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Package Description

What we Offer:

• 27.5 days paid annual leave (increasing with service to 32.5 days)
• The option to buy, sell, or carry over annual leave is reviewed each year and offered when possible.
• Voluntary Health Cash Plan provided by BHSF
• Civil Service pension
• Civil Service maternity leave package
• PAM employee assistance programme
• Access to Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunity to enjoy the latest home and electronics in a more affordable way provided by Vivup
• Car Leasing Scheme
• Staff Networks focussed on each of the protected characteristics - run for staff, by staff: Enable Network, Age Network, Welsh Network, Pride and LGBTQ+ Network, Sex and Family Network, Race, Religion and Belief Network
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Additional Information:

Any move to the Independent Office for Police Conduct from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Emotional Consideration:

In performing this role, you may have occasional exposure to distressing material which will likely be impactful, traumatic and challenging. Given the nature of the work, it is also possible that you will have contact with individuals who are experiencing extreme distress. The IOPC recognises this and offers all staff a range of wellbeing provisions, including TRiM (Trauma Risk Management), peer-to-peer support, a dedicated Wellbeing Advisor, and access to free confidential counselling. All staff are strongly encouraged to proactively access and engage with the support available. If you would like to speak about this element of the role with somebody already doing similar work at the IOPC please contact recruitment@policeconduct.gov.uk and this can be arranged.

Rydym yn croesawu ymgeiswyr i ymgeisio am rolau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg fel eu dewis iaith.

Job Introduction

Job Introduction:

As a Lawyer, you will be welcomed into a dynamic and inclusive Legal Services team working closely with clients across the IOPC including senior clients such as the Director General, Deputy Director General Strategy, Engagement & Communications, Deputy Director General Investigations, Oversight & Casework and the General Counsel & Chief Information Security Officer.

The IOPC is on a journey to develop its culture, perspectives and ethos to support the organisation’s core outcomes, and this is your opportunity to enter into the varied world of IOPC Legal Services, allowing you to develop your mindset and approaches to contribute to improving the police complaints system in England and Wales.

As a completely independent organisation, the IOPC seek to uphold the rights of the public and investigate the most serious matters , including deaths following police contact, to promote learning and influence change in policing. The IOPC is an organisation steeped in history, influenced by significant figures such as Stephen Lawrence and Sir William Macpherson. We are looking for people to uphold our core values, and in return we will give you a supportive and inclusive work environment to flourish in.

The IOPC’s Legal Services is headed by IOPC General Counsel & Chief Information Security Officer and reports to the Director General. Our lawyers play an active and important role in all of the organisation’s work. They advise colleagues in our Investigations, Oversight and Casework Directorate in relation to the exercise of their powers and police misconduct decision-making. They also represent the IOPC in legal proceedings (e.g. judicial review, inquests and police misconduct proceedings). They advise colleagues in the Strategy, Engagement and Communications Directorate contributing to the development of organisational policy. Much of our work is high profile and lawyers are often called upon for advice on extremely sensitive matters which are subject to intense media scrutiny.

As a Lawyer, you will be expected to develop professional working relationships with solicitors acting for complainants, police forces, hearing units, misconduct panel chairs, police federation representatives, individual officers, members of police staff, witnesses and internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

We'll assess you against these Grade 7 Level behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, to find out more, please click here.

Throughout the recruitment process we will also assess your Experience, Strengths, Technical Skills and Values.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete 4 Sift Questions based on the essential criteria.

If successful at sift, you will be invited to complete a legal written test, followed by a Success Profiles interview.

Anticipated assessment dates are estimate to take place W/C 24 + W/C 31 August.

Anticipated interview dates are estimated to take place W/C 14 + W/C 21 Sept.

Main Responsibilities

• To provide advice to organisation staff on all areas of the organisation’s work including casework, investigations and policy.
• Providing in depth and specialist advice and assistance in relation to decision making and the preparation and presenting of cases for misconduct hearings.
• To handle a caseload of matters including litigation cases, inquests, judicial review cases and misconduct hearings.
• To ensure value for money in the commission of external legal providers and accurate forecasting and recovery of costs for both business as usual matters and cases the IOPC are presenting at misconduct hearings.
• To advise and manage legal risk.

Please refer to the Job Description for full role responsibilities.

The Ideal Candidate

The Ideal Candidate:

Essential Technical

• By the first day of employment you will need to be a qualified solicitor or barrister entitled to practice in England and Wales. A current practising certificate will need to be provided prior to the start of your employment

We welcome applications from applicants that expect to receive their first practising certificate within 6 months of the closing date of this advert – 26.06.2026. If successful, then any job offer would be conditional on obtaining and submitting their practising certificate before the start of their employment.

Experience

• Experience in at least one relevant area of law – this includes criminal law, police law, coronial law, professional disciplinary and regulatory law, public and administrative law and human rights law.
• Experience of advising on complex issues.
• Experience of handling substantial and complex cases.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to master new material rapidly.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Approachable and constructive.
• A good team worker but also able to work independently.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, therefore a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out for the successful candidate during the pre-employment process. Once in role, the postholder will ideally undertake and obtain Home Office SC clearance.

Desirable

• Experience of litigation
• Knowledge of FoI/DPA/GDPR matters
• Knowledge of complaints systems and handling

We believe that diverse perspectives contribute to a more innovative and dynamic workplace. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are typically under-represented or disadvantaged in society. This includes women, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, parents and carers, and disabled candidates, including neurodiverse candidates.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants and creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and supported.

National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Reasonable Adjustments:

The IOPC is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used.

Please refer to our Reasonable Adjustment guidance document linked to this job advert on how to access Reasonable Adjustments with us.

About The Company

Be yourself:

The IOPC is committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity in everything we do. Our vision is to be, and to be seen as, a leader in inclusive employment and services, demonstrating this ethos in everything that we do.

• Being a Disability Confident employer, the IOPC is dedicating to removing the barriers for disabled people to thrive in the workplace. Please refer to our Reasonable Adjustment guidance document linked to this job advert on how to access Reasonable Adjustments with us.
• Our Staff Networks are constantly working to make the IOPC the leaders of inclusive employment, from our Allyship Programme to Welsh Language Standards and our Know the Line Policy, we are constantly seeking new ways to create an environment for all to develop and thrive.

Working Conditions

The IOPC operates a hybrid working policy which requires all staff to work an average of 40% of their contractual hours at their office base (or another office for business reasons). Office attendance time includes in-person training, meetings with stakeholders and families, and attending events.