Inquest And Civil Litigation Lawyer (Chelmsford, Headquarters)

We are seeking a highly skilled Inquest and Civil Litigation Lawyer to join Essex Police’s Legal Services team, providing specialist in‑house expertise across coronial law, inquests and associated civil litigation.

You will play a critical role in ensuring that Essex Police meets its legal and human rights obligations, managing legal risk effectively while supporting transparency, organisational learning and public confidence.

Working at the centre of sensitive and complex proceedings, you will advise senior leaders, coordinate multi‑agency legal responses, and ensure robust handling of disclosure, evidence and litigation strategy across both inquest and civil claim processes.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage inquest and civil litigation cases from instruction through to conclusion.
• Provide expert legal advice to senior leaders on complex, sensitive and high‑risk matters.
• Ensure compliance with coronial law, employment and civil litigation frameworks, and human rights obligations, including Article 2.
• Manage disclosure processes, evidence preparation and coordination of multi‑agency responses.
• Represent the organisation in legal proceedings and support counsel where appropriate.
• Identify legal risks, support mitigation strategies and contribute to organisational learning following findings.
• Work collaboratively across Legal Services and operational teams to ensure a consistent and effective legal approach.
• Support the management of associated claims arising from inquests, including civil litigation matters.

What We Are Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive with a current practising certificate.
• Significant experience of inquests and civil litigation from instruction to conclusion.
• Strong working knowledge of inquest and civil litigation law, process and procedure.
• Proven ability to advise senior leaders on complex, sensitive inquests and civil claims matters.
• Experience of policing, public sector, or other regulated environments.
• Familiarity with inquests and civil litigation within the context of the police service.
• Consistent with a current practising certificate (duplicate removed).

Our Location

This role is based at Essex Headquarters in Chelmsford, operating as an office‑based agile worker with opportunities for flexible working where appropriate.

Depending on your current vetting level and security clearances, you may be required to complete additional vetting information during the recruitment process.

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status.

If you’re not from the UK, you must be a resident in the UK and have lived here continuously for the last three years. You must also be free from restrictions with indefinite leave to remain. If you’re from the UK you must have lived here continuously for the last three years. This doesn’t apply to those serving abroad in the British Armed Forces.

As a Disability Confident Leader we

• Have subjected our Disability Confident self‑assessment to external challenge and validation.
• Are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work.

Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included.

Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer. Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.