Unlock Editor Digest for free.
Rola Khalaf, editor of the FT, selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
The head of the UK government’s legal department is pushing for more “revolving doors” with industry, as US law firms in London take big pay rises, putting extra pressure on public sector employment.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Treasury Solicitor Susanna McGibbon said pay was “a real challenge”. “I’m all for the so-called revolving door. . . . It’s a very different job that American firms are paying this much money for. And I would say we have an interesting side to that as well.
Like many public sector services, GLD has struggled with cuts in recent years. Staff turnover is set to reach 14 per cent in 2022-23 as pressure from major events such as Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic increase workloads at the same time as the private sector increases pay.
While the department won a one-off pay deal for its more senior lawyers last year, helping to improve attrition rates, junior lawyers earn around £60,000, compared to their peers at top City law firms. compared to around £150,000 for A “revolving door” model would encourage more lawyers to move between the private and public sectors during their careers.
GLD handles around 40,000 live cases for the UK government at any one time.
These ranged from a prisoner suing for slipping in an exercise yard, to an NGO challenging the legality of the regulations, and claims by those who lost cultural property during the Nazi era.
The unit has about 2,600 lawyers spread across government departments and is central to many of the country’s major events.
After the election, the division, which describes itself as “the largest in-house law firm in the UK”, took on five of Labour’s key missions – growth, clean energy, the NHS, childcare and education reform, And have changed their priorities to focus on crime
The new government has made clear it wants to rebuild Britain’s reputation for the rule of law after the Conservatives challenged international law and weakened the courts over Brexit and the deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda, among other issues.
In an interview with the FT last month, England’s attorney-general, Lord Richard Hermer KC, said he was “appalled” by the decisions made under the previous government. Such moves led to the resignation of McGibbon’s predecessor, Jonathan Jones, who resigned over changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
McGibbon, 57, a barrister and career civil servant, declined to comment on how the incidents had affected morale in the department or whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s background as a lawyer was a welcome addition. There was a change. Instead, he emphasized the impartiality with which government lawyers should approach the job.
“I understand Jonathan’s reasons for resigning. I think everybody has their red lines,” said McGibbon, who has been in the role since March 2021.
“But it is very important that the government of the day, of whatever color, is supported by the best possible legal teams. And that requires us to serve impartially. . . . and bring our expertise to bear.” Bring on,” he added.
The service, which was transformed from an umbrella organization to a central department 10 years ago, has expanded nationally in recent years, opening offices in Bristol, Leeds and in an effort to recruit from a wider pool of lawyers and increase diversity. Added offices in Manchester.
The department is also keen to start using artificial intelligence for things like disclosure of evidence in litigation to boost efficiency. “The government legal department cannot be 10 years behind the developments in this space,” McGibbon said.
If Britain’s top lawyer has any red lines, as the GLD has embraced a new government, and the accompanying agenda and legislative changes, she was not prepared to share them.
“I obviously haven’t gotten to them yet,” McGibbon said.
