Senior Associate – Crime & Regulatory Defence

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance throughVital

Medicash health cash plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing and family-friendly policies

NEST pension

Referral bonuses

Career development

CSR activities

Job summary

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Crime and Regulatory team in Leeds or Manchester, with regular travel to London. The role covers police-station attendance through to Crown Court preparation, handling serious, sensitive Criminal Defence matters.

The successful candidate will have 3–5 years’ PQE, current Police Station Accreditation, and strong advocacy across Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ PQE in Criminal Defence required or similar experience.
• Excellent written communication and drafting skills.
• Strong Magistrates’ Court advocacy experience.
• Crown Court advocacy or preparation experience.
• Recent experience in a UK Legal Practice.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied Criminal Defence caseload.
• Advise and represent clients at the police station.
• Conduct Magistrates’ Court advocacy.
• Prepare Crown Court cases with case theory and evidence review.
• Draft representations, applications and case notes.
• Analyze complex evidence and conflicting accounts.
• Support senior colleagues on complex Crown Court and Regulatory matters.
• Manage deadlines and file quality.
• Guide clients through serious and sensitive circumstances.
• Contribute to development of the Crime and Regulatory team.

Skills

Criminal Defence

Magistrates’ Court advocacy

Crown Court experience

Evidence analysis

Case strategy

Attention to detail

Independent work

Travel flexibility

Calm and compassionate

Education

Police Station Accreditation

Job description

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Crime and Regulatory team in Leeds or Manchester, with regular travel to London. The role covers police-station attendance through to Crown Court preparation, handling serious, sensitive Criminal Defence matters.

The successful candidate will have 3–5 years’ PQE, current Police Station Accreditation, and strong advocacy across Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court.