Justin Leslie, Counsel for Domestic Legislation, House of Commons

After graduating from UCL Laws, Justin Leslie (LLM Public Law and Human Rights, 2009) completed a pupillage and practised as a barrister before moving into Government – first drafting primary legislation at the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, and now as Counsel for Domestic Legislation at the House of Commons. He is the principal legal adviser on matters relating to domestic legislation and statutory interpretation.

What motivated you to study the LLM at UCL Laws?

Before coming to UCL, I did an undergraduate degree focusing on politics and philosophy and then I completed the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). My favourite GDL subject was public law but I wanted to take the subject deeper. During the GDL I had two books on my shelf that shaped my thinking about the subject by academics from UCL Laws – The Changing Constitution (edited by Dawn Oliver and Jeffrey Jowell) and Law and Administration (co-authored by Richard Rawlings). The opportunity to be taught by such eminent academics created a magnetic pull towards UCL Laws.

Were there any particular professors, modules or extracurricular activities that influenced your personal or professional development?

Being taught by Professor Dawn Oliver and Professor Richard Rawlings had a profound impact on my development, both of whom conveyed the dynamism of UK constitutional law and its interaction with politics and the modern administrative state. In particular, Professor Rawlings ran a module on judicial review that was both intellectually rigorous and practically focused: this put me in a strong position when it came to my first roles after UCL at the Public Law Project and then the Law Commission of England and Wales.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at UCL Laws that has had a lasting impact on you?

Whilst at UCL Laws, I was lucky to win a human rights law moot competition where the finals were held in Strasbourg before a panel of judges from the European Court of Human Rights. It was my first time operating in a real courtroom and it taught me a huge amount about effective advocacy. This was a truly unique experience.

How do you believe your experience at UCL Laws differed from other institutions offering similar programmes?

UCL Laws has a great ethos and energy that comes through its engaged staff and its highly active student body. During my time there were numerous fantastic opportunities, many of which were led by the students themselves. For instance, I had my first piece published in the UCL Student Human Rights Review and this encouraged me to have other articles published in other journals, such as having my LLM dissertation published in Legal Studies.

How has your career path evolved since finishing the LLM, and how did UCL Laws prepare you for this?

After the LLM, I completed a pupillage and I practised as a barrister before moving into Government where I drafted primary legislation at the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Then I moved to work as Counsel for Domestic Legislation in the House of Commons where I scrutinise and advise on legislative matters. My time at UCL Laws taught me the value of being able to deploy core constitutional principles in practical situations. Our constitutional arrangements are both deeply rooted and yet also highly pragmatic, and the LLM laid the foundations for understanding how our constitutional arrangements work in practice.

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far, or had the biggest impact on you?

My time at the Office of Parliamentary Counsel was bookended by two fascinating projects: the Scotland Act 2016 and the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. In both cases, the questions we were addressing could have been drawn straight from a seminar with Professor Dawn Oliver.

In the House of Commons, I have become involved in litigation concerning parliamentary privilege. This has drawn me into cases relating to VAT on private school fees, the implementation of the recommendations of a public inquiry and legislation changing how leasehold property operates. All these cases include a human rights element and link directly back to my LLM studies.

What are some unique professional challenges you’re encountering at the moment?

An important part of my role is speaking up for the value of scrutinising legislation. Scrutiny allows Parliament to make informed decisions about the legislation it is being asked to approve: it is foundational to the legitimacy of the laws that Parliament passes. MPs are increasingly interested in how they can scrutinise legislation more effectively and an important part of my role – alongside other colleagues – is supporting them in doing so. There are moves to modernise parliamentary procedure and there will continue to be justified pressure to make the process easier to navigate for MPs and the public alike.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing an LLM at UCL Laws?

Doing an LLM at UCL Laws is a great chance to work with leading academics who are at the centre of developments in public law alongside students who can form an important professional network in your future career. My advice is that you will get out of the LLM experience what you put in. UCL Laws made it easy to participate in, and contribute to, a range of activities that made what was a single academic year into a formative experience for the rest of my career. 

What careers advice or guidance would you give to current students or recent graduates who are just starting out?

Take your time. It is easy to feel under pressure that your first job should be your perfect job. I wanted to practise public law at the Bar but it hadn’t occurred to me I could have a career in and around Parliament. It is important to be open to experiences that don’t necessarily fit the mould of ‘the perfect job’. Flexibility is vital as a career develops. Whilst in chambers, I did more property law than I wanted but the experience was invaluable: I have had to recall that experience sitting on the Parliamentary Property Estates Board and providing advice relating to the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A final thing: I would encourage students to learn how to read legislation. We are taught to draft legislation so that it tells a story. However, most lawyers simply dip in and out of legislation without understanding how it is structured or how it operates as a whole. Being able to navigate and interpret legislation effectively is an elementary legal skill that is often overlooked. My predecessor in my current role has written an excellent short book on the topic: How to Read Legislation by Daniel Greenberg CB.

Find out more about Justin on LinkedIn.