Senior Fitness to Practise Lawyer (Advocacy) - Maternity Cover

Fixed-Term Contract (Maternity Cover) We're looking for an experienced Senior Fitness to Practise Lawyer (Advocacy) to join our growing Fitness to Practise Legal Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to lead our in-house Presenting Officer function, providing strategic oversight of advocacy services that play a key role in protecting the public and maintaining confidence in professional regulation. Reporting to the Head of Fitness to Practise Legal Services, you'll lead and develop a team of Presenting Officers, oversee advocacy resources, and ensure effective representation before our statutory committees. As this is a relatively new role, you'll have genuine scope to shape the function, influence ways of working and drive continuous improvement. For candidates interested in maintaining hands-on advocacy experience, opportunities may also be available to conduct advocacy before our statutory committees.

What you'll be doing

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of Presenting Officers.
• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, consistent and timely advocacy services.
• Act as a senior escalation point for legal and procedural issues arising during hearings and case preparation.
• Oversee the allocation of hearings across internal advocates, external legal providers and counsel.
• Monitor advocacy quality through supervision, audit and performance reporting.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and external legal partners.
• Deliver training, coaching and development initiatives to enhance advocacy capability.
• Support governance, performance reporting and the strategic development of the advocacy function.

About you

• A current practising certificate as a Barrister, Solicitor Advocate or Solicitor.
• A minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience.
• Experience within professional regulation or another regulatory environment.
• Strong legal expertise and the ability to interpret complex legislation, case law and procedural rules.
• Experience advising on complex and sensitive matters.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to coach and develop legal professionals.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to high-quality advocacy, fair hearings and public protection.

Further information on this role is detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification

Additional Information

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK and will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including DBS and original document checks.

We are committed to being an actively anti-discriminatory organisation and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Join us and help shape the future of regulatory advocacy while making a real difference to public protection and professional standards. Please refer to HCPCs Behavioural Standards Framework.

Rewards and Benefits

30 days holiday + bank, 8% employer pension, enhanced employee assistance and lifestyle rewards, free online 24/7 GP, ongoing training and professional membership support

Desired Skills and Experience

• A current practising certificate as a Barrister, Solicitor Advocate or Solicitor.
• A minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience.
• Experience within professional regulation or another regulatory environment.
• Strong legal expertise and the ability to interpret complex legislation, case law and procedural rules.
• Experience advising on complex and sensitive matters.
• Proven leadership skills, with the ability to coach and develop legal professionals.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to high-quality advocacy, fair hearings and public protection.