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About the job
Job summary
We’re looking for an experienced lawyer with strong experience in criminal and regulatory litigation.
Job description
You will predominantly advise on criminal investigations for offences contrary to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 and the general criminal law. You will have conduct of proceedings in the criminal courts. You will represent and support SIA both internally and externally in a number of forums and proceedings.
Working closely with the legal, frontline regulation and other internal teams you will provide legal advice and support on operational and policy matters to ensure compliance with criminal justice legislation and procedural rules.
You will also provide advice across the organisation to key stakeholders across SIA at all levels, including the Chief Executive.
Your advice will be high quality, consistent, timely and pragmatic, within a public law context and will cover legal issues as well as legal risk on a wide range of subjects, and in particular litigation related matters.
You will play an important role in the Legal and Policy Team, contributing to the knowledge management system and providing SIA wide training on areas within your remit as appropriate.
Person specification
To join us, you must:
Be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
Have experience of litigation involving public bodies, along with knowledge of criminal litigation, regulatory law, public law and information law.
You’ll also need the ability to pick up new areas of law quickly, drawing on excellent legal professional skills plus your powers of analysis and judgment. Whatever the topic, you’ll be able to explain complex legal points in an accessible way and give user-friendly advice.
With these strong communication skills, you’ll also forge client relationships swiftly and be a team player. Organised and able to prioritise your workload, you’ll work well under pressure.
Responsibilities
You will:
Provide high quality, timely, consistent and pragmatic legal advice to a range of different stakeholders
Identify and advise on legal risk
Provide advice which facilitates the effective progression and management of cases, meeting statutory and policy objectives and organisational priorities as set out in the Corporate Strategy
Advise and support, or lead where necessary, criminal and/or regulatory investigations, in conjunction with external experts, legal advisers and suppliers
Advise on effective analysis of material and compliance with disclosure obligations
Ensure summons, associated prosecution materials and other pleadings, whether drafted internally by the client, by you or by counsel are appropriate and effective
Attend and conduct advocacy at first appearances, PTPH and substantive magistrates’ and crown court hearings and in other regulatory / civil proceedings and forums (subject to rights of audience); and
Contribute to the internal legal knowledge management system and support the learning and development of colleagues and clients through formal or informal training as required.
Person specification
Essential and Desirable Criteria
Essential:
Extensive experience as a solicitor or barrister with a current practising certificate in England and Wales
Comprehensive post qualification experience of providing consistent, clear, audience tailored risk-based legal advice on a range of criminal matters within a regulatory context, including complex and high profile cases
Substantial technical knowledge of those areas and applicable legislation (e.g. Fraud Act, CPIA, PACE, POCA)
Detailed and tactical working knowledge of investigative processes, PACE, CPIA and their codes
Detailed and tactical working knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Rules and associated court practice and procedure
Relevant experience of joint working with enforcement bodies (such as police, HMRC and SGSA)
High awareness of current criminal law precedents and developments, as well as strategic trends and issues
Demonstrable ability to understand and support the needs and aims of SIA, present the views of the organisation both internally and externally with clarity
Highly organised, creative, resilient and self-motivated and able to prioritise a full portfolio of work and competing deadlines- Excellent and highly effective drafting skills in terms of a wider variety of documents, pleadings, advice, internal and external communications, and other written materials
Excellent advocacy, negotiation and persuasive skills with a proven ability to influence, both orally and in writing, with experience of leading meetings and negotiations and presenting internally and externally at all levels and the ability to adapt to suit different audiences; and
Extensive experience of handling difficult situations and acting under pressure, including explaining the impact of legal risk.
Desirable:
Experience of applying the Regulators’ Code
Relevant experience and knowledge of civil litigation and willingness to develop and expand experience in this area; and
Knowledge of data protection legislation, as well as public law, including the Equality Act 2010, Data Protection Act 2018, Human Rights Act 1998 and Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Person Specification
Proactive and flexible
Ability to prioritise and use initiative
Problem solving and analytical skills
Negotiation and communication skills at all levels
Attention to detail and accuracy; and
Approachable and a team player.
Benefits
- A welcoming and innovative work environment
Continued support and development opportunities
Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications
Flexible working arrangements
Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, with pay rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days
A variety of discounts including Gymflex; and
Civil Service Pension Scheme – Employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and Employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
- This vacancy is using SIA Competency Framework (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills
Candidates must be available to interview w/c 12 June 2023; and
Competency based face to face interviews onsite or via Teams call will be confirmed closer to the date.
If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter via our application site.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team