Regulatory Lawyer in Birmingham

Regulatory Lawyer

£57,186 - £60,912 | Permanent | Hybrid working | Birmingham / Staffordshire

Are you looking for a legal role where the work is genuinely interesting, high-profile and has a direct impact on public confidence?

This is an opportunity to join the Joint Legal Services team supporting Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Police, working on a varied caseload spanning police misconduct, inquests, public inquiries, public order and other regulatory matters.

This is a new role created as the team continues to grow. It would suit an experienced lawyer who enjoys complex work, wants meaningful exposure to senior clients and is looking to develop further within a specialist area of public sector law.

Why this role?

The work is varied and rarely routine.

You could find yourself advising on a police misconduct matter one day, representing the force at an inquest the next, or working alongside Counsel on a complex public inquiry. The role provides the opportunity to develop expertise in areas of law that can be difficult to access elsewhere.

You will also have the opportunity to build strong working relationships with the Force Executive Team and senior officers, giving you valuable exposure to senior decision-makers and high-profile legal issues.

The work has a clear public purpose. By supporting the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner and helping ensure professional standards are upheld, you will play an important role in maintaining public trust and confidence in policing.

And whilst previous experience of police regulatory work would be advantageous, it is not essential. The team is willing to support the right lawyer to develop their expertise, with on‑job training and opportunities to shadow colleagues on specialist matters.

The role

Working as one of four lawyers reporting to a Senior Lawyer, you will provide a comprehensive legal service to the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner for both Staffordshire and West Midlands Police.

Your work will include:

• Managing a complex caseload with a high degree of autonomy.
• Providing timely, pragmatic legal advice to clients.
• Advising on and representing the forces in legal proceedings and hearings before courts and tribunals.
• Representing the force in inquests and other regulatory proceedings.
• Working on police discipline and misconduct matters, including the preparation of charges relating to alleged breaches of professional standards.
• Advising on public inquiries, inquests, public order and other regulatory matters.
• Drafting legal documents and providing advocacy where appropriate.
• Instructing and working with external legal advisers and Counsel on more complex matters.
• Developing effective relationships with senior clients and other stakeholders.

The role will involve some basic advocacy, whilst Counsel will be instructed on more complex matters.

About you

You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with experience of handling complex legal work with minimal supervision.

We are particularly interested in lawyers with experience of inquests, although applications are welcomed from a range of backgrounds.

Your experience could have been gained in:

• A local authority or other public sector legal team
• A police or other public sector environment
• Private practice, particularly where you have worked on complex contentious or regulatory matters

Experience of police misconduct, public inquiries, public order or other regulator