Pupil Barristers | London, Leeds

Job Description

Salary: Starting salary around £33,281. Salaries differ according to department and location

Locations:  Leeds, London

Starting:  September 2026

This year we are offering 7 Trainee Barrister positions within the Government Legal Department (GLD) or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), starting in September 2026. Whilst many of the trainee positions are based in London, including all HMRC positions, GLD is also offering an opportunity in Leeds too. Offers will be made according to each location in merit order.

Job description

The Government Legal Profession (GLP) Legal Trainee Scheme offers you the chance to start your legal career with a legal trainee position (training contract/qualifying work experience or pupillage) in either the Government Legal Department (GLD), or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), Solicitors' Office.

Whether the government is buying goods and services, setting the annual budget and collecting the right amount of tax, employing people, or defending its decisions in court, it needs significant levels of legal advice on a whole range of complex issues.

The training on offer will commence in September 2026. Whilst many of the trainee positions are based in London, including all HMRC positions, GLD is also offering opportunities in Leeds too.  

Offers will be made according to each location in merit order. 

The training period will be for 2 years in duration. No account will be taken of training completed elsewhere. 

Whether joining GLD or HMRC you can expect to be fully involved in a range of interesting legal work and receive high quality training in a supportive and inclusive working environment. You will have the opportunity to build a rewarding career, working on some of the biggest legal issues of the day. The work is cutting edge, public-serving, and often headline news. If that wasn't enough, you may have the opportunity to make the law, not just interpret it. 

Pupil barristers will divide their pupillage year between their department and a set of chambers and complete their second year of the two-year training period in the department. The GLP otherwise treats trainee solicitors and pupil barristers (collectively called legal trainees) the same. Work and on-the-job training depends upon the department in which you are placed. 

What do you need? 

As you'd expect, there are some must haves.  Full details can be found on our website, the minimum being that you must meet the Civil Service Nationality requirements and have obtained, or be predicted to obtain, a minimum of a 2:2 (Hons) in a qualifying law degree or undergraduate degree in a non-law subject.; or hold equivalent qualifications (e.g. CILEx) as recognised by the professional bodies.  

You'll need to have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Law/CPE (law conversion which covers the foundation topics in law) where a degree is held in a non-law subject); and the Bar Training Course (BTC) before the start of pupillage. Please note that should you be successful you will be expected to undergo Security Check (SC) clearance. Some departments may require additional checks.

We recommend that you take some time navigating our careers site; we want you to be as prepared as possible for your application journey. You'll also find more information regarding our eligibility criteria, selection process, sponsorship arrangements and where your career path can take you. please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-legal-profession  

And a reminder the opening date for applications is 2nd January 2025 and the closing date for applications is 12pm (Noon) 30th January 2025. Please note this date is earlier than that listed on the Pupillage Gateway.  

If you have any questions about your application, please contact the Government Legal Trainee Scheme Recruitment Team:

Telephone: 0845 3000 793 or 0117 923 4417 

Email: GovTrainees@tmpw.co.uk