Legal Advocate

Our Regulatory team is looking to recruit experienced full-time advocates to respond to increasing volumes of work and new client wins. The successful advocates may be based out of our Reading, London, Southampton or Cardiff office. Our advocates act for a range of clients, appearing before regulatory tribunals and courts in England and Wales (including the High Court). They may also have the opportunity to develop a practice as a legal advisor to regulatory panels.

Team members currently attend the office on 2 days each week. We will consider applications on a permanent or fixed term basis.

Our Regulatory Business Group is recognised in both Chambers and Legal 500 as a highly regarded team specialising in advising professional regulators. Our clients include regulators and professionals in a number of sectors including law (we act for the SRA), health and social care, accountancy and education.

We have one of the largest teams in the country, comprising solicitors, barristers, CILEX lawyers, paralegals and trainees and we are supported by an experienced administrative team. We are driven by a shared desire to carry out important work that protects the public in a person-centred way.

Typical Workload

As an advocate, you will:

• Advise on the management and progression of our regulatory investigations
• Approve or draft allegations to be considered by regulatory tribunals
• Present cases for hearing including interim order applications and reviews, contested hearings and, subject to your rights of audience, applications for interim order extensions in the High Court
• Be responsible for the content of hearing documentation, including skeleton arguments, opening notes, etc
• Give wider regulatory advice, helping to shape regulatory policy and practice

We are looking to appoint:

• One advocate who has yet to qualify as a solicitor or barrister, but who intends to do so and who wishes to work as an advocate before doing so.
• One qualified advocate with at least 1 – 5 years’ experience of carrying out contested and uncontested hearings, preferably in a regulatory / fitness to practise context. However, we will also consider more experienced advocates.

Full support, induction and ongoing training will be offered as part of the role.

Some of our clients are based in Wales and we are therefore keen to receive some applications from Welsh speakers.

Skills / Experience Required

• For the unqualified advocate role – experience of working in a fitness to practise context and strong advocacy skills and experience
• For the qualified advocate role – at least 1-5 years of regulatory or fitness to practise advocacy experience
• Solid relevant technical expertise and intellectual ability
• Enthusiastic and committed to a career in regulatory work
• Strong analytical skills
• Collegiate and team-playing approach
• Excellent client care skills
• Exceptional self-motivation and ability to assume responsibility for your own matters
• Commitment to continuous development