Lawyer (Civil Litigation) in London

Overview

Grade B - £39,784 (National) or £45,456 (London – for London office based or homebased workers within the boundary of the M25). There is also a recruitment & retention allowance of £3,000 per annum.

Contracted Hours: Full time 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Office based at London or Leeds Office (Lawyers in the Civil Litigation Team are office-based to support learning and development. Reasonable adjustments will be considered). We can also offer hybrid working (2 days a week from home).

Closing date: Sunday 5 October 2025 at 11.59pm

Responsibilities

The role
You’ll be key in helping us deliver our work. In this role, you’ll:

• Lead on complex legal casework that supports regulatory enforcement and protects public safety.
• Support Senior Lawyers on complex Judicial Review claims.
• Deliver training and legal awareness sessions that empower teams across CQC to make informed, lawful decisions.

Provide expert legal advice:

• Support teams across CQC with clear, solutions-focused guidance that helps manage legal risks.

Support and develop others:

• Coach and supervise Trainees, and Paralegals to build capability within the team.

Collaborate and influence:

• Build strong relationships across CQC to embed legal thinking into everyday decision-making.

Qualifications and requirements

Legal qualifications and experience:

• You’ll be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, with either 2 years post-qualification experience or substantial relevant experience in health and social care regulation.

Caseload and enforcement expertise:

• Experience managing legal caseloads, advising on enforcement activity, and presenting complex legal information in a clear, accessible way. Experience of First-tier Tribunal appeals, Judicial Review claims and other relevant litigation experience will be beneficial.

Collaborative working:

• Proven ability to build relationships, support colleagues, and contribute to shared goals in a fast-paced environment.

The team

A part of the Legal Services Directorate, you will work with colleagues across the whole directorate. The team has a varied remit and predominantly deals with appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (varying between 60 – 100 live appeals at any one time), Upper Tribunal appeals, private law claims, litigated public law challenges and employment.

Compliance and next steps

Right to work To progress your application, you’ll need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. Without valid right to work you won’t be eligible for the role. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. Some roles may also be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Next steps
If you apply, you’ll need to create a profile and complete an online application form. Your application will be completely anonymous. Please see our information for applicants for more details on the process. We contact every applicant to let them know the outcome of their application, so you will hear from us whether or not you are shortlisted.

You can read the full details of the role in the Job Description.

If you’d like an informal chat about the role contact – Sarah Potter, Legal Manager; Sarah.Potter@cqc.org.uk. For general enquiries, please email recruitment@cqc.org.uk.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including:

• Annual leave starting at 27 days per year, rising to 32.5 days with service, plus bank holidays (usually 8 days per year).
• Training and development opportunities.
• Wellbeing initiatives, such as gym discounts and meditation.
• NHS pension scheme, with around 14% employer contribution.
• Discount schemes (including eligibility for a Blue Light card, at a cost of £4.99 and valid for 2 years), reward vouchers, car leasing and more!

Please see our benefits page for the full list.

Equity and inclusion

We know job descriptions can feel intimidating. If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience could be exactly what we need. We’re committed to fairness, respect and inclusion, and support adjustments to our process. See our accessibility page and ED&I page for more information. If you’d like to chat, please contact recruitment@cqc.org.uk.

AI note AI tools can be great for research and refining ideas, but your application must reflect your real skills and experience. Do not copy and paste AI-generated answers; we want to hear about your skills and experience. Misrepresentation may lead to withdrawal of your application or termination of employment.