Professional Support Lawyer

Professional Support Lawyer

Full time, permanent

Salary £45,000

Hybrid/Remote working, with requirement to attend offices in Bedfordshire and other meetings as required

We are seeking to appoint a Professional Support Lawyer to join our Enforcement Team at CILEx Regulation to undertake legal and policy project work to develop and implement changes to the framework and knowledge base underpinning the Enforcement function. This is a great opportunity to shape a key area of our regulation in the public interest and ensure it remains fair, efficient, proportionate, risk-based, consumer focused and legally compliant.

Who are we?

CILEx Regulation is the independent regulator of members of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), including Chartered Legal Executive lawyers, paralegals and other legal professionals, and the regulator of choice for some law firms.

We set and maintain standards in legal education, in the work and services provided by those we regulate, as well as standards of professional conduct to protect the public and maintain confidence in the profession.

Our regulation is proportionate, outcomes focused and targeted at the cases that pose the biggest risk. Fairness is at the heart of what we do.

The Role

Our enforcement function is responsible for setting the standards of professional conduct for our regulated community, as set out in the CILEX Code of Conduct (the Code) and associated guidance, and for ensuring compliance with those standards, in line with our Enforcement Rules and procedures.

This role involves working with colleagues in the Enforcement Team and wider organisation to lead on a wholesale overhaul of the existing enforcement framework. This includes undertaking research, gathering and analysing evidence, leading consultations on proposals for change, making applications for rule changes to our oversight regulator, as well as redrafting our Enforcement Rules, policies, procedures and guidance to ensure that the processes they underpin, and the desired outcomes are fair, efficient, proportionate, risk-based consumer focused and legally compliant.

You will develop a suite of clear, concise procedural, operational and decision-making guidance to support effective casework and help ensure best practice in regulatory investigations and proceedings. You will also produce clear, up-to-date and user-friendly practice guidance for our regulated community and monitor the impact of any changes on the regulated community, its diversity and on consumers, taking appropriate action to minimise any adverse effects.

As a key member of the Enforcement Team, you will share your knowledge and expertise with colleagues by providing legal and practical advice and guidance in relation to enforcement matters. You will research, interpret, analyse and accurately apply legislation, case law, other legal authority and industry trends, keep up to date with and ensure the dissemination of key developments impacting the Enforcement function.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a highly organised, self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable problem-solver with a strong attention to detail who is either:

1. A qualified lawyer (Chartered Legal Executive, Solicitor, or Barrister) with transferable skills/ a public and regulatory law background

OR

1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent L6 qualification) and has significant knowledge and experience of enforcement/fitness to practice, professional disciplinary or investigation services (preferably for a professional regulator or within a law firm).

You will have:

1. Demonstrable knowledge of public law principles and principles of fair decision making
2. Strong legal research, analytical and drafting skills
3. Experience of accurately interpreting, applying and advising on complex legal and regulatory frameworks
4. Experience of developing and drafting technical rules, guidance and procedures that are clear, concise and capable of withstanding legal scrutiny
5. An approach that ensures fair, efficient and objective outcomes, including in relation to equality
6. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a proven ability to interact with a diverse range of people from different backgrounds to ensure effective internal and external working relationships.

Working for CILEx Regulation

We are a small, friendly and forward-thinking organisation with an enthusiastic and skilled workforce. In our latest staff survey, colleagues said that they are proud to work for CILEx Regulation and would recommend it as an organisation to friends and family. Our staff enjoy flexible and remote working arrangements, conditions of employment are excellent and include:

• Generous pension contributions (up to 8% employer contribution)
• 25 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• 27 days’ annual leave after 2 years’ service (rising annually to 30 days after 5 years’ service)
• Learning and development opportunities
• Life assurance
• Additional benefits including a healthcare plan, staff discounts and reward schemes

Application process

To be considered for the role please submit a CV and supporting statement of no more than 2 pages by an email together with a completed declaration and conflicts form.

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

Please include in your supporting statement:

1. a summary of why you are applying for the role
2. an explanation of how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification
3. an example of a significant project you led in which you demonstrated utmost accuracy and attention to detail in order to deliver procedural improvements
4. an example of where you have ensured a demonstrably fair, evidence-based and objective outcome, including in relation to equality
5. an example of working with others to reach a solution where there was a range of differing opinions

Closing date for applications: 23:59hrs on 19 December 2024.

Proposed interview dates: 20 and 21 January 2025.

Equality and diversity are important to us

CILEx Regulation welcomes applications from all sections of the community and is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, religion, disability, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, or socio-economic background.

We value the diversity in background, skills and experience of our staff and are keen to attract a diverse range of candidates to our organisation to better reflect a balanced view from a public and consumer protection perspective. To help us monitor the balance of candidates applying for this role.

Candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. If you are seeking a reasonable adjustment to the recruitment process, or wish to have an informal discussion about the role more generally, please email apply@cilexregulation.org.uk or call 01234 845 770 to discuss.