Senior Lawyer (Team Leader) - Enforcement & Prosecution

at  Environment Agency

Region
South East
City/Town
Reading
Grade
Staff Grade 6
Post Type
Permanent
Role Type
Legal Services
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time
Salary Minimum
£50,409
Closing Date:
20/10/2024, 23:55 hours
Security checks level
Basic Check
Job description
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.
We have a Senior Lawyer Team Leader vacancy in our Enforcement and Prosecutions team based in Reading.
This frontline role manages and leads a busy team of lawyers who undertake advice and conduct of difficult and often contentious enforcement and prosecution cases and relevant alternative disposals such as civil sanctions and formal cautions.
You will provide high level, accurate, timely legal advice and support to relevant parts of the organisation and support staff to deliver good quality effective legal casework and progress procedural issues. You will manage administrative, HR and budgetary requests for the team and help to promote the health, safety and well-being of your team members. 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.
The team
Our area facing legal teams are located across the country and lawyers report through a team leader to the Senior Managing Lawyer (E&P) 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 (i.e. water, waste, regulated industry) as well as advising on the acceptance or rejection of enforcement undertakings pursuant to the civil penalty regime.
Experience/skills required
You will be able to influence and persuade people at all levels and will have some experience of leading and managing a team. You will have experience as a prosecutor or defence lawyer of complex criminal cases concerning breaches of environmental legislation or other complex areas of criminal and regulatory law. You’ll possess a sound knowledge generally of criminal law, practice and procedure and you’ll understand the Environment Agency’s ability to use civil sanctions in place of criminal proceedings and have the ability to advise upon the right regulatory response to environmental offending.
You’ll be a qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent (FILEX with rights of audience in criminal proceedings).
Contact and additional information
We offer the option to combine home working with attendance at the contractual office base, subject to meeting business needs. There will be travel to court and other locations as required.
Interviews are likely to take place at the beginning of November 2024.
For further information please contact Paul Taylor, Senior Managing Lawyer (Enforcement & Prosecutions) paul.taylor1@environment-agency.gov.uk
Competence 1
Illegal Activity Detection and Enforcement
Description
Description - Uses intelligence to detect suspected illegal activities. Instigates and carries out enforcement action where illegal activities have been detected.
Please give an example of a case where you have advised upon the correct enforcement response to an illegal activity.
Competence 2
Achieves Results
Description
Description - Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
Please describe how you prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure the timely achievement of results.
Competence 3
Leads People
Description
Description - Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency.
Give an example of when you have led a team to accomplish significant achievements in difficult circumstances.
Role specific professional membership requirements
Current practising certificate.