GovWire

Following the announcement in April, Caroline Croft has taken up position as Director General of the Government Legal Department. Caroline is responsible for the Employment with Economic Recovery and UK Governance directorate.

She joins the departments Executive Team and Board, working closely with her 2 fellow Directors General and the Treasury Solicitor Susanna McGibbon, bringing with her a wealth of experience acquired across a 30-year career as a government lawyer.

Caroline was called to the Bar in 1991 and joined the Civil Service in 1992. She has worked across the Civil Service, beginning her career in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and moving to the Senior Civil Service in departments including the (then) Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Cabinet Office. Most recently Caroline has been Legal Director at the Department for Health and Social Care.

Caroline says of her appointment:

I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as Director General. Im proud to have been a government lawyer for almost my whole career, and I love the intellectual challenge of our work, the positivity of our inclusive, collaborative culture and the excitement of working at the heart of UK politics.

I am really excited about my new role, and looking forward to helping shape the next phase in the life of GLD.

GLD is the governments principal legal adviser and is made up of up of nearly 3,000 colleagues with over 2,500 lawyers. Our lawyers advise on the some of the most complex, demanding and varied legal issues of the day, representing the government in cases ranging from education to transport, and helping to bring the governments legislative agenda to fruition.

Mel Nebhrajani CB has recently moved to the post of Director General of the Litigation with Justice and Security directorate and Elizabeth Hambley remains Director General for the Commercial with Trade and International directorate.

GLD is expanding our national presence, recently acquiring space in HMRCs Manchester office. This complements existing office space in Bristol, Croydon, Leeds and London. If you are interested in working with GLD please head to 