Senior Legal Advisor

We’re looking for an experienced lawyer with strong experience in criminal and regulatory litigation.

You will predominantly advise on criminal investigations for offences contrary to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 and the general criminal law. You will have conduct of proceedings in the criminal courts. You will represent and support SIA both internally and externally in a number of forums and proceedings.

Working closely with the legal, frontline regulation and other internal teams you will provide legal advice and support on operational and policy matters to ensure compliance with criminal justice legislation and procedural rules.

You will also provide advice across the organisation to key stakeholders across SIA at all levels, including the Chief Executive.

Your advice will be high quality, consistent, timely and pragmatic, within a public law context and will cover legal issues as well as legal risk on a wide range of subjects, and in particular litigation related matters.

You will play an important role in the Legal and Policy Team, contributing to the knowledge management system and providing SIA wide training on areas within your remit as appropriate.

To join us, you must:

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  Be qualified to practise as a solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and

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  Have experience of litigation involving public bodies, along with knowledge of criminal litigation, regulatory law, public law and information law.

You’ll also need the ability to pick up new areas of law quickly, drawing on excellent legal professional skills plus your powers of analysis and judgment. Whatever the topic, you’ll be able to explain complex legal points in an accessible way and give user-friendly advice.

With these strong communication skills, you’ll also forge client relationships swiftly and be a team player. Organised and able to prioritise your workload, you’ll work well under pressure.

Responsibilities

You will:

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  Provide high quality, timely, consistent and pragmatic legal advice to a range of different stakeholders

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  Identify and advise on legal risk

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  Provide advice which facilitates the effective progression and management of cases, meeting statutory and policy objectives and organisational priorities as set out in the Corporate Strategy

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  Advise and support, or lead where necessary, criminal and/or regulatory investigations, in conjunction with external experts, legal advisers and suppliers

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  Advise on effective analysis of material and compliance with disclosure obligations

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  Ensure summons, associated prosecution materials and other pleadings, whether drafted internally by the client, by you or by counsel are appropriate and effective

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  Attend and conduct advocacy at first appearances, PTPH and substantive magistrates’ and crown court hearings and in other regulatory / civil proceedings and forums (subject to rights of audience); and

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  Contribute to the internal legal knowledge management system and support the learning and development of colleagues and clients through formal or informal training as required.

Person specification

Essential and Desirable Criteria

Essential:

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  Extensive experience as a solicitor or barrister with a current practising certificate in England and Wales

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  Comprehensive post qualification experience of providing consistent, clear, audience tailored risk-based legal advice on a range of criminal matters within a regulatory context, including complex and high profile cases

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  Substantial technical knowledge of those areas and applicable legislation (e.g. Fraud Act, CPIA, PACE, POCA)

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  Detailed and tactical working knowledge of investigative processes, PACE, CPIA and their codes

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  Detailed and tactical working knowledge of the Criminal Procedure Rules and associated court practice and procedure

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  Relevant experience of joint working with enforcement bodies (such as police, HMRC and SGSA)

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  High awareness of current criminal law precedents and developments, as well as strategic trends and issues

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  Demonstrable ability to understand and support the needs and aims of SIA, present the views of the organisation both internally and externally with clarity

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  Highly organised, creative, resilient and self-motivated and able to prioritise a full portfolio of work and competing deadlines
• Excellent and highly effective drafting skills in terms of a wider variety of documents, pleadings, advice, internal and external communications, and other written materials

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  Excellent advocacy, negotiation and persuasive skills with a proven ability to influence, both orally and in writing, with experience of leading meetings and negotiations and presenting internally and externally at all levels and the ability to adapt to suit different audiences; and

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  Extensive experience of handling difficult situations and acting under pressure, including explaining the impact of legal risk.

Desirable:

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  Experience of applying the Regulators’ Code

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  Relevant experience and knowledge of civil litigation and willingness to develop and expand experience in this area; and

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  Knowledge of data protection legislation, as well as public law, including the Equality Act 2010, Data Protection Act 2018, Human Rights Act 1998 and Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Person Specification

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  Proactive and flexible

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  Ability to prioritise and use initiative

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  Problem solving and analytical skills

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  Negotiation and communication skills at all levels

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  Attention to detail and accuracy; and

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  Approachable and a team player.

• • A welcoming and innovative work environment
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    Continued support and development opportunities
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    Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications
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    Flexible working arrangements
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    Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, with pay rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days
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    A variety of discounts including Gymflex; and
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    Civil Service Pension Scheme – Employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and Employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%

Job contact :

Name :
Recruitment@sia.gov.uk
Email :
recruitment@sia.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
recruitment@sia.gov.uk