About your new role
Our specialist practitioners act exclusively for the police service, representing a diverse range of forces across England and Wales. As the largest dedicated police legal team in the country our lawyers have been involved in some of the most high profile and significant cases involving the police service over the last 15 years.
We are currently recruiting for solicitor advocates or barristers to join our National Police team, based on secondment in-house with Surrey and Sussex Police. In particular, we are looking for lawyers to advise, prepare and present civil protective orders in the Magistrates’ Court including Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Stalking Protection Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Sexual Risk Orders, Anti-Social Behaviour injunctions and closure orders.
This is predominantly an advocacy role and regular attendance at court is required.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Specialise in acting on behalf of various police forces, protecting their interests
2. Manage a caseload of civil protective order applications in the Magistrates' courts including, but not limited to, domestic Violence Protection Orders, Stalking Protection Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Sexual Risk Orders, Anti-Social Behaviour injunctions and closure orders
3. Represent police forces and advocate in disclosure applications to the Family court
4. Present cases in the Magistrates' and County courts
5. Provide face to face training to groups of police officers
6. Assist the Team Manager and other team members with their cases, client development, client training, networking and potentially public speaking where required
7. Liaise with various parties such as other solicitors, experts, counsel and clients
8. Control Case Manager diary and action lists
9. Attend court hearings as appropriate
10. Draft various documents including court applications
11. Satisfy standards of client care and compliance with SLAs in accordance with guidelines and directions
12. Complete Client MI procedures
13. Achieve set financial and chargeable targets
14. Comply with relevant rules, policies and procedures
15. Keep up to date with legal developments
16. Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values
This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.
About You
About You
You will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with the following skills and experience:
17. Experience of drafting and presenting cases in Court
18. Strong advocacy skills or a willingness to learn and undertake this work
19. Self-motivated & self-directed
20. Excellent organisation skills
21. Excellent time management skills
22. Excellent communication skills
23. Excellent IT skills
24. Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
25. Ability to work as part of a team or on own initiative
26. Willingness to learn new areas of law
27. Flexible approach to work and a willingness to travel
28. Located in Guildford or within easy commuting distance
29. Experience of advocacy in the Magistrates’ Court (desirable)
Experience of advising and acting on behalf of police forces (desirable)