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As part of the 2023 Law Tour, the Law Officers visited the growing government legal hub in Manchester

OPPORTUNITIES for lawyers to join Government are thriving in the North-West as Attorney General Victoria Prentis KC paid a visit to Greater Manchester to meet the growing legal workforce there this week.

The Attorney met a group of more than 70 HMRC and Government Legal Department (GLD) lawyers and civil servants at the Government hub office at New Bailey in Salford.

HMRC’s legal staff based there work across the full range of the Department’s legal activity, including litigation, advisory and reviews work, and are increasingly being joined by lawyers from GLD at the hub office.

Attorney General Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP said:

It is vital there are opportunities for brilliant lawyers outside of London to work in Government - so it has been a pleasure to see how numbers are growing here in Salford.

I worked for the Government legal service for 17 years and know what a varied and inspiring career such work can offer – spreading the news is one of my biggest priorities as a Law Officer.

I’m encouraged by the opportunities for talented lawyers in the NorthWest and really enjoyed hearing how they are making a lasting impact with the Government legal profession.

The Salford visit was part of a three-day regional tour for the Attorney and Solicitor General to promote the government legal profession in the North and West Midlands.

Angus Edwards, HMRC Senior Sponsor Manchester Region and Deputy Director Commercial Law HMRC Solicitors Office, said:

This visit by the Attorney General and Solicitor General to our new Greater Manchester government hub marks the moment that civil service lawyers, advising central government departments, have come together in a single, modern workplace in the North-West.

The co-location of HMRC’s Solicitors Office and the Government Legal Department not only supports day-to-day collaboration but will also provide opportunities for lawyers interested in varied long-term careers in government legal practice in the region.

The expansion of the Government Legal Department in the North-West began in April, complementing existing offices in Bristol, Leeds, and London.

HMRC and the Government Legal Department will also continue to support the government’s Places for Growth programme. The North-West has seen the most roles created so far under Places for Growth, helping to deliver on one of the Prime Minister’s key promises to grow the economy.