The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a team within the Civil Service of around 50 lawyers and 10 support staff. Our job title is “counsel” but the job is open to barristers, solicitors and legal executives. Our main role is to draft Government Bills for introduction into Parliament and Government amendments to Bills as they go through Parliament on their way to becoming Acts.
Job description
Assistant Parliamentary Counsel (APCs) assist in all aspects of the Office’s work with a view to being able to take the lead on a Bill once they are promoted to the grade of Deputy Director (see further below).
APCs are supervised in their work, with the level of supervision reducing as they grow in expertise and experience, but will be responsible for drafting legislation from the beginning of their time in the Office. Although one drafter generally takes the lead on each Bill, and the First Parliamentary Counsel (the head of the Office) and team leaders oversee the work, the Office is a collaborative and non-hierarchical environment in which all contributions are welcome. APCs, working alongside a more experienced drafter, may be drafting deeply complex or controversial provisions from their very first day.
The main tasks of an APC are:
- To assist in drafting Bills which are effective, clearly written and well-structured (by both drafting and reviewing the work of other drafters);
- To work with officials across Government to ensure that the process of Bill preparation, publication and Parliamentary handling is handled effectively and efficiently;
- To provide advice to Government departments on parliamentary procedure;
- To review, draft and advise on some subordinate legislation;
- To contribute to the training and development of other drafters, departmental lawyers, policy advisers and members of Bill teams (who coordinate work on a Bill);
- To contribute actively to the wider objectives of the Office (providing a high-quality drafting service, leading the legislative drafting profession within government, and promoting good law).
We have an extensive induction and training programme, though new APCs usually find they learn most on the job from working with more experienced colleagues.
Once they reach the required standard to take the lead on a Bill, APCs can expect to be promoted to Parliamentary Counsel at the grade of Deputy Director, with a current starting salary of £87,000 (plus allowance rising to 35%). Parliamentary Counsel may be further promoted to Director, with a current starting salary of £100,000 (plus allowance rising to 35%).
The Office is divided into four teams, each of which drafts Bills for a group of Government departments and is led by a Director General.
See the Salary and Benefits section of the candidate information pack for further details of the allowance referred to above.
‘Meet the Parliamentary Counsel’ panel event
If, ahead of applying, you would like to find out more about what it is like working for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, come to our online ‘Meet the Parliamentary Counsel’ panel event, which will be held on the evening of 19 January 2026. You can register your interest here.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 2 February 2026.
Click here for further information and to apply.
