Lawyer (Criminal)

Grade B - £37,694 (National Framework) or £42,712 (London Framework – if you are London office based or homebased and live within the boundary of the M25)

Contracted Hours: Full time 37 hours per week

Contract Type: Fixed-term or Secondment Opportunity* for 12 months
*please note, you will need approval from your current employer to be released on secondment

Location: Homebased

Are you committed to helping us regulate health and social care within England?

We are looking for individuals who are caring, demonstrate integrity, work well as part of a team and always strive for excellence in everything they do. Help us make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage care services to improve.

Let us tell you a little bit about the role

We are recruiting a Criminal Lawyer within our Litigation, Prosecutions and Inquests (LPI) Team to provide robust, responsive legal advice and support to CQC, covering all areas of criminal law that potentially impact on the organisation and its work. 

In the Criminal Litigation and Inquests Team you will be responsible for analysing and reviewing evidence, deciding whether to take criminal proceedings through to the court prosecution stage and preparing cases for court and conducting prosecutions. Responsibilities will include dealing with case preparation and progression, providing legal advice to our Inspection directorates in the conduct of all criminal proceedings. 

You'll be expected to have up-to date knowledge of criminal law and procedure and the role will involve contributing to CQC’s regulatory response to the COVID 19 pandemic. 

Experience of advising clients on cases to be presented in both the magistrates and Crown Courts.  

What we're looking for from you

You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister with either 2 years post qualification experience or a newly qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with proven substantial experience providing legal advice in a health and social care regulation setting with proven experience providing legal advice in a criminal law setting.  

You will have experience with managing large caseloads in respect of advice, review and advocacy, which will include some challenging, serious and sensitive cases (including prosecuting criminal cases in magistrates and crown courts). 

Your key skills will include: 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, Decision- making and Reasoning 
• Adaptability and ability to advise and present complex legal information clearly and accessibly in preparation of cases being brought to court 
• Teamwork, and communication to build and maintain relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, such as magistrates’ courts, coroner, defence lawyers and counsel 
• Attend conferences with operational clients and counsel and meetings with victims and witnesses 
• Advocacy - Represent CQC at court and present cases  
• An eye for detail whilst looking at the bigger picture, the ability to analyse risk and benefit within a fast-paced environment and the ability to reassess priorities on a continual basis 

What we can offer you

Your health and wellbeing are important to us and are supported through generous annual leave, a cycle to work scheme, discounted gym vouchers and access to a free employee assistance service 24 hours a day. We also understand the importance of financial health and offer membership of the NHS pension scheme, contributing about 14% of basic salary. You will also be able to access discounts to supermarkets, high street stores, electronics, and fleet cars.

CQC offer a home working allowance, home office equipment and technology in line with our homeworking policy.

Closing date: Thursday 7th October 2021 at 11.59pm