Lawyer - 12 Months Fixed Term Contract Maternity Cover. Job in London LilyLifestyle Jobs

Commencing Monday 1 June 2026. The GOC registers over 34,000 optometrists, dispensing opticians, optical business and optical students. We protect the public by promoting high standards of education, conduct and performance among our registrants.

Job purpose

We are looking for a qualified lawyer to:

• Provide legal advice and support on all GOC operations, strategic issues and projects;
• Manage the preparation of casework concerning (i) illegal optical practice and (ii) hearings before the Registration Appeals Committee (RAC).

As part of the GOC's Central Legal team, which comprises the Chief Legal Officer, one lawyer and one Administrator (Legal). Currently, staff mostly work remotely but this role requires some office‑based work.

Key accountabilities

• Provide legal advice and support on all organisational operations, strategic issues and projects, including (but not limited to) in relation to the GOC’s core functions of registration, standards/guidance, education and training, and fitness to practise.
• Ensure the efficient management of casework concerning illegal optical practice (an average caseload of five cases) and RAC hearings (approximately one or two a year), including the development of case plans, identification of appropriate lines of enquiry, liaison with complainants and other external parties, instruction internal or external lawyers as needed, and preparation of hearing bundles.
• Support colleagues across the organisation in devising and implementing legally compliant policies and processes.
• Support the GOC's learning culture, assisting colleagues understanding of legal issues and assisting the personal development of junior staff.
• Ensure the accurate recording and maintenance of management information, including performance data required for reporting to the GOC’s senior management team, the Council and the Professional Standards Authority.
• Work in accordance with applicable KPIs and business plans, managing own workload and prioritising effectively while maintaining quality of output.
• Maintain own skills and knowledge, including as required to maintain professional registration with SRA, BSB or CILEx.

Essential skills / experience / qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive with a practising certificate and at least two years post‑qualification experience.
• Good understanding of working in a legal or regulatory environment, including conducting legal research, advising on the interpretation and application of regulations, and drafting policy documents.
• Good Microsoft Office skills, including SharePoint, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Critical competencies / behaviours

• Supports the organisation's commitment to promoting equality, valuing diversity, being inclusive and meeting our equality duties.
• Can build relationships and work effectively across the organisation, engaging others in achieving compliance with legislation and good regulatory practice.
• Has strong analytical, creative‑thinking and problem‑solving skills, demonstrating strong technical understanding of legal processes.
• Conveys information (usually complex) accurately and clearly, whether verbally or in writing, ensuring understanding by all parties.
• Makes decisions and recommendations that are sound, well‑reasoned and supported by appropriate and relevant information/evidence.

Details

• Salary: £60,000 pa
• Closing date: 16:00 Friday 15 May 2026
• We may close this vacancy earlier than the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Equalities and diversity

We are committed to ensuring that in exercising all of our functions we operate in a fair and transparent manner and in a way that is free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Within all of our functions, we are committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity, being inclusive, and meeting our equality duties. We will not discriminate on age, disability, gender reassignment, race/ethnicity/nationality, religion/belief, sex/gender, sexual orientation, marriage/civil partnership, or pregnancy/maternity.