FOCUS

to those to which you have been assigned?

There is a hierarchical structure ranging from Captain (entry level for ALS officers) to Major General (highest rank, held by our Director) with promotion based on a combination of time served in ALS and performance. In the main, Captains will promote to Major after 5-6 years in ALS.

There is scope to undertake posts akin to secondments. In terms of temporary, ad hoc deployments, the needs of the Service are paramount and have seen Officers deployed to other government departments in support of, for example, COVID efforts in recent years. There also exist some well-established exchange programmes with the Armed Forces of allied nations (e.g. Australia and US), fellowships at research institutes and opportunities to work with intelligence organisations.

7. What do you enjoy most about your job? And least?

a. The variety of work and opportunities for both personal and professional development are second to none. It is possible to obtain knowledge and experience in an array of legal areas, play new sports and learn languages (and more) during the course of the various postings in ALS.

b. Many new ALS Officers cite monotony as a significant ‘push’ factor from their civilian careers. A career as an Army lawyer is the polar opposite. No two ALS careers are the same and some of the headaches of being a lawyer are left at the door. You are not pigeon-holed in a particular role, you are not expected to complete time sheets and your client is never going to challenge your bill!

c. ALS invests in its people and provides ongoing training and support to ensure our Officers are best placed to add value for their ‘client’.

d. We are public sector workers, however while salaries cannot compete with the Magic Circle, there are numerous financial and other benefits that cannot be matched by private practice. The starting salary is comfortable, housing and feeding is subsidised, we have a noncontributory pension, we have access to in-house medical and dental facilities and there are numerous opportunities to receive financial support for various personal and professional development. e. Some Officers find the inherent unpredictability of Army life to be difficult at times. There are positives and negatives to the 2-year posting cycle and fundamentally we must have the agility to react to world events which could see Officers deployed away from their family and friends for periods of time.

As Army personnel we need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable as our work will necessitate operating in austere environments occasionally.

8. In your view what are the wider themes the army is grappling with at the moment and which will likely have an impact on your work /legal ask.

The Army is continually reacting to the circumstances of the day and its legal team need to keep apace with that. The maintenance of discipline is essential for a fighting force to operate effectively and legal officers are integral to the Army’s ongoing efforts to instil this virtue and respond to its occasional breakdown. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has necessitated consideration of various legal questions concerning Law of Armed Conflict issues and novel means and methods of warfare. ALS continue to play an integral part in the assessment of the legal and physical risk to UK personnel and equities given our government’s commitment to provide support.

9. What piece or pieces of advice do you know now that you wish you had known when you were just starting out? What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Ensure you are aware of the physical fitness requirements and have a plan to meet them. Both in the selection process and throughout an Army career, your own fitness is the one thing over which you have the most control. First impressions count and physical ability goes a long way in that regard.

Do not be put off by a perceived lack of prior knowledge or experience. The key for new recruits is to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and agility, that is to say the ability and desire to turn one’s mind to a brand new area and develop competency quickly.

I was advised to remember ‘ABC’ = Absorb, Back yourself, Consult. For us, this applies to general military knowledge as it does to legal.

10. Any thoughts for those contemplating a career in house specifically within the army?

What you get out of an ALS career is commensurate with what you put into it. There are exciting and interesting opportunities for those that seek them out. It is worth doing at any stage in your legal journey. We have newly qualified layers joining along with those with 6+ years’ PQE. Some people join for a few years, develop themselves professionally and personally and then decide to take these benefits back out to the civilian world. Others see an Army career as a longer term adventure.

11. Have you ever been in a dangerous situation (many of the readers maybe thinking Line of Duty / Spooks?)

From Northern Ireland in the early 90s, to modern conflict zones, operating in high-risk areas comes with the territory for Army personnel, including ALS Officers. While unlikely to find themselves on the frontline in a combat situation (although trained to be so, as with all Army personnel), ALS Officers have routinely found themselves in high-threat parts of the world over the last 30 years and beyond.

Further details:

Candidates can still apply if they are a trainee solicitor or pupil barrister/ advocate but will need to be fully qualified at the point of intake. All legal backgrounds are welcome.

ALS will provide bespoke legal training to all new Officers.

Applicants must be qualified as a solicitor, barrister or Scottish Advocate. The upper age limit is generally 32, but this can be waived in exceptional circumstances e.g. previous military experience or transferable legal experience in areas such as criminal, employment or international humanitarian law.

For those who meet ALS’s criteria and are interested in applying as part of the next intake, you can forward a copy of your CV and a covering letter to Rinu.Sangha100@mod.gov.uk