Why more Lawyers are moving into central government commercial procurement roles – and what you can learn from their journeys

Recruiting into commercial procurement law within central government has always required a careful balance of specialist experience, commercial awareness, and public sector understanding. 

Over recent months, we’ve had conversations with a number of Lawyers transitioning into central government roles, many of them are now thriving within the Government Legal Department (GLD).  

Their perspectives reinforce an important message, that this is one of the most exciting, impactful and, yet, overlooked areas of public sector legal work. In this article, we draw together the insights – exploring what makes these roles so hard to recruit for, why more legal professionals should be considering them and what candidates themselves say about stepping into locum work at the heart of government.  

Why commercial procurement legal roles remain difficult to fill  

Demand for Commercial Procurement Lawyers continues to grow as departments expand, new policy areas emerge, and the scale of government contracting increases. Yet despite this demand, the candidate market remains tight.  

There are a few reasons for this:  

The skillset is incredibly niche  

Central government procurement roles require Lawyers who understand commercial contracts, intellectual property, funding agreements, supplier management, grant arrangements, and public procurement – often at a level that few professionals encounter early in their careers.  

While interest in government work is high, many applicants don’t have the depth or breadth of experience the departments expect.  

Clients look for specific public sector experience  

GLD often prioritises candidates who have worked across local government or wider public sector settings, and who are familiar with public law considerations and the accountability structures surrounding government decisions.  

Rate expectations can cause hesitancy  

For those moving from permanent roles, the shift to contracting can be daunting — particularly without a full picture of market rates, day-to-day expectations, or the stability central government teams can offer. 

Why candidates are starting to take notice 

Despite the recruitment challenges, we’re now seeing growing interest from Lawyers who are keen to develop new skills, broaden their experience, and contribute to work that genuinely shapes national policy.  

It’s a supported route into contracting  

Many Lawyers considering their first locum role are understandably cautious. A concern about job security is common, but the reality within central government Is often very different.  

One candidate reflected: “Job security is a consideration, as the locum is meeting a temporary requirement in the organisation. This can be mitigated by forward planning and taking every opportunity a placement provides to develop knowledge, skills and experience for your next career move.  

“A natural concern may be whether you will be accepted and fit into the new team. My experience has been one where I have joined a very welcoming and inclusive environment.” 

The work is genuinely high-profile and high-impact

Central government commercial procurement teams support projects that go far beyond the scope of local authorities. Lawyers describe working on contracts worth billions, shaping national infrastructure projects, or advising Ministers directly on key commercial decisions.  

One candidate summarised the difference: “Local Government projects for the most part primarily affect people (numbering tens or hundreds of thousands) living and working within the Local Authority's geographic boundaries or close to them.  

“In contrast, many Central Government projects commonly affect millions or tens of millions of people both within the UK and beyond.  

“Equally, Local Government projects commonly run into the millions of pounds. Central Government projects commonly run into the billions of pounds.”  

Unparalleled professional development  

Whether transitioning from private practice or local government, candidates consistently highlight how enriching the work is. For many, this combination of exposure, development and collaboration is exactly what they had been missing in previous roles. 

Speaking specifically about GLD, one candidate said: “It’s a great learning environment with highly experienced and highly skilled legal colleagues. It is also well resourced with a very wide range of training opportunities available equally to permanent workers and locum workers.  

“This has helped my focus on career and self-development. I believe it also improved my chances of the multiple contract extensions I was offered over a period of 7 years from an initial 6-month assignment.”  

Transition from permanent to locum work within central government  

For many local government or permanent public sector Lawyers, the idea of ‘going locum’ can feel like a leap – particular when job security, team culture, and long-term prospects are front of mind. But one of the candidates we placed into GLD described a very different experience.  

Before moving into central government, this candidate trained in commercial law, worked in private practice, spent time in a local authority commercial legal team and even worked within the House of Commons before joining GLD. 

Their decision to transition from permanent employment was influenced by peers: “My professional network includes a number of people who work, or have worked, under locum arrangements. Sharing their experiences enabled me to make an informed decision about considering the locum option.” 

Going in open-minded helped shape their experience: “I was open-minded about what the locum experience might be, so I did not carry heavy expectations into the placement. 

“Locum arrangements bring flexibility, experience of diverse work environments and associated wider networking opportunities. Depending on locum arrangements, there may also be financial advantages.” 

When reflecting on what they find most interesting or rewarding about working on national-level contracts, they added: “The insight it gives you into the huge allocation of resources and commitment to execution that is needed to deliver policy objectives. Also, I might be checking the news app on the train, or listening to a current affairs podcast at the gym, the host and guests are discussing a government policy or project, and you think I worked on that, or I helped make that happen. 

When it comes to advice for others considering making the switch to locum work within central government, they said: “There is a lot to consider, including but not limited to your in-work and outside-work situation and priorities, which of course can vary over time.  

“Change always brings a degree of uncertainty and risk, though your present circumstances may also feature those to a greater or lesser degree. I look at life, including my work-life, as an opportunity to develop and experience variety and seize opportunity. For me, making the switch to locum work within Central Government has certainly brought that, and I embrace it.”  

The scope and scale of commercial procurement work in central government  

While some candidates are drawn to central government for flexibility, others are driven by the opportunity to work on complex, large-scale commercial projects with national relevance.  

One recently placed candidate described how their background in commercial contracts naturally led them toward procurement work: “I became interested in procurement law because I wanted to be involved in more complex and high value contracts that served the public interest. I believe that my knowledge of commercial contracts proved useful in this area of practice.”  

In their current role, the breadth of work is significant: “I advise on complex high profile and high value public contracts including energy, environmental, technology and international scientific research projects. 

“The work I do in central government is not so different from work in local government except that our main client is the relevant cabinet office minister or secretary of state of the relevant department. We advise them through the government commercial function on the lawfulness of government decisions to award and manage public contracts that are often high profile and aimed at implementing national commercial policies. 

“Working closely with central government officials on contracts at national level provides valuable insights into how decisions are made at the highest levels of governance and the management of public money. Given that a GLD Lawyer's role is to help the government govern well within the rule of law, knowing that I played a part in the process of applying the law correctly to achieve national policy objectives is, for me, very rewarding.” 

Why now is an excellent time to consider the move 

With an increase in new projects, policy changes, and high-profile commercial activity across government, there are more opportunities than ever for Lawyers with the right background. 

For local government Solicitors in particular – especially those facing long notice periods – central government offers a unique chance to move into contracting in a structured, secure, and supportive environment.  

For commercially trained Lawyers looking for work with more impact, GLD offers the chance to contribute to decisions that shape the country. 

And for those simply seeking variety, development, and flexibility, central government commercial procurement roles provide all of this in abundance. 

Interested in exploring these opportunities? 

If you’re a commercial, procurement, or local government Lawyer considering your next step – particularly if you’re curious about contracting – we’d be happy to talk through your options and share more insights from candidates currently working within central government. 

Get in touch with us today or find more information on our central government sector page.