This is an exciting opportunity to work for HMRC Legal Group while training to be a solicitor. 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, culminating in a solicitor role upon successful qualification and performance in role.

The apprenticeship comprises of an off-the-job training programme through our provider that is funded by the Apprenticeship Levy alongside on-the-job learning in Legal Group. You will be required to refresh your learning if your law degree was completed more than 5 years ago.

The training programme will be provided via a digital learning platform and study leave will be in line with Education and Skills Funding Authority (ESFA) requirements. As an apprentice, you can expect to spend 20% of your working time studying and the rest of it working. Applicants should be aware of the rigor of the qualifications and be prepared to also study in their own time.

Our Campaign Pack at the end of the advert holds all the information about the role, grade progression and work placements.

Person specification

Successful candidates will have:

• strong communication both in writing and orally.
• ability to work well with colleagues, support staff, and other professionals in a collaborative environment.
• an understanding of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion and why they matter in the legal profession.
• skills in gathering, evaluating, and interpreting information from various sources.
• the ability to identify problems and find solutions.
• a strong attention to detail.
• ability to adapt and be resilient.
• possess IT skills and be comfortable using technology.

Please note If you hold an LPC, LLM with LPC or have previously studied SQE1 or 2 (including preparation courses), as a stand-alone or part of a degree programme in the last 5 years, you will not be eligible to apply. This is because applicants need to demonstrate that, based on their current experience and qualification level, an apprenticeship will provide them with significant new learning, skills and behaviours.

To assess your eligibility for the apprenticeship, the learning provider will conduct some initial checks before HMRC can confirm your successful offer onto this apprenticeship. This will require HMRC sharing your contact details with the learning provider who will contact you directly. Information is gathered in accordance with the ESFA guidance.

If you are a Civil Servant and currently a higher grade than Band O, if you are offered and accept this role you will be opting to voluntarily downgrade if you are successful securing a place. This would be a permanent change to your Terms and Conditions and Band O would become your substantive grade.

This role will require you to work a minimum of 30 hours per week as per provider requirements. You will find further details on apprenticeship eligibility, including details on residency requirements, in the campaign pack.

We will be holding candidate sessions about the vacancy:

Legal Group Apprentice Candidate Information Session - Tuesday 20th May 11am

NOTE: To be accepted on an apprenticeship you will need to demonstrate that, based on your current experience and qualification level, it will provide you with significant new learning, skills and behaviours.

Successful candidates will receive appointment letters that hold a training clause advising completion of the apprenticeship is a condition of employment.

HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can't guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.

There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes. This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.

Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.

E ssential Criteria

• Five (5) GCSEs or equivalent between A* - C (9-4) including English and Maths PLUS:
• A qualifying law degree with a minimum 2:2 or
• A non-law degree with a minimum 2:2 and a GDL, PGDL, CPE or equivalent qualification or
• A CILEx Level 6 qualification.

For a law degree to be "qualifying" it must be recognised in the UK, a non-law degree can be international. A GDL, PGDL or CPE qualification must be recognised in the UK.

Those with a law degree completed more than 5 years or a CILEx L6 qualification will study a provider-led 6-month learning refresh and gateway before joining the graduate apprenticeship.

Desirable Criteria

• Please set out any office based or legal work experience that you have undertaken, this can be paid or voluntary or in education.

Qualifications
Five (5) GCSEs or equivalent between A* - C (9-4) including English and Maths PLUS:
A qualifying law degree with a minimum 2:2 or
A non-law degree with a minimum 2:2 and a GDL, PGDL, CPE or equivalent qualification or
A CILEx Level 6 qualification

For a law degree to be "qualifying" it must be recognised in the UK, a non-law degree can be international. A GDL, PGDL or CPE qualification must be recognised in the UK.

Those with a law degree completed more than 5 years or a CILEx L6 qualification will study a provider-led 6-month learning refresh and gateway before joining the graduate apprenticeship.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,475, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £8,538 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

Things you need to know

Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

Stage 1: Application form

Applications for the programme close on 03/06/2025

You will be asked to complete:

A basic application form, detailing your personal details.

Stage 2: Online tests

If you pass the eligibility criteria, you will be invited to complete the Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Online Test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 03/06/2025 23:55

If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests to manage the applications through to next stage. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.

Successful candidates will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

Stage 3: 2nd Stage of Online Tests

If you are successful in Stage 2, you will be invited to complete 2 more online tests, the Civil Service Judgement Test and the Civil Service Work Strengths test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 03/06/2025 23:55

If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

We reserve the right to increase the scores for all tests to manage the applications through to next stage. You will be informed if you have passed or failed the raised standard.

Successful candidates will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

Stage 4- Full application

If you are successful at the previous stages you will be asked to provide the following:

• A 1000-word Personal Statement. You should address the following in the personal statement:
  - your motivation and passion for a career in the law, why you want to be a Government lawyer and, specifically, a solicitor apprentice within HMRC;
  - how you will balance work and studies; and,
  - a description of your relevant skills and knowledge against examples laid out in the campaign pack.
  
  Where possible, it would be helpful to link your motivation to previous experience and provide examples of how you have balanced work and studies and demonstrated relevant skills and knowledge in practice. This experience can be in education, voluntary or paid work experience.
• A separate 250 word statement on the following behaviour - Working Together.
  
  This should specifically include:
  - How you have developed or would develop a range of contacts outside your immediate network and identify opportunities to share knowledge, information and learning.
  - How you do/would ensure that you obtain and take account of all relevant information, including how you have or would create an inclusive environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account.
  - How you have approached or would approach projects to ensure effective cooperation in order to achieve results.
• Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at sift or interview.

We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.

Stage 5: Sift

A preliminary sift on the Essential Criteria will be conducted and only candidates meeting the criteria will progress.

In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement.

At full sift your behaviour statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Stage 6: Interview

If you have been successful in previous stages you will be invited to an interview, where you will be assessed on behaviour based questions and a presentation. Further details of the presentation will be provided with your invitation.

Interviews will take place via video link.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application .

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 6 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers

Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.

Who can start an apprenticeship?

To start an apprenticeship, you'll need to be:

• 16 or over
• living in England
• not in full-time education

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you're still at school but you'll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship.

Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.

A condition of your employment is the successful completion of your apprenticeship within the expected duration. Failure to meet this requirement may result in HMRC removing you from the Apprenticeship Programme and/or terminating your employment.

Your training requirements and probation period will run concurrently. If you do not successfully complete your probation and/or the apprenticeship-where it is a specific requirement of your role-your employment with HMRC may be subject to termination.

Your manager will provide you with further details about the training programme, including the structure of assessments and, where applicable, the number of permitted attempts to pass, if they have not already done so.

Additional Information

We are looking into ways to enhance the applicant experience.

As part of our legitimate interests, we are testing the use of new technologies such as automation and/or Artificial Intelligence in the assessment for CV, personal statement and behaviour statement.

Please note that for this specific vacancy, this testing may run in parallel with our standard assessment process and will not influence or determine the outcome of your application in any way. You can read the Civil Service Jobs and HMRC Privacy Notices for more information about our lawful basis for processing your personal data and HMRC's use of AI.

If you don't want your data to be used as part of the trial, please send your Application ID and the Vacancy Reference to talentacquisitionaiteam@hmrc.gov.uk

Terms and Conditions

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a Civil Servant on or beyond the start date for the post. If their contract ends (for example due to the end of Fixed Term Appointment contract or resignation) at any point during the application process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : HMRC Legal Resourcing Team
• Email : legalresourcingteam@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk

Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.

Attachments
UPDATED - Combined TC and OGD Pay English - July 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 129kB) HMRC Apprenticeship Programmes Privacy Notice Opens in new window (docx, 37kB) 2025 Graduate Campaign Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 977kB)