports the Advocate General in her role as a Law Officer. OAG also provides legal advice and litigation services to other UK Government departments in relation to Scotland. 

The Advocate General, Baroness Smith of Cluny KC, is one of the UK Government Law Officers, along with the Attorney General and Solicitor General for England and Wales. She is the principal legal adviser to the UK Government on Scots law and Scottish devolution, but also advises on other matters. The Law Officers advise the UK Government on the most challenging points arising on a wide range of issues, including human rights, constitutional law and the devolution settlements. 

LSAG is a team of 4 lawyers (1 x C2/G6 and 2 x C1/G7 in addition to the Legal Secretary) who are dedicated to supporting the Advocate General in her role as a Law Officer.  The Advocate General’s Private Office, which the Legal Secretary is also responsible for, consists of the Senior Private Secretary (C1/G7) and three Assistant Private Secretaries (B2/HEO). The majority of LSAG and Private Office are based in Dover House, London.  The other members of the Division are based in Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh, along with the other Divisions in OAG.

The core work of LSAG is preparing advice to UK Government departments on questions which may require the Law Officers’ advice, or in which the Law Officers have a particular interest. LSAG provides wider legal support to the Law Officers, including briefing for Cabinet Committee business. LSAG supports the Advocate General in her internal and external engagements, and represents the Advocate General’s interests across Government. LSAG also advises the Advocate General on her statutory functions under the Scotland Act 1998 (including possible references of Scottish Parliament bills to the Supreme Court). LSAG works very closely with the Attorney General’s Office and has frequent contact with colleagues in other parts of OAG and Scotland Office. 

This role provides a unique experience of working directly with a UK Government Minister and Law Officer, as well as other Ministers, including the Attorney General, Solicitor General and Secretary of State for Scotland.  It also provides experience in a wide range of very topical and often controversial issues, including areas of human rights law and constitutional law, and the holder of the role will have frequent contact with lawyers and policy colleagues in other UK Government departments.  The work of LSAG is right at the heart of legal affairs in Government, and the role provides an exceptional opportunity to gain experience of the workings of the UK Government and the Law Officers. 

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the Legal Secretariat in supporting the Advocate General in her role as a Law Officer and responsibility for ensuring appropriate use of the resource allocation for the Division (which includes the Private Office supporting the Advocate General).

• Acting as the most senior legal adviser by taking a personal lead on issues that are particularly high profile, sensitive or of strategic significance.

• Developing the capability and resilience of the Legal Secretariat, monitoring the balance of workload between staff, deploying staff flexibly to meet challenges within the Division and supervising the Senior Private Secretary and the Private Office.

• To liaise with the Attorney General’s Office, maintain strong relationships with them and build an authoritative profile across Government.

• Sound judgement in fast moving or ambiguous situations, with an ability to take difficult and often finely balanced decisions which take account of the wider political landscape and understanding of the legal and political nuances of Scottish devolution.

• To be a member of the OAG Senior Leadership Team and contribute to the wider corporate activity of OAG.

• Advise and support the Director in leading and managing the Office, including in championing any improvement agenda and in considering the present and future deployment of resources.

Further information about the role

The role is based in Dover House, London with hybrid working in line with current policies. Some working from Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh, is required with some flexibility on frequency. If you wish to discuss a work pattern that does not involve you working in London on a full-time basis, please speak to Jim Gaughan (details below).

The role is full time but people on different workings patterns may apply and we would work together to consider options for fulfilling the business requirements for this role. If wish to discuss flexible working options for this role, please speak to Jim Gaughan.

The successful candidate will be expected to take up the role by the end of November 2026. 

OAG does not employ staff directly. For successful candidates from outwith the GLSS, the role has usually been undertaken on a two-year loan with a possibility of extension for a further year. 

While a UK Government department, OAG is part of the Government Legal Services for Scotland (GLSS). For this role, expressions of interest are also encouraged from suitably qualified candidates outwith the GLSS.

Responsibilities

Applicants must be a qualified lawyer, and being entitled to practise as a solicitor or advocate in Scotland is highly desirable. 

The role requires a sound understanding of the Scottish legal system including the devolution settlement. If you wish to discuss this element of the criteria for the role, please speak to Jim Gaughan.

• A proven track record of providing high-quality legal advice, including to Ministers and senior officials, which takes account of political and strategic choices. 
• Commitment and ability to embed an inclusive, learning culture in teams, trusting and empowering others, actively managing wellbeing and enabling high performance and innovation. 

1. A CV of no more than two pages, setting out your career history as well as educational and professional qualifications; and

2. A Supporting Statement of no more than 1,000 words evidencing how you demonstrate the criteria in the Person Specification above. 

For further information about this opportunity, or if you would like to discuss any matters before applying, please contact Jim Gaughan, Interim Director of OAG: james.gaughan@advocategeneral.gov.uk.

Expressions of interest should be accompanied by confirmation that you have discussed the opportunity with your Deputy Director or Director and that they would be content to release you if your application is successful.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the recruiting manager and panel expected to take place in the week commencing 12 October. Further details on the interview will be shared in advance with shortlisted candidates.

Qualifications