Associate Lawyers - General Counsel Division

Location: London

Division: General Counsel

The Role  

We are looking for talented Junior Associates (newly qualified to 4 years’ PQE) and Senior Associates (minimum 4 years’ PQE).

What does the role involve? What are the key responsibilities?  

The General Counsel's Division provides legal advice to the rest of the FCA, apart from some limited areas including enforcement and employment law matters. The Division has wide-ranging responsibilities including:

  • Advising the FCA on the exercise of its functions and powers

  • Providing legal advice and support to the FCA on its responsibilities as the supervisor of regulated firms

  • Providing legal support on the development of FCA policy, including drafting rules and guidance (including rules to implement EU directives)

  • Identifying and managing legal risk

  • Advising on EU and international legal issues across the FCA, including on issues relating to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union

  • Advising on corporate and constitutional matters

  • Advising on markets and prudential related matters 

    What will the candidate get from the role?  

    Working in the General Counsel's Division, you will benefit from an opportunity:

  • to acquire broader experience of financial services regulation, of how a regulator works and of how the law is made;

  • to be fully involved in the development of policy on regulatory issues;

  • to draft rules and guidance in the FCA Handbook;

  • to advise on the application and effect of regulatory requirements and powers in practice;

  • to develop problem-solving and project management skills; and

  • to have a high level of ownership and responsibility for your actions.

    As an Academy business we place great value on your learning and we offer world-class development opportunities which will assist you in achieving your career aspirations. Our Academy offers you a range of opportunities for personal and professional development, including our MSC in financial regulation, Advanced Managers

    Skills/Experience Required  

    Minimum

    We’re a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, should they meet the minimum criteria for a role. A minimum criterion needs to be measurable from reviewing a candidate’s CV. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme.

    Junior Associate

  • Qualified lawyer: newly qualified to 4 years’ PQE, or equivalent experience

    Senior Associate

  • Qualified Lawyer: minimum 4 years’ PQE, or equivalent experience

    Essential

  • Strong academic background.

  • Strong analytical skills for delivering good and clear analysis of issues.

  • Ability to develop expertise in new technical areas, and to do so quickly, seamlessly, and to a consistently high standard.

  • Ability to create solutions and deliver pragmatic outcome-focused judgements.

  • Credibility and confidence when dealing with colleagues and external lawyers, and ability to challenge appropriately.

  • Ability to build and sustain positive relationships and good communication skills.

  • Good IT skills.

    Desirable

    Prior experience in one or more of the following:

  • financial services regulatory law;

  • public law;

  • EU law;

  • working within a legal function in a financial services context such as banking, funds, markets, insurance or advising listed companies; or

  • working within a legal function in a Government Department or other regulatory or public body.

    Roles are available across a range of experience levels.

  • In particular, we are looking for roles:

  • in IIR and BCC for lawyers with retail regulatory experience;

  • in I&G for lawyers with experience in EU law or advising on matters relating to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU; and

  • in M&P for lawyers who will preferably have markets or prudential experiences

    About the FCA  

    At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We’re establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

    Divisional Information  

    At the FCA, we're creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We're establishing more transparent relationships between financial services firms and their customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.

    The FCA's Values & Diversity  

    Our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the society we serve, helping us to be a better regulator.

    As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

    Useful Information  

  • As an inclusive employer, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements. Please contact our recruiter if you wish to apply for this role on a flexible basis.

  • The job families for this role are L&F B (Junior Associate) and L&F C (Senior Associate). There are opportunities for staff to move between teams and departments within the General Counsel's Division

To apply, please go to this link.