Government Legal Department to offer law sandwich placements for first time

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is to offer law sandwich placements for university students for the first time, as part of a national social mobility scheme.

From this month (September 2024), the department will welcome students who will stay for 10 months across GLD’s national offices, including Leeds, London and Salford.

Intended for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the placement will provide applicants with “unique legal work experience” and “firsthand knowledge of public law at the heart of government”, said the GLD.

Work carried out on placement will include visiting prisons, developing client relationships, working on negligence claims to creating bundles, sourcing counsel and drafting instructions for barristers.

Students will also receive training and guidance on working in the Civil Service and close line management and pastoral support.

The GLD revealed it looks to provide the students with the skills and experience required to embark on a legal career, either as a government lawyer or in the private sector.

Students will also be able to work with senior leaders, including the Treasury Solicitor, Attorney General and Solicitor General.

Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department, Susanna McGibbon, said: “We can only start truly improving diversity of the legal profession when we improve accessibility to the sector early in peoples’ studies.

“I am proud of GLD and the Government Legal Profession leading the way in offering placements through schemes like this one, providing students with much needed work experience for future applications.

“Likewise, these schemes encourage students to consider and realise there are opportunities for them not only in government but in the legal sector.”

The GLD intends to offer the scheme from its Bristol office from September 2025.

Lottie Winson