Litigation Lawyers in Edinburgh

Division: Legal Division

Department: Litigation & Legal Review (LLR)

Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £68,900 to £84,000 and London from £75,700 to £90,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

This role is graded as: Lead Associate – Practising Legal

About the FCA and team

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you'll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth and shaping the future of UK finance services.

The Legal Division provides advice and legal services across the full spectrum of FCA activities, whether regulatory, policy, enforcement or operational.

Sitting in the Legal Division, the Litigation & Legal Review (LLR) team handles all non-criminal contentious Enforcement and Authorisations legal work for the FCA. We are looking for two motivated and skilled contentious UK qualified regulatory lawyers with relevant experience to join our team on a permanent basis. You will have the opportunity to engage in a broad range of high-profile, complex regulatory matters, often dealing directly with financial services litigation, including proceedings before the RDC, Upper Tribunal and High Court.

We are a dynamic, inclusive and supportive team, offering both stimulating work and genuine work-life balance.

Role responsibilities

• Conduct litigation and legal reviews of investigations and cases for submission to decision makers, including senior FCA decision makers, the RDC, Upper Tribunal and the courts
• Draft and review case papers, including statutory notices, written submissions, statements of case, witness statements, regulatory notices and charges
• Provide legal advice to Enforcement investigatory case teams, Authorisations and other FCA colleagues on points of law including on the exercise of FCA powers and conduct any resulting regulatory proceedings
• Instruct and manage external counsel and, where necessary, draft written and/or make oral representations to an executive decision maker, RDC, Upper Tribunal and courts
• Assist in the sharing of knowledge and skills across the Legal Division and Enforcement and contribute to the development and implementation of the FCA's enforcement policy, procedures and guidance
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including colleagues in case teams, Authorisations and supervisory business units, the RDC and external law firms

Skills required

Minimum:

• A qualified solicitor or barrister with a current practising certificate for England and Wales. We would generally expect you to have a minimum of 5 years' relevant PQE/post-pupillage experience
• Demonstrable substantial experience of conducting commercial litigation or contentious financial services proceedings or investigations

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to deal with a considerable volume of evidence and exercise analytical skills to provide clear advice
• Ability to work independently in novel legal situations that require judgement
• Readiness to work efficiently to tight deadlines when necessary
• A track record in delivering results against business priorities
• Demonstration of advanced intellectual ability

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders) Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors)
• Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary
• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection and 24/7 Employee Assistance
• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually
• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle

Our values and culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that's free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation and delivers better regulation.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support. We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.

Disability confident: our hiring approach

We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role's key requirements.

Useful information and timelines

Job advert closes: midnight on 9th February

CV Review/Shortlist: 12th February

Interviews: w/c 23rd February

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.

Please provide your CV and separate answer (max 300 words) to the following application question: Why do you consider that you are suitable for this role?