Senior Lawyer

Help shape and support modern policing through challenging, varied and high-profile legal work. This is a unique opportunity to join Norfolk Constabulary's Legal Services Department and become part of a supportive, expert legal team providing advice and representation on some of the most interesting and challenging issues facing modern policing. Our lawyers advise the Chief Constable, the Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner and our collaborative police partners across a broad spectrum of legal work, including operational policing matters, civil litigation, misconduct proceedings, inquests, disclosure, employment and commercial law. As part of a small, collaborative team, you will have the opportunity to take ownership of a diverse caseload, develop specialist expertise and make a meaningful contribution to policing and public service. You will manage a diverse and challenging caseload of civil claims involving the police, handling matters from the pre-action stage through to resolution. Your work will encompass a broad range of claims, including false imprisonment, wrongful arrest, assault, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, Human Rights Act claims, data protection breaches, defamation and property damage, as well as employers' liability, motor injury claims and judicial review proceedings. No two cases are the same, offering exceptional variety and the opportunity to develop expertise in a unique and highly specialised area of legal practice. Alongside a diverse caseload, you'll have opportunities to contribute to force-wide projects, support strategic initiatives and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to help shape policy, manage risk and deliver positive outcomes. We are seeking a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with substantial recent experience of managing a civil litigation caseload. You will be able to provide pragmatic, high-quality legal advice and build effective working relationships in a fast-paced and evolving environment. In addition to litigation work, you will have the opportunity to contribute to other areas of the Department's practice, including inquests and public inquiries. Training and support will be available to help you develop your expertise in these specialist areas. We recognise the importance of flexible working and offer scope for hybrid working arrangements. While homeworking is available, attendance at the office and courts will be required when necessary to meet operational needs. It is essential that applicants meet the following criteria:

• Qualified Barrister or Solicitor with a current practising certificate, or a fully qualified Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives
• Recent, relevant and substantial experience of effectively managing their own civil litigation case load 
• Excellent spoken, written and inter-personal skills with an ability to adapt their style to meet the needs of the client
• Ability to work as part of a team and demonstrate effective problem solving and negotiation skills with a desire and aptitude to learn new areas of law
• Ability to manage own workload with limited supervision and to be adaptable and responsive to the diverse requests of the in-house client
• Ability to work on an on-call rota including weekends and bank holidays if required
•  Ability to travel in order to attend Court, meetings or events both in and out of the County (including at short notice)
• Good IT, organisational and administrative skills including the ability to generate own documents and letters using Microsoft Word and Outlook (as a minimum), manage own diary and maintain tidy and ordered files  It is desirable that applicants meet the following criteria:
• Advocacy experience
• Recent relevant experience in any of the workstreams set out in 1-4 and 6-7 of the Appendix 
• Supervisory experience
• Experience of legal case management software and time recording  Please note, the role has a split grade - it is Band G/Band H with movement from G to H being subject to assessment. The lawyer grade incorporates two grade bands with 11 annual increments. In order to progress from band G to band H, the lawyer will be required to evidence achievement against a list of competency requirements. Progression to band H is based on performance and is not intended as a reward for long service. Not all lawyers are expected to reach the standards required to move from band G to band H. The Career Progression Scheme recognises and rewards lawyers who are working at a higher level but who do not have formal managerial/supervisory responsibility.