Senior Legal Advisor

Job summary

The SIA is the organisation responsible for the regulation of private security. It is an independent, arm’s length body (ALB) of the Home Office, reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s purpose is protecting the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. Its regulatory remit covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

The SIA has two main duties: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the management of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

SIA licensing covers security operatives who are in guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, and public space surveillance using CCTV, vehicle immobilisation (in Northern Ireland) and key holding. Licensing ensures that private security operatives are fit and proper persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job.

Job description

Are you a talented public law lawyer looking for work that truly makes a difference?

At the Security Industry Authority (SIA), you'll have the opportunity to apply your legal expertise to complex, high-profile issues that help protect the public and support effective regulation across the UK. This is an exciting role for a lawyer who enjoys tackling challenging legal questions, influencing decision-making and working closely with a wide range of stakeholders. You'll provide expert advice to colleagues across the organisation on a diverse range of public and administrative law matters. You will advise on legal risk, governance and strategic issues, helping to ensure the SIA operates lawfully, effectively and in line with its public purpose.

Working alongside experienced legal professionals you'll deliver practical, commercially aware and legally robust advice on both advisory and litigation matters. You'll also contribute to policy development, risk management and organisational strategy.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with at least five years' post-qualification experience, including substantial experience advising on public and administrative law. You'll be an excellent communicator with strong analytical skills, sound judgement and the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and confidently to a broad range of audiences.

Whether your experience comes from government, a regulator, law enforcement or private practice, this role offers a chance to broaden your expertise in a collaborative and supportive environment where your work will have real impact. You'll be encouraged to develop professionally, share knowledge with colleagues and help shape the delivery of legal services across the organisation.

If you're looking for a rewarding legal career where your advice contributes to public safety, we'd love to hear from you.

Person specification

Relevant Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• A qualified practising barrister or solicitor in England and Wales with at least 5 years PQE, with a minimum of 3 years PQE advising on public and administrative law:
  • Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales and must on appointment hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales or have full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body (either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board). Barristers and Solicitors qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales will be subject to the rules of the professional bodies and must have completed the Bar Transfer Test or Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme.

• If you have qualified through CILEX you must hold a “general qualification” within the meaning of s71(3)(c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. If CILEX applies to you and you are not sure of your eligibility, you can contact us in order to establish your eligibility for this role, which will be in line with other UK government legal roles of this nature.

• Excellent knowledge, understanding and application of public and administrative law, regulatory law, human rights and equalities legislation, and/or data protection and freedom of information law.
• Experience of providing high calibre legal advice and guidance to colleagues and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience of advising on legal risk, underlying cause and identifying solutions.
• A demonstrable understanding of the application of statutory frameworks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the confidence to influence and collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills including the ability to interpret and advise on new and unfamiliar areas of law.

Desirable

• Experience gained within a regulator, government department, law enforcement agency environment.
• Experience of conducting public law litigation e.g. judicial reviews and statutory appeals.
• Experience of court and tribunal advocacy (either as an advocate or as an observer)
• Familiarity with licensing, inspection, compliance or enforcement regimes.

Qualifications

Complaints should be submitted to recruitment@sia.gov.uk. If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,501, Security Industry Authority contributes £16,078 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A welcoming and innovative work environment.

• Continued support and development opportunities.

• Access to training for attainment of recognised qualifications.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Annual leave entitlement will be 27.5 days, rising by one additional day for every two years of service up to a maximum of 32.5 days.

• A variety of discounts including Gymflex.

• Civil Service Pension Scheme – employee contribution between 4.60% and 7.35% and employer contribution between 26.60% and 30.30%.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The SIA does not use Success Profiles - please disregard any information below in relation to this.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 1250 word personal statement. Further details around guidance for this is listed on the application form. If you fail to submit all aspects of the application before the deadline of 4th November 2026, your application will be withdrawn.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 1250 words) to outline why you believe you would be an ideal candidate for this role. Please highlight your relevant skills, experience and achievements that align with the essential job requirements.

To help us assess your suitability for the role, please complete the CV incorporated into the application form by providing as much information as possible about your previous work experience and achievements.

Should we receive a large number of applications, they will be sifted on personal statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interview details will be provided to successful candidates prior to their interview taking place.

Sift and Interview Process:

Sift will take place from 9th November 2026

Interviews will be held on 23rd and 24th November 2026

Interviews will be held in person at our London office.

You will be expected to complete a short written assessment at interview stage.

Due to business requirements, this role is only available full-time.

Further Information

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for a maximum of 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Visa sponsorship

We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via sia.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Criminal Record Check

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

National Security vetting

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SIA Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@sia.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : sia.grs@cabineroffice.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints should be submitted to recruitment@sia.gov.uk . If, after investigation by the SIA, the complainant remains dissatisfied, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Senior Legal Advisor JD SIA Opens in new window (pdf, 156kB)2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)