Senior Lawyer - Water Industry Enforcement Team - 31834

Senior Lawyer - Water Industry Enforcement Team - 31834
4
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
£52,929

08/10/2025, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
The diverse nature of the Environment Agency provides ever-evolving challenges for our legal teams. Our lawyers conduct criminal proceedings and advise on all matters relevant to the enforcement of environmental requirements. They also advise on the imposition of civil sanctions such as enforcement undertakings and variable monetary penalties. They provide training to staff on disclosure requirements and the use of various statutory and enforcement powers.

In this team you will have the opportunity to own an interesting caseload and make a valuable contribution to supporting our commitment to improving the performance of the Water Industry.

We are fully committed to having an 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.
The roles will be based in the Water Industry Enforcement Team which is part of the wider Enforcement and Prosecution team within Legal and Audit Services.
You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent (FILEX with rights of audience in criminal proceedings) and ideally have experience as a prosecutor or defence lawyer of complex criminal cases concerning breaches of environmental legislation or other complex areas of criminal and regulatory law.

You will possess a sound knowledge of criminal law, practice and procedure and be an experienced criminal advocate with trial experience in the Magistrates’ Court. You will have experience of preparing complex cases for trial and sentence in the Crown Court. You may also be a higher rights advocate, but this is not a requirement for the role. You will understand the Environment Agency’s ability to use civil sanctions in place of criminal proceedings and you will have the ability to advise upon the right regulatory response to environmental offending.
This role receives a Market Forces Factor allowance of £5,250 per annum.

As with all roles in Legal Services, we combine home working with attendance at the contractual office base, subject to meeting business needs. The roles can be based at any of our main hub locations. There will be travel to court and other locations as required.

We will hold interviews during October 2025.

For any queries relating to the role please contact LASrecruitment@environment-agency.gov.uk
Achieves Results
Define: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Please describe how you prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure the timely achievement of results.
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Define: Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.

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.
Illegal Activity Detection and Enforcement
Define: Uses intelligence to detect suspected illegal activities. Instigates and carries out enforcement action where illegal activities have been detected.

Please give an example of a case where you have advised upon the correct enforcement response to an illegal activity.
Qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent (FILEX with rights of audience in criminal proceedings) to work in England.
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.