GLD Vacancies

DHSC Legal Team wins Legal Team of the Year at Employed Bar Awards 2022

The Department of Health and Social Care Legal Team – part of the Government Legal Department (GLD) – has been named Legal Team of the Year at the Bar Council Employed Bar Awards 2022.

The citation said the DHSC Legal Team “supported the Government through its initial response to the Covid-19 pandemic producing more than 90 pieces of secondary legislation ensuring legality and the rule of law were upheld. Professor Chris Whitty described the team’s work as ‘remarkable’.”

The other winners were:

  • John Swords, Legal Adviser and Director of the Office of Legal Affairs North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Employed Barrister of the Year in the Public Sector.
  • Charlotte Pope-Williams, Senior Associate at Pinsent Masons - Employed Barrister of the Year in a Law Firm.
  • John Battle, barrister at ITN - Employed Barrister of the Year in Commerce, Finance, or Industry.
  • Cdr Caroline Tuckett RN, Naval Legal Services – Employed Barrister of the Year in the Armed Forces. Commander Tuckett is Lead Legal Adviser – International Law for the Royal Navy.

Two other teams in the GLD were also shortlisted for the Legal Team of the Year. They were the National Security and Counter Terrorism Team, for its contribution to supporting the national security and defence of the UK, particularly during the pandemic, and the Cabinet Office’s Commercial Policy Team, for its work developing and delivering the Procurement Bill.

Sam Littlejohns from the GLD was meanwhile shortlisted in the Employed Barrister of the Year in the Public Sector category. He was recognised “for his tireless work” with the Department of Health & Social Care Legal Advisers on COVID-19 public health issues from February 2020 to June 2021.

The GLD said: “It was brilliant that so many GLD teams and colleagues were recognised for their vitally important and hard work supporting the government and ensuring that they govern well within the rule of law.”

Mark Fenhalls KC, Chair of the Bar Council and one of the judges, said: “The entries for the awards were exceptional and demonstrate not only the rich talent we have at the employed Bar, but also the strength and diversity of the sector.”