The Government Legal Service (GLS) has decided to open its lawyer job vacancies to fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) for the first time.

The first job being advertised is a £53,196 position as lawyer at HM Revenue & Customs, ranked as grade Seven in the Civil Service hierarchy.

Only fellows of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) can apply, and, if they lack a qualifying law degree or graduate diploma in law, they must have achieved specific targets in their CILEx exams.

They must have scored 50% or above in all seven foundation subjects in law – contract, criminal, equity and trusts, European Union, land, public and the law of tort.

Solicitors, barristers and CILEx fellows are expected to have two years’ post-qualification experience to receive the full salary for the role, but those with less could be appointed as a ‘legal officer’ on just under £38,000.

The successful candidate would be working alongside 200 lawyers at the HMRC, advising on legal issues and conducting litigation.

A spokesman for CILEx said the change in policy followed a review of GLS recruitment processes. “There are still some organisations which overlook the full spectrum of lawyers they can recruit, depriving them of practically-trained specialist lawyers,” Frances Edwards, president of CILEx said.

Ms Edwards said the GLS had “adapted to reflect the modern ways that lawyers are educated”.

Tags: chartered legal executives, CILEx, Government Legal Service