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 legislation. They also advise on the imposition of civil sanctions such as enforcement undertakings and variable monetary penalties. They provide a variety of training to staff including on PACE, disclosure requirements and the use of various statutory and enforcement powers., 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.
Our vacancies:
We are looking to recruit full-time Senior Lawyers in three of our Area facing prosecution teams in Exeter, Leeds and Warrington. We will also consider applications for those located nearer to our other offices in Birmingham, Peterborough, Reading and Worthing. Please indicate your office preference as part of your application.
We also have a full time Senior Lawyer vacancy in our Serious Casework & Policy team (SCPT) which can be located in any office.
The team
We have 7 Area facing prosecution teams located across the country with lawyers reporting through a team leader to the Senior Managing Lawyer, Enforcement & Prosecution, Area Teams. We also have a Serious Casework & Policy team (SCPT) which complements and supports the Area prosecution teams reporting to its own Senior Managing Lawyer. Both Senior Managing Lawyers report to the Deputy Director (Chief Prosecutor) within Legal and Audit Services., 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., 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., 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.
Role specific professional membership requirements
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.
You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or equivalent (FILEX with rights of audience in criminal proceedings in the Magistrates' Court) 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 generally 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.
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 for more information.
Join them and you will have the opportunity to own an interesting caseload and make your mark in a national organisation that promises a good work-life balance, salary pension scheme and great professional development.