Understanding the Government Legal Service: The Legal Backbone of the UK Civil Service
Have you ever wondered who helps the UK Government make legal decisions or ensures laws are followed correctly when creating new policies? Meet the Government Legal Service (GLS)—the legal powerhouse working behind the scenes to support the UK Civil Service. In this blog post, we’ll break down what the Government Legal Service does, why it’s so important, and how it affects everyday life in the UK.
What Is the Government Legal Service?
The Government Legal Service, often abbreviated as GLS, is a network of government lawyers who offer legal advice across almost every part of the UK civil service. These professionals make sure new policies, laws, and decisions made by public officials are lawful, fair, and work within the rules of the Constitution, UK law, and international agreements.
In Simple Terms…
Imagine the UK government as a huge company. Well, even companies need lawyers—and the GLS are those lawyers for government departments. They’re like expert teammates ensuring every action taken follows the rulebook.
What Does the Government Legal Service Actually Do?
The work of GLS might not make the front pages, but it’s critical for keeping the country running smoothly. Here are some of their major responsibilities:
- Giving Legal Advice: Civil servants and ministers need to stay within legal boundaries when creating policies. GLS lawyers explain the law, point out legal risks, and help develop ideas that comply with both domestic and international laws.
- Drafting Laws: When new laws are needed or old ones need updating, GLS lawyers play a big role in writing them up clearly and legally. They’re part of the process from start to finish.
- Court Representation: The government sometimes needs to go to court—either to defend itself or to bring action against someone. GLS lawyers represent the UK government in courts, tribunals, or inquiries.
- International and EU Law Work: The GLS also helps ensure that the UK complies with international treaties and deals with issues around EU law, especially after Brexit.
In short, if there’s a legal question somewhere in government, the likelihood is that a Government Legal Service lawyer is already on it.
How Do GLS Lawyers Support the Civil Service?
Supporting the civil service isn’t just about helping with technical legal questions—it’s also about maintaining integrity, fairness, and public trust.
For example, let’s say a new policy is being designed that changes the way public benefits work. A GLS lawyer would be involved early on, helping civil servants understand the existing law, pointing out any areas that might lead to legal challenge, and even helping decide if legislation is needed to bring the change into effect.
They also ensure the changes align with important rights, like those protected by the Human Rights Act or the Equality Act. This ensures the new policy doesn’t unfairly target one group or go against established rights. That’s a huge part of keeping society just and balanced.
Let’s Talk Teamwork
The GLS works closely with other professionals—policy experts, economists, and government officials—offering legal insight that shapes decisions early on. It’s a collaborative process where law and policy work hand-in-hand.
Where Do These Lawyers Work?
The GLS isn’t one single office—it’s a network of over 2,000 lawyers working across around 40 government departments and agencies. These include:
- Home Office
- Department for Education
- Ministry of Justice
- HM Revenue & Customs
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Each department deals with different topics, so the legal work changes depending on where a GLS lawyer is based. One day someone might be working on immigration law, and another day, they could be involved in digital data protections or pandemic regulations. Talk about variety!
What Makes a Good Government Lawyer?
Being a GLS lawyer takes a special combination of skills. You’re not just reading and quoting laws—all government lawyers need to be problem-solvers, quick thinkers, and good communicators.
Here are a few traits GLS lawyers often rely on every day:
- Clear Thinking: They need to quickly understand complex legal issues and explain them in plain language.
- Good Judgment: They often advise on high-pressure, time-sensitive matters with big consequences.
- Team Skills: Working with colleagues across departments is vital—there’s no room for ego.
- Integrity: Everything must be done with a strong sense of fairness, ethics, and public service.
Real-Life Example: Windrush Scandal
The Windrush Scandal was a high-profile issue where individuals who had legally lived in the UK for decades were wrongly detained or deported. Legal advice—and questions about whether the law had been properly followed—played a central role in investigating what went wrong. Ensuring such mistakes aren’t repeated is a key function government lawyers help with, by providing clearer, better-informed legal scrutiny.
Careers in the Government Legal Service
Thinking of becoming a government lawyer? It’s not only meaningful work but offers an incredible opportunity to shape the rules that run the UK. The GLS runs legal trainee schemes for law graduates where participants can gain diverse experience across various departments.
It’s a great way for young lawyers to mix their passion for law with public purpose—and you’re guaranteed to never have a dull day at the office!
Why Should You Care About the GLS?
Now you might be thinking—”Why does all this matter to me?” Here’s the thing: GLS lawyers make sure that your rights are respected when new rules are made. From how your taxes are handled, to your right to protest or get health care, every major public policy decision has a legal foundation.
Without the GLS, the risk of poorly written or even unlawful public policies would be much higher. It’s their guidance that keeps the UK’s legal decisions transparent, fair, and accountable.
Final Thoughts
Although they often work behind closed doors, Government Legal Service lawyers play a vital role in shaping the law and government decisions that touch all our lives—from protecting public rights to guiding policies through Parliament. Their job is all about making sure power is used responsibly and legally.
So next time you hear about a policy change, remember—there’s a good chance a GLS lawyer had a hand in making it happen legally and fairly.
If you’d like to explore more about the Government Legal Service, check out their official page:
Interested in a career that combines law, policy, and public service? The Government Legal Service might be just the place to start.