Senior Lawyer - Enforcement and Prosecution

Environment Agency; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public agency is looking for a Senior Lawyer to provide legal advice related to environmental law. Candidates must be qualified solicitors or barristers with experience in criminal advocacy. The role includes managing a caseload and supporting the organization with legal matters, while contributing to sustainable development. The agency promotes a good work-life balance and welcomes flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Good work-life balance

Salary pension scheme

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent.
• Experience as a prosecutor or defense lawyer desired.
• Knowledge of criminal law and procedure is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to the organization.
• Manage your own caseload with a high degree of autonomy.
• Handle complex/sensitive advice and represent the organization.

Skills

Qualified solicitor or barrister

Experience in environmental law

Criminal advocacy

Trial experience

Regulatory law knowledge

Education

Legal qualification (e.g., FILEX with rights of audience)

Job description

Overview

We currently have Senior Lawyer vacancies in our teams based in Birmingham and Peterborough and Worthing. We also have available in our Water Industry Enforcement Team (WIET) a Senior Lawyer (Team Leader) role and other Senior Lawyer vacancies which may be based in Exeter, Leeds, Reading, Warrington or Worthing.

Responsibilities

For all our roles, you will provide high level, accurate, timely legal advice and support to relevant parts of the organisation, deliver good quality effective legal casework and progress procedural issues. You will manage your own caseload and work with a high degree of autonomy including on more complex / sensitive advice, criminal and / or civil proceedings, challenges, transactional and other matters including representing the Environment Agency.

Requirements

We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

The team: Our legal teams are located across the country and lawyers report through a team leader to the relevant Senior Managing Lawyer and Deputy Director (Chief Prosecutor) as part of Legal Services. The work of the teams covers the full range of environmental offending under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (water, waste, regulated industry) as well as advising on the acceptance or rejection of enforcement undertakings pursuant to the civil penalty regime.

You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent (FILEX with rights of audience in criminal proceedings) and ideally have experience as a prosecutor or defence lawyer handling complex criminal cases concerning breaches of environmental legislation or other complex areas of criminal and regulatory law.

You will possess a sound knowledge generally of criminal law, practice and procedure and be an experienced criminal advocate with trial experience in the Magistrates' Court. You will have experience of preparing complex cases for trial and sentence in the Crown Court. You may also be a higher rights advocate but this is not mandatory. You will understand the Environment Agency's ability to use civil sanctions in place of criminal proceedings and you will have the ability to advise upon the right regulatory response to environmental offending.

Work Environment & Benefits

We work to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development. EA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. We employ around 10,600 people throughout England in a variety of roles. Our head office is in Bristol and we have another office in London. We have offices across England, divided into 14 areas.

The diverse nature of environmental crime provides ever-evolving challenges for our legal teams. Our Enforcement and Prosecution teams provide advice and conduct enforcement and prosecution cases, which may involve relevant alternative disposals such as civil sanctions and formal cautions. They also provide training to staff on disclosure requirements and the use of various statutory enforcement powers. Join them and you will have the opportunity to own an interesting caseload, protect the environment and make your mark in a national organisation that promises a good work-life balance, salary pension scheme and great professional development.