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We are looking for lawyers to join our two operationally focused legal teams, the International Team and the Operations Team, part of GCHQ’s wider Legal Directorate. The Directorate, which also includes the Commercial, Regulatory, and Intellectual Property team and the NCSC Legal team, is currently split roughly 50/50 between London and Cheltenham.

GCHQ’s operational lawyers advise on many of the highest profile and most sensitive matters across the organisation. The work can be fast-paced and is often at the cutting edge of developments in law and technology.

The International Team is primarily focused on activity where questions of international law are at the fore. The team is composed of lawyers who advise on issues relating to GCHQ’s support to foreign partners, offensive cyber, and matters of EU or trade law. International law is a key focus for this team and their role includes both operational advice and working with government colleagues to cement the UK’s position as a responsible and democratic cyber power.

The Operations Team leads on intelligence-gathering, data, artificial intelligence, compliance and litigation. These issues involve multiple areas of law including investigatory powers, human rights, data, criminal, civil and public law. The team includes lawyers, some of whom focus predominantly on litigation, as well as several non-legal colleagues who help GCHQ to meet its litigation-related disclosure obligations. Although some lawyers in the team advise on employment law matters, you won’t need expertise in this field.

We will allocate you to a team, taking account of your skills, experience and preference as well as business needs, although there is a degree of overlap between the two teams work in practice.

Whichever team you join, you will support colleagues in GCHQ’s intelligence, effects and mission directorates, delivering user-friendly, risk-based advice to guide current and future operations. You will also collaborate closely with partners across the UK Intelligence Community and the broader national security legal community to support wider government foreign policy, security and operational objectives.

Whether you’re based in London, Cheltenham or Manchester, you will occasionally need to travel to other GCHQ sites to advise colleagues. National travel will be arranged to accommodate business need as well as work/life balance. Overseas travel is likely to be rare.

To join us, you must:

• Be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
• Bring knowledge and experience in at least two of the following: investigatory powers law; data law; international law; human rights law; criminal law; public law. Ideally, you’ll also have some knowledge of the UK’s national security framework and GCHQ’s legal framework.

Whatever your specialisms, you’ll be a team player who prioritises effectively and thrives under pressure.

Along with good organisation skills, you’ll need a creative approach to solving legal problems and strong communication skills. It’s essential that you can explain legal points clearly, forge client relationships and give practical, risk-based advice.

Self-motivated, with excellent legal professional skills, you’ll be quick to pick up new areas of law and build connections with a wide range of people.

Before You Apply

To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

The role is based in Cheltenham, London or Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

Equal Opportunities

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:
https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html

Training and Development

We offer access to learning and development that’s tailored to your role – formal and informal, internal and external. As part of the Government Legal Profession, we have access to a Legal Information Online Network that offers Government training packages and contacts, together with bespoke training from external legal firms. With the chance to apply for training and briefing opportunities throughout the Department (both GCHQ & NCSC), you’ll be free to learn and excel in our fast-paced world.

Rewards and Benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of £62,592 plus other benefits including:

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan.
• Excellent pension scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations).
• Paid parental and adoption leave.

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