An independent voice at the forefront of legal reform
The Law Commission of England and Wales has, for 60 years, held a unique position: independent of Government, but working closely with Government and Parliament at the heart of the legal system. Our purpose is to keep the law under review and recommend reform where it is needed, so that the law remains fair, modern, and effective for everyone.
We are a small organisation with an outsized impact. With around 80 staff and four Commissioners and a Chair from the Court of Appeal, we have driven significant changes to legislation in areas as varied as arbitration, residential leasehold, and consumer rights, shaped the legal framework for emerging technologies through the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 and the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, and are undertaking a fundamental review of homicide law to better reflect modern understanding of offending. Our work is debated in Parliament, cited by the Supreme Court, and shapes how the law works in practice across England and Wales.
Our work is organised into four areas: Commercial and Common Law; Criminal Law; Property, Family and Trust Law; and Public Law and the Law in Wales.
The role
We are recruiting law reform lawyer to join the Commercial and Common Law team, working alongside Professor Solène Rowan, the Law Commissioner responsible for commercial and common law.
This is not a conventional legal role. You will not be advising clients on individual cases. Instead, you will help determine what the law should be for everyone, working on high-profile reform projects that have a genuine and lasting impact on how the law operates in real life.
We are recruiting for law reform lawyers to work on the three projects listed below:
- Product liability
- Trust law arbitration
- Consumer class actions
Other work in the team includes:
- The law of deeds
- Objects in museum collections
- Private international law in the context of digital assets
Day to day, this role involves leading or co-leading law reform projects, conducting and directing legal research, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, drafting consultation papers and reports, and managing Research Assistants. It is intellectually demanding work that combines the rigour of private practice with the freedom to think about the law at a systemic level.
Who we are looking for
We are interested in hearing from solicitors and barristers qualified to practise in England and Wales, as well as legal academics, overseas qualified lawyers, and legal policy experts who can demonstrate a comparable level of legal ability.
We are looking for commercial, chancery or common law lawyers with a genuine interest in law reform, strong analytical skills and the ability to get to grips with complex legal questions quickly. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience or interest relevant to any of:
- Product liability, including law relating to new technologies such as software and online platforms,
- Trust law and arbitration, and/or
- Consumer class actions.
You do not, however, have to be an expert in any of these areas if you are able to demonstrate other relevant experience and the skills we are looking for.
The role will also be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, with behaviours including Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, and Communicating and Influencing.
Life at the Law Commission
The Law Commission is known for the quality of its work, the calibre of its people, and for being a genuinely good place to work.
We pride ourselves on a supportive, collegiate culture where there is time to think properly about legal and policy issues. The working environment is one that values depth of thinking and longer-term work, and teams pull together to deliver to deadlines.
What we offer
- Salary of £63,343–£70,725 (London) or £58,511–£65,329 (National), with a non-pensionable supplement available
- Hybrid working, with a minimum of two days per week in our London office or at your nearest regional hub
- Flexible working options including job sharing, part-time working, and compressed hours
- Generous annual leave, starting at 25 days and increasing with service
- Attractive Civil Service pension arrangements
- Extensive learning and development opportunities
- Access to the Government Legal Profession network and its development programmes
The post is fixed term for 24 months, with the possibility of extension or conversion to a permanent role subject to business needs. While fixed-term appointments are offered for a defined period and extension is not guaranteed, it is common for individuals to remain with the Commission for longer periods and, in some cases, be converted to permanent contracts, subject to performance, business need and appropriate approvals. Candidates may also join on loan from another Government Department or on secondment.
This is a national role. Candidates can work from their nearest regional hub, though regular attendance at the London office is expected in line with business and team needs.
Meet one of our colleagues
David Roberts, Lawyer
Commercial and Common Law Team
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I did not have a traditional route into a law career. I did not study law at undergrad and came to it after taking a law module during my degree, which was on how law can be used to conserve biodiversity. It felt like a natural fit for how my mind works. I also recognised that law could be a positive tool, and it aligned with my desire to have a career with a real impact. I spent over ten years in private practice as a litigator, representing claimants with environmental and human rights claims, before moving to the Law Commission.
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My role feels like a hybrid between private practice and what I imagine practical academia might be like. Similarly to litigation, there is a lot of project management and juggling of multiple workstreams. There is also a lot of problem solving, reading, drafting, and discussing possible issues and solutions with colleagues. It involves really getting into the law and thinking it through properly.
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It sounds corny, but I have great supportive colleagues. The team really pulls together when it needs to. And having the time to read and really think through cases and legal texts. Whilst there are moments of pressure, overall the work-life balance is genuinely great.
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Reflect on whether you enjoy the law. That sounds like an odd question, but lawyers go into practice for a variety of reasons and enjoying the law is not always one of them. If you enjoy getting stuck into the detail, really thinking things through, and having collaborative discussions about how the law should work, then there is a fair chance you will enjoy your time at the Law Commission. It is full of law nerds.
How to apply
The application process is straightforward and does not involve multiple rounds of assessment.
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Application
Applications are made via Civil Service Jobs and consist of:
- A CV setting out your career history, responsibilities, and achievements
- A Statement of Suitability (500 words) demonstrating your experience, motivation, and relevant skills
- A motivational fit question (250 words) where you have the opportunity to tell us why you’d like to work with us
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Sift
Applications will be assessed against the essential criteria in the person specification. In the event of a high volume of applications, the initial sift may be conducted on CV alone.
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Interview
Candidates invited to interview will be asked to complete a short written exercise prior to the interview and prepare a short presentation. Interviews will be held in person in London and are expected to take place in late July/August 2026.
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Reserve List
A reserve list will be created for this campaign and will remain valid for 12 months. Candidates who meet the benchmark for appointment but are not offered a role may be placed on the reserve list and may be considered for similar roles at the same grade, subject to business need.
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Near Miss
Candidates who do not meet the standard required for appointment at law reform lawyer but who achieve the minimum benchmark may be considered for a similar role at SEO grade, subject to business need and role availability.
Interested?
To apply or find out more, visit Civil Service Jobs and search for the Law Commission G7 Lawyer role.
Law Commission Lawyer – Commercial and Common Law Team (Ref: 19348) – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK
For any questions about the role or to discuss reasonable adjustments, contact: [email protected].
We will be hosting optional drop-in sessions for candidates on 8 July and 13 July. These sessions are an opportunity for prospective applicants to learn more about the role and ask questions in an informal setting.
If you would like to attend, please contact [email protected] to receive the drop-in link