Scottish Government Recruitment
Legal Executive
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Job description
Are you interested in supporting high quality legal work in Scotland?
The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is the UK Government's Scottish legal team, and the HMRC Division provides legal services to HMRC in Scotland. We place a strong emphasis on building good relationships with HMRC colleagues.
The Division
HMRC Division's work is litigation-focused and includes handling appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber), the Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), the Outer House (Judicial Reviews), Inner House of the Court of Session and the Supreme Court, all on behalf of HMRC.
We undertake sheriff court actions associated with HMRC’s fraud inquiry function such as Account Freezing Orders. The Division also advises HMRC in relation to debt management, involving bankruptcies and liquidations, and National Minimum Wage enforcement involving sheriff court debt collection and employment tribunal appeals.
The work of the Division is challenging, varied, rewarding and, at times, high-profile.
The Division has nine solicitors and two legal executives (including this post), nominally split into three branches dealing respectively with:
- Direct Taxes (primarily Income, Corporation and Inheritance Taxes)
- Indirect Taxes (primarily VAT and excise duties)
- National Minimum Wage (enforcement and appeals).
There is a great deal of collaboration across the three branches and a Divisional mindset is required to allow the work to be progressed as efficiently as possible. In addition, there are opportunities to learn about and get involved in the work of the other divisions within the office (Devolution & General Litigation, Advisory & Legislation and Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General) and our Business Support Team. There may also be opportunities to gain experience in our office in London or in HMRC offices elsewhere. The Division has access to extensive training opportunities provided both by the UK and Scottish Government Departments.
The HMRC Division is a small, friendly and collegiate Division and you will be well supported by all colleagues.
Responsibilities
- Providing high-quality, proactive, and effective advice and support to HMRC Division solicitors in their conduct of litigation on behalf of HMRC in Scotland. This includes drafting supporting court documents, arranging for service of court documents, compiling documents for hearings in courts and tribunals and liaising with and instructing counsel to act on behalf of HMRC in some cases.
- Taking ownership of the timely and accurate completion of streamlined court processes such as petitions for liquidation in the Court of Session and simple procedure cases.
- Communicating in a timely and professional manner with clients, colleagues, court and tribunal clerks, and counsel in connection with litigation.
- Sharing responsibility for managing the office's Legal Services inbox. This will include proactively and effectively dealing with the items in the inbox, processing specifications of documents and other court orders served on UK government departments in Scotland, and assisting with the allocation of outsourced litigation work for UK government departments.
- Contributing to the review and continuous improvement of the Division's Knowledge Bank and assisting colleagues in its maintenance.
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Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.
Experience
- Ability to organise and manage your own workload in a flexible way to respond to competing and changing priorities and deadlines (Key criteria).
- Ability to undertake administrative procedures specific to the courts and tribunals in Scotland.
Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 2
- Working together - Level 2
- Delivering at pace - Level 2
- Making effective decisions - Level 2
Find out more about Success Profiles.
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 23rd November 2026 however this may be subject to change.
In the event of a high volume of applications, candidates will have their applications initially assessed against the Ability to organise and manage your own workload in a flexible way to respond to competing and changing priorities and deadlines criteria above. Candidates who pass this initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against the listed criteria.
Apply before 23:59 on 2nd November 2026. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
About us
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.
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As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Wider Opportunities in OAG
We work closely with the other divisions in OAG (Litigation, Advisory & Legislation and Legal Secretariat to the Advocate General) and are supported in our work by our brilliant Business Support Team. There are opportunities to learn about and get involved in the work of the other divisions within the Office, and to access wider learning (for example through the Government Legal Profession and Government Legal Service for Scotland). Full on-the-job training will be provided for this role.
OAG’s internal training including a core curriculum, regular office-wide training and a thriving diversity and wellness programme promoting OAG’s inclusive and supportive environment. There are also opportunities to get involved in projects across the office with a number of cross-office groups allowing development of specific interests or skills.
Working pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Location and office-based working
OAG has offices in Queen Elizabeth House, the UK Government Hub situated near Waverley station, and Dover House in London. This role is based in Queen Elizabeth House. OAG currently operates a hybrid working model. All staff are expected to attend the office when business needs require and to spend at least 40% of their working time in the office or on official business (measured over a four-week period).
OAG is located on Level 5 of Queen Elizabeth House, in first class open-plan accommodation with views to Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags. Our commitment to hybrid working and the in-office element of that means colleagues benefit from a lively and collegiate atmosphere where personal interaction is valued and encouraged.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, and read about the Government Vetting Charter, or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
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