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updated on 13 September 2013
The Government Legal Service (GLS), which is offering opportunities to trainee solicitors and pupil barristers, has been promoted by Attorney General (AG) Dominic Grieve to university career advisers.
Grieve, speaking at the Treasury Solicitor's Department, emphasised the varied nature of the work on offer to those who completed their training contract or pupillage with the GLS. The GLS provides a wide range of legal services to the government of the day; the AG explained that this can range "from protecting national security to creating a balanced labour market, to prosecuting those who flout the law". The event sought to stress the significant benefits of a government career for talented students, given that pay levels may be less than those offered by City law firms.
Promotion of legal careers beyond private practice has also been advocated by a former High Court judge, The Honourable Dame Linda Dobbs (CBE). Dobbs, speaking at the Legal Launch Pad graduation ceremony, urged prospective lawyers to look beyond "tall towers and ritzy premises". She reminded the graduates that "great careers" could be found in local government, commercial in-house, banking and charities.