Senior Lawyer

Our Professional Regulation Directorate plays a vital role in protecting the public and maintaining confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions. We do this by ensuring concerns about nurses, midwives and nursing associates are investigated fairly, proportionately and in line with our statutory responsibilities. As part of our Legal Services function, you'll join a specialist team providing expert legal advice and support on some of the most sensitive, complex and high-profile fitness to practise matters we handle. Working alongside another Senior Lawyer and an Operational Manager, you'll lead a dedicated team of Lawyers, Senior Paralegals, Paralegals and Investigations Assistants, helping to deliver a high-quality legal service that supports effective regulatory decision-making and public protection. This is a collaborative, values-driven environment where professional expertise, continuous improvement and inclusive leadership are highly valued. Your role and impact As a Senior Lawyer, you'll provide strategic legal leadership and expert advice on complex fitness to practise cases, including matters arising from criminal investigations, public inquiries, inquests, safeguarding concerns and media reporting. You'll play a key role in ensuring that legal advice across the team is consistent, proportionate and legally robust. Through leadership, supervision and quality assurance, you'll support colleagues to deliver excellent outcomes while maintaining the highest professional standards. Your work will include advising on:

• Regulatory and statutory obligations
• Public protection risks and interim order referrals
• Evidential thresholds, admissibility and case strategy
• Application of case law and public law principles
• Engagement with external stakeholders and sensitive correspondence
• Media-related issues and disclosure considerations
You'll act as a trusted adviser across the organisation, working closely with colleagues and external stakeholders to support informed decision-making in complex and often high-profile cases. Beyond casework, you'll contribute to the strategic development of legal services, lead training initiatives, support continuous improvement activity and help shape best practice across the Professional Regulation Directorate. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public protection while leading and developing a high-performing legal team.

We're looking for an experienced legal professional who combines strong technical expertise with excellent judgement, leadership and communication skills.,
• Substantial post-qualification experience as a practising solicitor or barrister, supported by a current practising certificate.
• Significant experience of handling complex regulatory, fitness to practise, disciplinary, criminal prosecution or litigation matters.
• Proven experience of leading, supervising or developing legal professionals and managing sensitive, high-profile cases involving multiple stakeholders., Expert ability to provide clear, proportionate and high-quality legal advice on complex and sensitive matters.
• Outstanding written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and engage a wide range of audiences.
• Strong organisational, analytical and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure.