Deputy Solicitor Edinburgh, Scotland
Scottish Government
Full Time
Edinburgh, Scotland
27494 - 38194 GBP ANNUAL Today
Job description
Overview:
We are looking for collaborative and innovative individuals to join our organisation that strives to be inclusive, and seeks to demonstrate the utmost integrity in all we do.
The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry is an independent, high profile public inquiry chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Brailsford. It is established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and has an extensive Terms of Reference designed to enable investigation of the full range of issues pertaining to the strategic response to the pandemic in Scotland.
The Inquiry legal team is presently comprised of the Solicitor, an interim Deputy Solicitor, and a team of solicitors and paralegals, which is currently being expanded considerably. The team supports the Solicitor and the Chair, and works closely with the Counsel team, policy and operational teams. This includes a team dealing solely with the design and running of the Let’s Be Heard project, an extremely broad ranging public outreach exercise intended to reach as many people as possible who wish to participate in the work of the Inquiry by sharing their experiences.
The Inquiry requires three Deputy Solicitors. The position of Deputy Solicitor is a key role and the Deputy Solicitors will be an integral part of the Inquiry’s senior management team. The scope and scale of this Inquiry, and the pace at which it is intended it will operate, are such that the role will be split across three people. Part time or job share arrangements will be considered.
The Deputy Solicitors will share the work supporting the Solicitor, taking on a senior role in coordinating and advising on the range of workstreams the Inquiry is undertaking, including large scale gathering of witness evidence, reports and publications, investigations, and work supporting the Secretariat and the Chair more generally, including managing relationships with external lawyers, core participants and Counsel.
The Deputy Solicitors to the Inquiry will play a pivotal role in delivering the Inquiry’s work programme. The role extends to providing legal support across the whole of the Inquiry team and comprises variously significant people management responsibilities, strategic planning and resourcing, and project management, as well as providing high quality substantive legal advice as appropriate to help manage overall legal risks to the project.
The Deputy Solicitors will assist the Solicitor in managing a team of 12 investigation lawyers and a minimum of 20 paralegals, and in resourcing, planning, implementing and tracking the investigatory work being carried out by the team.
Reporting to the Solicitor to the Inquiry, the Deputy Solicitors will be an integral part of the Inquiry’s senior management team. If a Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS) lawyer is appointed they will remain members of the GLSS and entitled to apply for future GLSS vacancies.
The Inquiry is a dynamic and fast paced environment and the role requires a positive and collaborative approach to team working, excellent interpersonal skills, strategic awareness, flexibility, adaptability, initiative, good judgement, sensitivity, pragmatism and a high degree of personal resilience. The Inquiry takes a trauma informed approach to its work and is committed to carry out its remit using a human rights based approach.
This opportunity is likely to be of particular interest to an existing government C2/C1 lawyer with an inquiries and/or litigation background or to an experienced litigator or public lawyer looking for a new challenge in a high profile project. Litigation experience would be helpful but is not essential. Experience of working in public law is also desirable but not essential. The Deputy Solicitor must be a solicitor admitted in Scotland and hold a current practising certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland, or be willing to obtain one prior to beginning work with the Inquiry.
Responsibilities:
In summary, taking into account the above the roles will comprise approximately:
Key Competencies
Essential Criteria & Qualifications:
Qualifications:
Applicants must be a qualified and an experienced solicitor.
Interview and Assessment:
Location
Waverley Gate, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG. This post is based in Edinburgh with hybrid working being the current arrangement but onsite working is required during live hearings. On occasion this may be in locations other than Edinburgh.
Minimum time in post
You will be expected to remain in post for the duration of the Inquiry unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
HOW TO APPLY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidenced based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Additional Information
Candidates may wish to familiarise themselves with the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry. Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
This is a full time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
The Inquiry team are currently working in a hybrid manner. It is intended that interviews for this post will be conducted in person. However, in the event that interviews require to be virtual applicants are asked to ensure that they have a suitable space in which to complete a virtual interview. In addition, a personal device of choice, which has the Microsoft Teams application downloaded is required, together with personal Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds.
For information regarding this post please contact Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry Recruitment at [email protected]
Do you have excellent skills in organisation, communication and people management?
We are looking for collaborative and innovative individuals to join our organisation that strives to be inclusive, and seeks to demonstrate the utmost integrity in all we do.
The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry is an independent, high profile public inquiry chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Brailsford. It is established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and has an extensive Terms of Reference designed to enable investigation of the full range of issues pertaining to the strategic response to the pandemic in Scotland.
The Inquiry legal team is presently comprised of the Solicitor, an interim Deputy Solicitor, and a team of solicitors and paralegals, which is currently being expanded considerably. The team supports the Solicitor and the Chair, and works closely with the Counsel team, policy and operational teams. This includes a team dealing solely with the design and running of the Let’s Be Heard project, an extremely broad ranging public outreach exercise intended to reach as many people as possible who wish to participate in the work of the Inquiry by sharing their experiences.
The Inquiry requires three Deputy Solicitors. The position of Deputy Solicitor is a key role and the Deputy Solicitors will be an integral part of the Inquiry’s senior management team. The scope and scale of this Inquiry, and the pace at which it is intended it will operate, are such that the role will be split across three people. Part time or job share arrangements will be considered.
The Deputy Solicitors will share the work supporting the Solicitor, taking on a senior role in coordinating and advising on the range of workstreams the Inquiry is undertaking, including large scale gathering of witness evidence, reports and publications, investigations, and work supporting the Secretariat and the Chair more generally, including managing relationships with external lawyers, core participants and Counsel.
The Deputy Solicitors to the Inquiry will play a pivotal role in delivering the Inquiry’s work programme. The role extends to providing legal support across the whole of the Inquiry team and comprises variously significant people management responsibilities, strategic planning and resourcing, and project management, as well as providing high quality substantive legal advice as appropriate to help manage overall legal risks to the project.
The Deputy Solicitors will assist the Solicitor in managing a team of 12 investigation lawyers and a minimum of 20 paralegals, and in resourcing, planning, implementing and tracking the investigatory work being carried out by the team.
Reporting to the Solicitor to the Inquiry, the Deputy Solicitors will be an integral part of the Inquiry’s senior management team. If a Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS) lawyer is appointed they will remain members of the GLSS and entitled to apply for future GLSS vacancies.
The Inquiry is a dynamic and fast paced environment and the role requires a positive and collaborative approach to team working, excellent interpersonal skills, strategic awareness, flexibility, adaptability, initiative, good judgement, sensitivity, pragmatism and a high degree of personal resilience. The Inquiry takes a trauma informed approach to its work and is committed to carry out its remit using a human rights based approach.
This opportunity is likely to be of particular interest to an existing government C2/C1 lawyer with an inquiries and/or litigation background or to an experienced litigator or public lawyer looking for a new challenge in a high profile project. Litigation experience would be helpful but is not essential. Experience of working in public law is also desirable but not essential. The Deputy Solicitor must be a solicitor admitted in Scotland and hold a current practising certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland, or be willing to obtain one prior to beginning work with the Inquiry.
The Deputy Solicitor to the Inquiry will work closely with the Solicitor to the Inquiry, the Chair, Chief Executive, Counsel and other members of the Inquiry team on a wide range of legal matters including:
- Assisting the Solicitor to coordinate and project manage extensive investigations and the advisory work of the legal team, and working closely with the Counsel team to ensure they have the necessary material to prepare for hearings.
Line managing and supporting the team of lawyers, including developing staff and allocating resource appropriately in a responsive and flexible way, to ensure team resilience.
Working closely with other operational functions in the Inquiry to deliver the Inquiry’s work, including the Head of Witness and Hearings Management to coordinate and implement the taking of witness statements; and the Document and Evidence Management team.
Participating in Senior Management meetings, and steering conversations on forecasting, risk management, and project planning of the legal work.
Providing legal advice to the Chair, the Chief Executive and other members of the Inquiry team with particular regard to the application of the Inquiries legislation and scope of the terms of reference.
Advising on data protection issues, confidentiality and restriction orders.
Working closely with the UK Inquiry team to ensure minimising of duplication and to ensure both legal teams work effectively alongside each other.
Drafting of/advising on Inquiry procedures and protocols while liaising with solicitors representing core participants and others, supporting the Solicitor and assisting with coordinating the work of the team dealing with administration of funding claims.
Engaging at a senior level with key organisations and stakeholders, including regularly discussions with regard to calls for evidence.
Providing legal support to the Let’s Be Heard project, as appropriate; assisting the Solicitor generally with assessing overall legal risks to the project.
Advising upon and conducting any ancillary litigation involving the Inquiry, and ensuring that fairness, independence, human rights, and a trauma informed approach is core to the Inquiry’s work.
In summary, taking into account the above the roles will comprise approximately:
1) Project management, organisation and deployment of staff to resource the investigative work of the Inquiry / process for gathering consistent witness evidence.
2) People management of a team of solicitors/paralegals and reviewing/delegating work.
3) Providing substantive legal advice to the Inquiry senior secretariat, attending Senior Management and Senior Legal team meetings, to include planning and strategising the ongoing work of the Inquiry, working closely with the Solicitor and the Chief Executive, and SMT.
4) Preparing submissions to the Chair and working with the Solicitor to manage overall legal risks to the project, including overseeing legal correspondence and managing any litigation arising.
Key Competencies
- People Management.
- Leading others.
- Communications.
- Engagement.
- Improving Performance.
1. A strong track record of providing clear, fit for purpose, high quality legal advice to agreed deadlines (including at least some litigation experience), while managing competing demands.
2. Expertise in managing and delivering demanding, large scale and/or complex legal projects.
3. Ability to lead and build confident, resilient and effective teams.
4. Excellent communication skills (including engagement at senior level and within multidisciplinary settings), a constructive attitude and a strong record in collaborative working.
Qualifications:
Applicants must be a qualified and an experienced solicitor.
Interview and Assessment:
Dates to be confirmed
Location
Waverley Gate, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG. This post is based in Edinburgh with hybrid working being the current arrangement but onsite working is required during live hearings. On occasion this may be in locations other than Edinburgh.
Minimum time in post
You will be expected to remain in post for the duration of the Inquiry unless successful at gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
HOW TO APPLY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To apply for this post you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process.
You must fully complete and submit an online application via the website before the closing date using evidenced based examples to demonstrate your knowledge/skills (300 words). Remember your answers should be clear, concise and reflect what actions you undertook. You may want to use the STAR(R) approach to respond to each criterion.
Additional Information
Candidates may wish to familiarise themselves with the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry. Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
This is a full time role, but staff with different working patterns are invited to apply and we will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
Important Information Regarding Interviews
The Inquiry team are currently working in a hybrid manner. It is intended that interviews for this post will be conducted in person. However, in the event that interviews require to be virtual applicants are asked to ensure that they have a suitable space in which to complete a virtual interview. In addition, a personal device of choice, which has the Microsoft Teams application downloaded is required, together with personal Wi-Fi/Broadband capacity sufficient to carry both audio and video feeds.
For information regarding this post please contact Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry Recruitment at [email protected]
Scottish Government
www.gov.scot
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Nicola Sturgeon
$25 to $50 million (USD)
1001 to 5000 Employees
Government
National Services & Agencies
1885
