Head of Legal

Trusted Growth Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Trusted Growth Partners represents a UK health regulator recruiting a Head of Legal to lead the in‑house team responsible for fitness to practise and regulatory decisions that protect the public and professionals.

The role shapes the team’s direction, develops expertise, and defines how advocacy is delivered, while leading senior managers across investigations, hearings, and external providers.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in a UK jurisdiction with current practising certificate and substantial post‑qualification experience.
• Experience advising on complex legal matters in professional regulation or regulatory environments.
• Track record leading change and developing teams of lawyers and managers.
• Experience overseeing investigations and preparing cases for hearings.
• In‑depth knowledge of fitness to practise law, regulatory law, rules of evidence and case law.
• Understanding of regulatory reform and the Standards of Good Regulation.
• Experience managing budgets and external legal providers, and presenting reports to executives/boards.
• Good judgement and ability to explain complex issues in plain English.

Responsibilities

• Set and deliver the legal services strategy, including advocacy approach.
• Oversee a substantial caseload and ensure timely, legally sound decisions.
• Advise senior leaders and escalate complex matters.
• Manage budgets and external provider contracts for value for money.
• Advise on regulatory reform and changes to fitness to practise processes.
• Develop senior managers and build an inclusive, open team culture.
• Present reports to executives and govern­ing bodies; deputise for the Executive Director when required.

Skills

Regulatory law

Leadership

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Job description

We’re recruiting a Head of Legal on behalf of a UK health regulator. You’ll lead the in-house legal team responsible for fitness to practise, helping the regulator protect the public and make fair, proportionate decisions that affect patients, service users and regulated professionals.

The legal team has grown in recent years. You’ll set its direction for the next phase, develop its expertise and decide how advocacy should be delivered in future. You’ll lead senior managers whose teams cover legal decision-making, early-stage investigations, hearing preparation, advocacy, fraudulent registration cases and work handled by external legal providers.

Key responsibilities

• Set and deliver the legal services strategy, including the future approach to advocacy.
• Oversee legal work across a substantial caseload, supporting timely, consistent and legally sound decisions.
• Advise senior leaders and act as the point of escalation for complex, high-risk or high-profile matters.
• Manage legal budgets and external provider contracts, with responsibility for quality, timeliness and value for money.
• Advise on regulatory reform and lead changes to how fitness to practise cases are handled.
• Develop senior managers and legal professionals, and build an inclusive team culture where people can raise concerns and improve how they work.
• Present reports and recommendations to executive leaders and the governing body, and deputise for the Executive Director when required.

About you

You’ll be a qualified solicitor or barrister in a UK jurisdiction, with a current practising certificate and substantial post‑qualification experience. You’ll also bring:

• Experience advising on complex legal matters in professional regulation or another regulatory environment.
• A track record of leading change and developing teams of lawyers and managers.
• Strong experience overseeing investigations and preparing cases for hearings.
• In‑depth knowledge of fitness to practise law, regulatory law, the rules of evidence and relevant case law.
• An understanding of regulatory reform and the Professional Standards Authority’s Standards of Good Regulation.
• Experience managing budgets and external legal providers, and presenting reports or business cases to executive teams, boards or governing bodies.
• Sound judgement under scrutiny and the ability to explain complex legal issues in plain English.

Experience conducting regulatory advocacy or leading an advocacy function would be an advantage.