About this role
Job description
Law Commission: Law Reform Team Manager – Commercial and Common Law Job description
The Law Commission is recruiting a Grade 6 Law Reform Team Manager within the Commercial and Common Law Team on a 12-month fixed-term appointment. There may be an opportunity for the role to be extended or made permanent, subject to business need and the relevant approvals.
This vacancy is being advertised externally and is open to candidates who consider themselves suitable for the role and meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Civil Service Jobs advert, including civil servants from across government departments.
Location:
Successful candidates will be based at:
- 102 Petty France, London
In order for Law Commission to meet its evolving business needs all Law Commission staff are expected to attend their base location (102 Petty France) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.
Ways of Working
At the Law Commission we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: Diversity and inclusion – Law Commission
Salary
This role is graded at Grade 6.
We will consider applications from staff on promotion, but candidates will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to work at a high level on complex matters with senior stakeholders.
Duration of Appointment
This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment. There may be an opportunity for the appointment to be extended or made permanent, subject to business need and the relevant approvals.
The successful candidate will also be eligible to apply for vacancies advertised internally across the Civil Service during the period of their appointment.
Summary:
- This is an opportunity to make a real difference to the law in England and Wales, leading a team of specialist law reformers working on challenging and high-profile law reform.
- You will be someone who can manage both detail and the bigger picture, taking people with you to drive delivery of a complex and varied programme of law reform work.
- Law Reform Team Managers (of which there are four posts) hold a key leadership role at the Law Commission and are essential in the delivery of our high-profile law reform work. We are looking for a talented new leader of our Commercial and Common Law Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work with the Law Commissioner, Professor Solène Rowan, across all the team’s law reform projects.
- The postholder will work closely with the Law Commissioner and CEOs in the leadership and management of the team and its work, delivering law reform for the benefit of the public.
- The key challenges are: overseeing a complex set of law reform projects, with varying timelines and to budget, in the context of Ministerial and stakeholder interest;
- ensuring that high-quality delivery nonetheless takes account of the Law Commission’s independence, commitment to integrity and quality in its work, staff wellbeing and prioritisation;
- strengthening and developing a culture to use evidence, data and information in an iterative and innovative way to steer law reform development and delivery; and
- recruiting and motivating a team of expert and specialist lawyers and researchers, many of whom will not previously have worked in the public sector.
- The postholder will provide advice, challenge and offer expertise to lawyers and staff in their team and the Commissioner on law reform practice, including on robust legal policy analysis and development, stakeholder relations, Parliamentary handling, financial planning and negotiations for securing new projects.
- They will be line managed by the Head of Legal and will work closely and collaboratively with other Law Reform Team Managers and senior leaders in the organisation.
- They will engage with the CEOs and will be a member of the Law Commission’s Senior Management Team to support the maintenance of a high-performing organisation and delivery of high-quality law reform.
- The postholder will lead a team of approximately 12 staff, with direct line management of the Grade 7 Law Reform Lawyers and overall responsibility for the leadership, management and development of the wider team of eight staff through the line management structure.
The Law Commission: over half a century of cutting-edge law reform and legal expertise
The Law Commission is the statutory body set up under the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed. It has a judicial Chair, four Commissioners, and around 80 members of staff. Its work is organised into four areas: Commercial and Common Law; Criminal Law; Property, Family and Trust Law; and Public Law and the Law in Wales. It operates as an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.
The Law Commission offers an unrivalled opportunity to work on some of the most complex legal and policy questions facing our society. It offers stretching, highquality work, and the chance to make a positive difference to our society.
The Commission has, for 60 years, had a unique role – independent, but at the heart of Government. Its aims are:
- To ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and as cost-effective as possible
- To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform for consideration by Parliament
- To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes
Much of our work is high-profile and secures significant interest from MPs, the public and the media. Over the past half century, more than two-thirds of our recommendations have been implemented in whole or in part.
About our staff
We recruit brilliant, innovative and creative legal staff from a wide range of backgrounds to join our teams. But our lawyers are not just lawyers. They engage in policy making, legislative procedure, project management and leadership. They examine legal and policy issues from every angle, engage closely with a huge range of stakeholders from all walks of life, draft clear and compelling consultation papers and reports, and work with Government officials to take our work forward in Parliament. While most lawyers apply the law to individual cases, lawyers at the Law Commission have freedom to consider what the law should be , for everyone.
About the Commercial and Common Law team
The Commercial and Common Law team undertakes projects that cover a wide range of issues that have a significant impact on individuals, businesses and wider society. In recent years, Parliament has passed laws based on our recommendations relating to crypto-assets and other digital assets, arbitration, electronic trade documents, and consumer savings clubs.
Our ongoing and future areas of focus include product liability, trust law arbitration, consumer class actions, the law of deeds, and objects in museum collections. Our work on co-operatives and on digital assets in the context of private international law is due to be completed in early 2027.
We are now seeking an innovative, delivery-focused leader to head the Commercial and Common Law team. This is a great opportunity for an experienced legal leader.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry - of - justice/about/equality - and diversity .
Main duties of the postholder:
Law Reform project responsibilities for the Commercial and Common Law team:
- The postholder will use programme and project management expertise and an authentic leadership style to plan and execute a programme of law reform projects for a range of departments. They will be responsible for working with the Commercial and Common Law Commissioner to set the direction and deliver the projects in the portfolio.
- They will be expected to provide (and coach their team to provide) high-quality advice and support to Law Commissioners, the Chair, CEOs and, as appropriate, Government Ministers and Parliamentarians.
- They will proactively engage with stakeholders inside and outside Government.
- They will lead innovation in our methods of communication with stakeholders and the public, working closely with the Head of Communications.
- Where appropriate, they will oversee lawyers in the team instructing Parliamentary Counsel to draft legislation.
- They will lead a culture of using data and evidence to inform our law reform recommendations, drawing on a wide range of sources, and will work with the Law Commission’s Economist to develop impact assessments for projects.
- They will work with the Commercial and Common Law Commissioner and the wider team to identify opportunities for future law reform projects, negotiating with Government departments and setting the direction of the team going forward.
People and corporate responsibilities
- The postholder will build an inclusive and diverse team of law reformers, with a clear sense of purpose and the skills and tools to deliver.
- They will act as a leader and role model, supporting and encouraging the sharing of knowledge, skills and best practice.
- They will contribute to the running and corporate well-being of the Commission, taking thoughtful and collective decisions as part of the Senior Management Team, and actively supporting the CEOs and others in the strategic leadership of the organisation.
- They will support their team in balancing project demands with their own corporate contributions to the Commission, enabling their personal development and meeting organisational needs, including supporting with international engagement.
The person:
Essential criteria:
- Professional : You must be a solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive qualified to practise in England and Wales, or the holder of a 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).
- Inclusive leadership skills, including the ability to lead a diverse team from different background across a number of deliverables.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and confidence, with the ability to build and maintain relationships across the Commission, Government and externally.
- The ability to bring strategic thinking to complex law reform projects , exercising sound judgement and bringing together a wide perspective of views.
- Strong and clear communication skills , providing clear, evidenced advice and briefing, both written and oral, on complex policy areas to Law Commissioners, senior stakeholders and, as appropriate, Ministers, and having the advanced writing skills necessary to support their team’s delivery of lengthy legal publications.
- The ability to use project and programme management skills in an environment where priorities may need to change.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience at a senior level of private law, particularly commercial, chancery or common law matters.
- Experience of law reform (whether in England and Wales or elsewhere) Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework
Should we receive a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour, Leadership . Only candidates who achieve the required benchmark will progress to a further sift, during which their CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed.
The statement of Suitability (maximum 750 words) will need to demonstrate how you meet specific requirements of the role. You will need to describe one or more significant examples where you led the delivery of a complex programme, project, or area of work involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. The statement should demonstrate how you delivered high-quality outcomes within challenging timescales ( Delivering at Pace ), built and maintained effective stakeholder relationships ( Working Together ), and communicated with and influenced others to achieve organisational objectives ( Communicating and Influencing ).
Please note that interviews will be carried out in person. We will consider requests for an online interview if your circumstances require.
In advance of the interview, you will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation on a legal issue. You will be sent material to help you prepare. After the presentation at the interview you will be asked additional questions to test your ability to analysis and explain complex areas of law (technical skills).
We will assess you against these behaviours at interview. The behaviours are explained in Civil service success profiles framework :
- Leadership
- Delivering at pace
- Working together
- Communicating and influencing
We will also assess you against:
- your technical skills at interview as demonstrated in the presentation.
- your ability in terms of Motivational Fit.
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach ment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Please also refer to CS technical framework for more details at this grade:
Success Profiles: Technical - GOV.UK
Further information on our ways of working
The post is available to full-time workers and job-sharers. The way our projects are resourced means we plan in terms of full-time equivalents, but we welcome applications from established job shares, who may work more than 1 full-time equivalent jointly, and from people who might be interested in forming a job share arrangement. We do not think this role can realistically be done by one person working less than full time. Contact details are set out below if you would like to discuss with us in advance of applying.
The Law Commission operates flexible working arrangements including a flexi time scheme and the opportunity to work compressed hours, subject to business needs.
Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. Most Law Commission employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending a minimum of two days a week in the office, on average.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.
Candidates applying outside of London will be expected to come to the London office on a regular basis in accordance with business needs. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and will be subject to regular review.
If appointed there will be restrictions on your ability to undertake private practice.
If your application is successful, you will receive a formal letter offering you an appointment that will explain your terms and conditions of service in detail. Your appointment will include a period of probation.
Suitable candidates who are not successful will be held on a reserve list for future posts; such posts may be available in the next 12 months and offered to suitable candidates on the reserve list.
Membership of the Government Legal Profession
The Government Legal Profession (GLP) networks together Government lawyers and trainees, who between them provide legal services across the whole spectrum of government activities. Some are members of the Government Legal Department (GLD): others (like Law Commission lawyers) are not part of the GLD but are part of the wider GLP network. The GLP also maintains close links with lawyers in other parts of the Government, such as the Crown Prosecution Service.
A solicitor or barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales will, on joining the Law Commission, have access to the networking benefits and opportunities of the wider GLP. This will also apply to overseas qualified lawyers who fulfil the nationality requirements and are eligible to practise in England and Wales under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme. Information about the QLTS (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme) can be obtained from the SRA ( www.sra.org.uk ) .
Equal opportunity & diversity information
We are committed to treating people openly and with respect. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from candidates regardless of their ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, sexuality, disability, marital status, age, and race. For further information, please see the following: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/diversity - guidance
Interviews
Interviews are expected to take place in mid-November 2026.
Further information
If you would like to discuss this post further, please contact:
The Law Commission Recruitment Team
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 22904
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 22904
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
### Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
The statement of Suitability (maximum 750 words) will need to demonstrate how you meet specific requirements of the role. You will need to describe one or more significant examples where you led the delivery of a complex programme, project, or area of work involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. The statement should demonstrate how you delivered high-quality outcomes within challenging timescales (Delivering at Pace), built and maintained effective stakeholder relationships (Working Together), and communicated with and influenced others to achieve organisational objectives (Communicating and Influencing).
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.