Principal Lawyer
Reference number: 332220
Salary: £51,626 - £58,506
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade: Grade 7
Contract type: Permanent
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Job summary
Join us as a Principal Lawyer! Elevate your legal career with a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation. As a Principal Lawyer, you'll lead and shape legal strategies, influencing key decisions and making a lasting impact on the environment. If you're ready for a challenging yet rewarding role, apply now and be at the forefront of legal excellence.
The Office for Environmental Protection (the OEP) mission is to protect and recover the environment. Created by the Environment Act 2021, our role is to hold Government and public bodies to account. The OEP do this in several ways including reporting on progress against environmental targets, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public which can lead to us taking enforcement action.
This role is based in the OEP’s General Counsel directorate. It is line managed by our Head of Legal Research & Analysis, but the successful candidate would also work closely with our Head of Litigation & Casework, Head of Environmental Law and the General Counsel.
With a total staff of just over 70, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, high profile, dynamic workand the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.
The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra in England and DAERA in Northern Ireland which means it operates independently from Defra. Our employees are public servants and as part of the benefits package, employees have the opportunity to enrol in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
Job description
The legal team provides legal support to all aspects of the OEP’s work. We work in a flexible way, with lawyers acting across the full range of the OEP’s functions.
Each of our lawyers can therefore expect opportunities to work on:
The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.
Information Webinars:
We are hosting a webinar during the application period to provide potential candidates with the opportunity to meet the team, to find out more about the role and to ask questions. The webinar will be held on Wednesday 10 January 2024 at 11:00am please click on link to join Webinar - 33220 Principal Lawyer
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £51,626, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £13,939 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Leave and Flexible Working
The OEP offers 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over 5 years for all new entrants.
Additional paid leave is available where necessary to cater for a variety of situations including, but not limited to, family-related leave, volunteering days, exam and study leave, public duties and trade union activities. In addition, we offer a generous enhanced maternity leave, parental leave and shared parental leave policy.
The OEP is supportive of flexible working and has a flexible working policy to allow for variations in individuals working hours where this is compatible with business need.
Staff Wellbeing
Staff wellbeing is extremely important and the OEP strives to provide access to numerous resources to aid the wellbeing of its employees.
Current initiatives include:
Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice and guidance to support employees with both personal and employment issues. This may include personal wellbeing, career development or legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes.
Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.
Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.
Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.
Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.
Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/ lenses if required for VDU use.
The OEP uses the Civil Service Success Profile framework which is made up of five elements: Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical. It is strongly recommend you have a look at the Success Profiles to enable you to make the best application possible.
When writing or presenting behaviours, the OEP recommends you use the STAR format to present your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV detailing qualifications and work history; a 750 wordstatement of suitability on how you meet the essential experience and skills criteria.
The personal statement is a very important part of your application. Review the person specification and essential experience and skills criteria on the job description and outline how you meet it providing specific and relevant examples. These could be from work, volunteering, training or education.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Location and Office Attendance
All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/or Northern Ireland. This role is based in Worcester only.
Criminal Record Check
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Access NI 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 [email protected]stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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.
Closing date: 11:55 pm on Sunday 28 January 2024.