Lawyer - Public and Information Law in Leeds

This role is graded at either Associate or Senior Associate level, Practising Legal. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

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. Our Legal Division provides advice and legal services across the full range of FCA activity, including regulatory, policy, enforcement and operational work. This role sits within the Governance team, which advises on regulatory, governance and public law matters. The team leads on areas including information law (FOIA, data protection and statutory confidentiality), complaints, whistleblowing, fees, corporate governance, inquiries and litigation (including judicial review and other civil litigation). You will regularly advise senior stakeholders on high‑profile and sensitive issues.

Role responsibilities:

• Provide clear, practical and timely legal advice to the FCA, including well‑reasoned analysis of legal risk.
• Work collaboratively within the team and contribute positively to the Department and wider Legal Division, including delivering training and supporting knowledge management.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Take ownership of your professional development by identifying learning needs and actively building legal knowledge and capability.

Skills required:

• Minimum: Qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or overseas equivalent).
• For Senior Associate level, typically at least 3 years’ PQE with relevant experience gained in‑house, in the public sector, or in private practice.
• Essential: All applicants must demonstrate the ability, or clear potential, to:
• Analyse complex issues and communicate advice clearly and effectively.
• Learn new or novel legal issues quickly, with appropriate supervision and support.
• Deliver pragmatic, outcome‑focused solutions and sound judgement.
• Advise confidently and constructively, including appropriately challenging where necessary.
• Build strong working relationships and communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work.
• 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. 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 Closing Date: Midnight on 22nd January.
• CV Review: w/c 26 January.
• Interview with case study: w/c 2 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.