Job summary
This is a unique opportunity for a junior lawyer looking to develop their career in environmental law. The legal team in the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) operates at the centre of the UK�s new system for environmental governance. We work on some of the most stimulating matters in public environmental law, tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time, from climate change to biodiversity loss.
We are looking for a newly qualified or junior lawyer to join our team and help make a meaningful contribution towards environmental protection and improvement.
Created by the Environment Act 2021, the OEP�s principal objective is to protect and improve the environment. We do this by holding government and other public bodies to account including by:
1. reporting on progress against England�s and Northern Ireland�s environmental improvement plans and environmental targets
2. advising government on proposed changes to environmental laws and other matters
3. reporting to Parliament/the Assembly about the implementation of environmental law, and
4. investigating suspected failures by public authorities to comply with environmental law and, where necessary, taking enforcement action.
Our legal team plays a crucial role in delivering every aspect of this work.
The roles are based in the OEP�s General Counsel directorate, which comprises 16 lawyers and legal researchers. The successful candidate will be managed by one of our Principal Lawyers. They would also work closely with other members of our legal team, including the General Counsel and our other heads of function - our Head of Litigation and Casework, our Head of Legal Research and Analysis and our Head of Environmental Law.
The OEP is a small, friendly and flexible organisation. We offer flexible working arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.
To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, .
The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which means it operates independently from Defra and is not part of the UK Civil Service. Our employees are public servants.
Job description
The legal team provides legal and governance support to all OEP functions and decision making. We work in a flexible way, with members of the team acting across the full range of the OEP�s functions. We also work closely with colleagues of other specialisms in multi-disciplinary teams.
Our Lawyer role could be well suited to a newly qualified or junior lawyer (up to approximately two years� post-qualification experience) who wishes to gain exposure to environmental and public law. Prior knowledge of these areas of law would be helpful but is not a pre-requisite; we expect successful candidates to develop in-role.
With support and supervision from other team members, you would be responsible for a caseload of both contentious and non-contentious matters, working on both a standalone basis and embedded within our multidisciplinary teams.
Specific areas where you can expect opportunities to work on include:
5. providing legal advice and assistance to our complaints team dealing with complaints about public authorities suspected of failing to comply with environmental law
6. with supervision, inputting into OEP investigations into such failures and conducting any litigation undertaken to enforce compliance with environmental law, and
7. providing advice, with appropriate supervision, on aspects of environmental and public law, governance, commercial and other legal issues
8. assisting with providing legal input and advice for projects to monitor and report on the implementation of environmental law
9. undertaking legal research and analysis across a range of environmental and other laws
10. instructing and managing counsel and external solicitors
11. supporting the training of other OEP staff, particularly in matters of environmental and public law.
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 Tuesday 24 September 2024, 11:00 - 12:00. Please click on link to join .
Please note if you are unable to attend the webinar, a recording will be made available on the OEP webpage approximately 24 hours later.
Person specification
Essential Criteria;
These are the essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications that the role holder will need to be able to perform in the role successfully. This will be what the candidate bases their personal statement on and provide evidence against.
12. Qualified to practice as a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive in England and Wales - please see the Important Information note below.
13. Able to demonstrate some knowledge and a genuine interest in environmental law
14. Able to provide sound legal advice tailored to client needs and based on a risk-based analysis of relevant legal and factual information
15. Strong legal research and analysis skills; you use appropriate research methods to identify relevant sources of information, with the ability to analyse complex factual and legal issues
16. Excellent communication and influencing skills; you can present technical legal and non-legal material in a clear and compelling way, both orally and in writing such as through legal advice and reports
17. Motivated by your personal development; you are happy to work in a continuously learning and improving environment, to stretch yourself and embrace your own development, and to put learning into effect to continuously improve in-role
18. Deliver at pace; you are resilient, well-organised and able to work flexibly to produce high quality work to tight deadlines and to balance conflicting demands, and
19. Work well with others; you are flexible and adaptable, and contribute to the team, working collaboratively with colleagues from a range of backgrounds and disciplines.
Important Information: We recognise that many people interested in this post will be working towards qualifications. We will accept applications from candidates who are currently working towards qualifications providing they are able take and pass exams before the end of January 2025. Any offer will be conditional on the basis that proof of qualifications can be provided in this timeframe. No formal offer or appointment will be made until this is confirmed. The conditional offer maybe withdrawn if proof of qualifications cannot be provided by the end of January 2025.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
20. Communicating and Influencing
21. Developing Self and Others
22. Working Together
23. Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
24. Legal Advice: You can identify client needs for legal advice, gather and analyse relevant legal and factual information and present your advice in a clear, compelling way that addresses identified client needs.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �38,973, Office for Environmental Protection contributes �11,290 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
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.�
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Performance Management and In Year Bonus Scheme�
The OEP is committed to promoting a high-performing culture for all employees.� Performance and development management is key to developing trusting relationships between managers and employees so that they can be their best and thrive at work. Every individual will have a performance management plan which will be reviewed on a regular basis.��
The OEP has a quarterly �In-year Bonus Scheme� where individuals and/ or teams can be recognised for outstanding one-off contributions and achievements.�
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Learning and Development�
The OEP is a learning organisation and strongly supports the continuous professional development of all employees through both personal and work related study. The OEP will pay for one relevant profession membership per employee to support continuous professional development.�
Every employee has access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development. This could be through Civil Service Learning mandatory and voluntary learning, corporate inductions, staff events and welcome days as well as relevant professional qualifications and specific courses.�
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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:�
25. �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.��
26. Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.��
27. Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.�
28. Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.�
29. Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.�
30. Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/ lenses if required for VDU use.�
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Salary Sacrifice, Discounts and SmartTech Benefits�
All employees have access to the STaR, Reward Gateway an online platform providing access to hundreds of discounts, offers and cashback options with well-known retailers. They offer a SmartTech scheme, a Cash Healthcare plan and numerous other benefits and services.�
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