Legal trainee recruitment

Pupil barrister and trainee solicitor posts within HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are offered as part of the wider Government Legal Service (GLS) annual recruitment campaign. The various stages of the GLS recruitment process are outlined below but please note that the process may change from year to year so you should always check the GLS website (opens new window) for the current arrangements.

The application process usually opens in early July each year and the deadline date for applications is 31 July. By sending your contact details to glstrainees@tmpw.co.uk, you will be added to a mailing list and sent a reminder as soon as the application process opens. You will need to visit the graduate recruitment section of the GLS website to apply.

Application stage

There are two parts to the application stage:

  1. The first part comprises of an application form, which will include an essay style question. You do not need to know any law to answer this question and all necessary materials are provided in the application pack. The objective is to work through the essay problem in a logical manner and to propose practical solutions.
  2. The second part comprises of an online verbal reasoning test. This is a timed test in which you are provided with passages of text, after which there are a number of statements. You have to evaluate the statements according to a given set of rules. It is a relatively short test, but do not underestimate its importance. Many a good candidate can under-perform and fail to pass this stage of the competition. Some advance practice is advisable and information about verbal reasoning tests can be obtained from careers advisers or careers websites.

The highest scoring candidates from the application stage will be invited to attend a half-day assessment centre. It usually takes place in early September and is held in London.

Assessment centre stage

Prior to the assessment centre, candidates are invited by the GLS to a buffet lunch. The lunch does not form part of the application process but is an informal meeting for short listed candidates to meet GLS lawyers and current trainees and to find out more about different departments.

The assessment centre is the final step of the recruitment process, and is where candidates will select three departments in which they would like to work.

At the assessment centre, you will have to complete three exercises:

  1. A written exercise - similar to the one on the application form but under controlled conditions. You will be given a practical problem and asked to provide written advice.
  2. A group exercise - working with four other candidates, you will discuss a hypothetical problem.
  3. An interview - which includes you giving a short presentation to the interview panel. Candidates are given a number of topics in advance from which they can choose and prepare their presentation. The types of questions asked at the interview stage are usually competency-based questions.

The offer

Notification of the results of the recruitment process usually occurs within two weeks following the visit to the assessment centre. Candidates are notified whether they have been offered a training contract or pupillage and which department has made the offer. If you accept the offer, the GLS carries out further health and security checks. Once these are completed the GLS step out of the picture and the relationship between the employing department and the successful candidate can begin in earnest. Please note that the GLS recruits candidates two years in advance of their proposed start dates.

The offer of pupillage or a training contact includes the payment of tuition fees for the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) or Legal Practice Course (LPC) by the department which has made the offer, as long as the successful candidate has not already completed the course. Successful candidates also qualify for a bursary of between £5,000 - £7,500 for living costs whilst on the BVC or LPC. If you are currently undertaking the course when you receive your offer, you will receive a pro-rata payment. However, you will not receive any payment if you have already completed the course when you get the offer.

Upon acceptance of the offer you will be invited to visit HMRC Solicitor’s Office for one week’s paid work experience. You will shadow one of the current second year trainees. This will give you an opportunity to get a feel for the type of work you will be engaged in and to meet the other trainees and some of your future colleagues.

The terms and conditions of the pupillage or training contract vary from department to department. In 2009, HMRC offered a starting salary of approximately £24,000 with 22 days annual leave increasing to 25 days in the second year.