Senior Lawyer - Environmental Regulation - 35040

Senior Lawyer - Environmental Regulation - 35040
3
East of England, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Birmingham , Bristol , Exeter , Leeds , Peterborough , Reading , Warrington
Staff Grade 6
Permanent
Legal Services
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
£54,940

15/06/2026, 23:55 hours

BS06 Job Family Role Profile Business Support Services, Grade 6

Basic Check

At the Environment Agency we aspire for inclusivity to thrive in our workforce. We embrace equal opportunities and flexible work arrangements, ensuring everyone can contribute and succeed. 

Legal Services is recruiting to a number of Senior Lawyer roles working on environmental law. This is an opportunity to work at the cutting edge of environmental regulation, doing work that is challenging, rewarding, interesting and conducted at pace.

We provide advice and litigation services to help the Environment Agency protect and improve the environment, create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development, within the rule of law. Our work includes:

  • Legal advice on interpretation and enforcement of environmental law, Environment Agency decision-making and legal risk management;
  • Input into the development of policy and legislation;
  • Legal advice on regulatory notices, civil penalties and compliance by operators;
  • Civil litigation including Judicial Review;
  • Statutory appeals including to the Planning Inspectorate, First Tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal;
  • Training colleagues on application of relevant law.

We are recruiting to roles covering:

  • Waste law and regulation
  • Water law and regulation
  • Climate change law and regulation

    You will handle complex legal issues and be able to demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of relevant regulatory and public law principles. You will use your organisational skills, good legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk to provide high quality legal advice to colleagues in client teams on operational and regulatory issues. You will handle a demanding workload with a high degree of autonomy and have a proven track record of delivering high quality work on time.

    Our vision is to be an outstanding legal service, committed to the highest standards of customer service and professionalism, where clients trust and respect our high quality, risk-based legal advice and judgement.

    These roles are in the Environment Agency’s in-house legal service, in our Environmental Regulation (Waste and Installations) team, our Environmental Regulation (Water) team and our National Climate Change and Chemicals team.

    Our vision is to deliver outstanding legal service, upholding highest standards of customer service and professionalism, earning clients’ trust through high-quality, risk-based advice and judgement; and to be a great workplace where diverse staff feel valued, trusted, and able to fulfil their potential.

    Fully qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister or legal executive) entitled to practise in England with at least 3 years’ post qualification experience.

    Strong analytical skills, an appreciation of legal risk, ability to see legal issues in their wider context and pick up new areas of law quickly.

    Able to communicate effectively, be flexible and have experience of influencing and persuading at all levels which will include advising senior management sometimes up to Chief Executive level.

    Good knowledge and experience advising on complex issues in one or more of the following, and/or interest in developing your expertise in these areas:

    - Environmental Permitting

    - Waste and industrial installations

    - Water quality and water resources

    - Climate change

    - Regulation and civil enforcement.

    Senior Lawyer roles receive a Market Forces Factor allowance of £5,250 per annum.

    It is important to us that our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, and those seeking full time or flexible working patterns including part-time or job-share or returning from a career break. Please highlight your preferred working arrangements in your application.

    We combine home working with attendance at the contractual office base, subject to meeting business needs, with occasional travel required.

    Please refer to the candidate pack for full details of the benefits we offer including a career average pension scheme.

    We aim to hold interviews beginning July 2026.

    For queries relating to the role please contact: LASrecruitment@environment-agency.gov.uk

    Achieves Results
    Please describe how you prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure the timely achievement of results.
    Focuses on Customers and Partners
    Please give an example of how you have addressed the needs of internal and external customers and describe any challenges encountered in order to provide an effective response.
    Legislative Knowledge
    Please give an example of when you have applied your knowledge of environmental or public law in your work, that illustrates how you would be able to use your knowledge and experience in order to protect the Environment Agency and the environment.
    Current Practising Certificate
    If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

    We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

    We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

    The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

    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. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

    This Vacancy is closed to applications.