Date: 4 Sept 2025
Location: London, GB
Company: Civil Aviation Authority
Salary: up to £84,000 per annum dependent upon experience

ABOUT YOU

We are seeking a competition lawyer with 4+PQE and welcome lawyers who have taken alternative routes to qualification, as well as lawyers who have qualified abroad and are entitled to practice in the UK.
We are an equal opportunity employer actively supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion. We encourage and support applications from all backgrounds, in particular candidates from minority backgrounds.
The role would be best suited to someone who has the following skills and qualifications:

IF YOU DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT YOUR APPLICATION.

For more information on CTC and SC clearance please visit - Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For more information on BPSS clearance please visit - BPSS clearance
The CAA values high ethical standards and personal integrity among employees. If invited for interview you will be asked to complete a declaration of interest.

THE ROLE

Are you a competition lawyer looking for a fulfilling, balanced and interesting legal position? Do you want forward-looking work in a sector that is constantly evolving and innovating whilst maintaining the highest standards in protecting the public? This could be the role for you.
We are the UK’s aviation regulator, recognised as a world leader in aviation, our activities are diverse, enabling the aviation industry to meet the highest safety standards, and we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the constantly evolving aviation environment.
We have concurrent competition powers with the Competition and Markets Authority to enforce competition law as it relates to airport operation services and the supply of air traffic services. Due to continued growth and anticipated increase in work, we are seeking to expand our competition legal team within the Office of the General Counsel.

THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in competition law, with proven skills in advice writing, problem-solving, and stakeholder management. Experience in economic regulation would be useful but is not essential. You will play a pivotal role in supporting colleagues, including finance specialists, economists, and policy development professionals, in making transparent and clear decisions that uphold competitive practices and consumer protection.
Your expertise will help shape regulatory strategies and ensure compliance with competition law, fostering a fair and competitive market environment. You will be innovative and strategic, thinking broadly about how to leverage regulatory frameworks and available tools to promote competition and drive industry standards.
Although your primary focus will be on competition law, as a member of the legal team you will have the opportunity to work across many different areas of the organisation. Our lawyers’ work also includes advising on economic regulation; implementing measures to protect consumers; developing new aviation legislation and policy in support of emerging technologies; advising on safety licensing and regulations, implementing measures to protect consumers; helping reshape airspace for the future; and managing litigation such as judicial review and enforcement actions.
As a team, we have a range of professional backgrounds and levels of experience. We pride ourselves on our ability to work dynamically and collaboratively as a team and we are always passionate about achieving the right outcomes. Everyone’s contribution is valued, and we work in an open, friendly, and supportive environment.
You’ll be supported by the experienced legal team around you, and from the beginning you will be responsible for your own workload, working closely with colleagues and external stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. You will also work collectively with the team of lawyers, learning and sharing with each other so that as a team we can provide the best legal service to the CAA.

THE KEY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS ROLE ARE:

• Providing high quality, user-friendly and practical legal advice that is responsive to clients’ needs on a very wide range of matters including interpreting and applying existing regulation and policies, working with government lawyers and other regulators such as the CMA, licensing activity, enforcement and litigation, and the development of new law policies and guidance.
• Leading all aspects of the client relationship for each allocated case or project and proactively being responsible for the matter from start-to-finish.
• Working effectively within integrated and multi-disciplinary teams (internal and external).
• Collaborating efficiently with all lawyers in the team by sharing information, knowledge and learning.
• Building and maintaining trusted professional relationships with clients across the organisation and building the profile of the Office of the General Counsel.
• Aligning the legal service provided with the client demands in a way that improves the organisation’s reputation and ensures the CAA continues to be a world-leading aviation regulator.
• Contributing to the smooth running of the in-house legal team.

Desirable (although this is not essential for the role):

• You have experience in economic regulation.
• You have experience of dealing with litigation matters.
• You have public law or regulatory experience