Guidance

GLS open days

Information regarding the 2015 GLS open days for graduates and undergraduates

This guidance was withdrawn on

We no longer have a GLS open day.

About GLS open days

The GLS open day is an ideal opportunity to gain a real insight into our work. Over the course of the open days, you will:

  • adopt the role of GLS lawyers in practical workshops which will allow you to experience important areas of GLS work for yourself
  • hear from current and recent trainees about what life as a trainee lawyer in the GLS is really like
  • work with and talk to GLS lawyers and trainees throughout the course of the event

Where and when

  • 1 April 2015 - Leeds, BPP Law School, 11 am to 4 pm. 60 places available
  • 10 April 2015 - London, Treasury Solicitor’s Department, One Kemble Street, 1 pm to 6 pm. 80 places available

Format

The open day has been designed so that prior knowledge of the law is not required. The ability to work with others to solve problems and awareness of GLS and its work are essential!

The open day will comprise the following activities:

  • panel discussion - a panel of current and recent trainees will talk about their experiences since joining the GLS and the application process for the 2015 recruitment campaign
  • litigation workshop - a 1 hour workshop in which you and your colleagues will work as government lawyers acting in a judicial review case
  • advisory workshop - a 1 hour workshop in which you and your colleagues will work as lawyers in ‘departments’ seeking to introduce a new government bill.
  • networking - speak with representatives from the departments which will be offering trainee solicitor and pupil barrister posts in this year’s legal trainee scheme (LTS)

Eligibility

To apply for an open day place, you must be eligible to apply for a place on the GLS LTS later this year and meet 3 essential criteria including:

  • nationality
  • immigration status
  • academic status

We are unable to offer places to those who do not meet all these requirements.

Nationality

The GLS is part of the civil service and its nationality rules apply to all our recruitment campaigns.

We accept applications from:

  • UK nationals
  • European Economic Area (EEA) nationals
  • Swiss nationals and, in some circumstances, Turkish nationals
  • Commonwealth citizens

If you have dual nationality, with 1 nationality being British, you may apply.

Immigration status

In addition to meeting the nationality requirements you must also be lawfully entitled to reside and to work in the UK.

Academic status

You should have, or be predicted to obtain, a minimum 2:2 degree in your first degree discipline (i.e. an undergraduate degree below a master’s degree), which does not have to be in law.

Candidates studying law can’t apply (to the LTS) any earlier than the penultimate year of their degree. Candidates studying a non law degree can’t apply any earlier than their final year.

If you have already completed your degree, you are eligible to apply for a place.

Allocation process

In the event that we receive more applications than there are places, we will hold a ballot which will be conducted as follows:

  • we will allocate numbers to those applicants who meet all aspects of the eligibility criteria once the application process has closed
  • we will randomly select 80 numbers and invite the holders of those numbers to the open day
  • we will select a number of people to be placed on a reserve list in this way

2015 Timetable

  • 10 March - application process opens
  • 16 March - application process closes at midday
  • 17 March - ballot
  • 18 March - applicants informed of ballot result
  • 1 April - Leeds open day
  • 10 April - London open day

How to apply

The application process for the open days has now closed.

Published 10 March 2015
Last updated 16 March 2015 + show all updates
  1. Updated following application deadline.

  2. First published.