Lead Lawyer INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

The Pensions Ombudsman is growing fast and is a great place to work. We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Lawyer to join our team based in Canary Wharf, where we currently operate an agile working policy of 20% office attendance and a flexible working culture. You will be working full or part-time on a permanent contract and will receive a competitive salary of £80,765 per annum pro rata.

We offer several pension options as part of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, including defined benefits. In addition, we are an accredited Disability Confident Employer, and we welcome applicants from under-represented groups.

Salary and benefits

• Starting salary of £80,765 per annum pro rata
• 27.5 days annual leave increasing to 32.5 depending on length of service plus the option to buy and sell annual leave
• Discretionary staff reward scheme
• Comprehensive support for growth with learning and development programme to boost your career
• 24/7 free confidential employee assistance programme
• Discounted health benefits and employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers
• Access to Staff Networks and social activities
• Sabbatical after qualifying period
• A culture of reward with annual performance bonus
• Eye test and flu jab reimbursements
• Access to a Cycle to work scheme

Diversity and Inclusion

We are an accredited Disability Confident Employer and welcome applications from under-represented groups. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and has a sense of belonging.

Who are we?

As a totally independent body, not part of the pensions industry or government, we investigate and make decisions when someone has been unable to resolve a complaint about how their pension has been managed. Our service is free, but we have legal powers to make decisions that are final, binding, and enforceable in court. Our work can be challenging and high-profile, delivering a fair outcome for the individual and highlighting where the pensions industry can improve. Focusing on the facts, we must be balanced, fair, and totally independent.

Purpose of the role

The Legal Team is an integral part of and fully embedded within the wider operational and organisational structure. It works in active partnership with the Casework function across every Casework Team area and at every level; with lawyers and caseworkers collaborating closely and working to set clear objectives, agree workflows and provide aligned Legal support that enables consistent effective delivery of the Casework function.

You will be part of The Pensions Ombudsman’s in-house Legal Team with the key purpose of supporting Casework Teams, the Senior Legal Leadership Team, the Pensions Ombudsman, and the Executive to exercise their functions in accordance with the relevant legislation, policies and practices. As a Lead Lawyer, your role will be to deal with and take responsibility for issues arising from the more challenging and complex cases. You will lead the Legal Team’s work in partnership with one or more Casework Teams. You will oversee a small team of Senior Lawyers and Lawyers to ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly and targets are met to help achieve priorities around case closures and quality decision making. You will be expected to directly support Senior Counsel in all aspects of their work including policy, litigation and know-how.

Key duties

• Oversight, responsibility and accountability of legal delivery to advance effective delivery of joint Legal and Casework shared priorities around case closures and quality decision making.
• Enhance the capability and capacity of the Casework function to meet the organisation’s increasing demand for its services.
• Maintain alignment between the Legal and Casework functions, fostering strong working relationships across all teams and levels.
• Assist with the drafting of policy papers for the Executive and take forward its decisions.
• Advise Senior Counsel of legal consequences of Determinations that are appealed, or other decisions judicially reviewed.
• Handle allocated appeals, including promptly reviewing claim forms together with any supporting documentation and advise the Ombudsman on merits and strategy.
• Attend hearings where required and complete all follow-up work arising from external hearings and oral hearings conducted by the organisation.
• Carry out regular team meetings and one to ones.
• Support staff development through agreed learning plans and monitor individual performance to ensure targets and objectives are achieved.
• Monitor team workload and flag team capacity and capability issues to senior counsel.
• Ensure that your professional and technical knowledge keeps abreast of changes.
• Ensure high standards of customer care, by meeting and exceeding service level agreements.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full key responsibilities.

We will shortlist and interview on a rolling basis, without waiting for a set closing date. Therefore, this vacancy may be withdrawn at short notice.

Closing date: 27th March 2026

Interview dates: From 30th March 2026 on a rolling basis

All applicants must have a right to work in the UK and be prepared to be security cleared to Baseline Personnel Security Standard, which requires a basic disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

If you feel that you have the skills and experience required to become our Lead Lawyer, please click ‘apply’ today. We would love to hear from you!