Force Lawyer Inquests and Inquiries
Vacancy Type: Police Staff
Area Command / Department: Legal Services
Location: Newcastle
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Salary Range: £53,583 - £58,455
Closing Date: 09/03/2025
Salary: Band 11, £53,583 – £58,455
Location: Agile, Forth Banks Police Station and homeworking
Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, permanent
Working for #TeamNP
Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.
As one of the largest police forces in England, we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. We’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.
As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.
Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.
The role
As a Force Lawyer (Inquests and Inquiries), you will provide a comprehensive legal service to the force in relation to inquests and inquiries law, and other areas of public and police law.
What you’ll do
* Inquest and Inquiry Casework: Handle allocated casework related to inquest and inquiries law, conduct court proceedings including advocacy, manage resources, and liaise with relevant stakeholders to provide comprehensive legal services to the Chief Constable.
* Legal Advice: Provide courteous and timely advice on all legal issues, ensuring high-quality legal services to support decision-making.
* External Legal Specialists: Select, appoint, and monitor the performance of external legal specialists, complete necessary documentation, and obtain approval from the Legal SMT to ensure appropriate advice and representation.
* Research and Guidance: Research new legislation and case law, assess their impact on the force, and disseminate guidance to inform legal policies and procedures.
* Reports and Briefings: Prepare reports, briefing papers, and media statements with recommendations and advice for internal departments or external bodies.
* Skill Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date skills and knowledge to perform the duties of an inquests and inquiries lawyer, conduct advocacy, attend court as directed, and support other areas of the Department.
What you’ll bring
* Solicitor Admission: Admission as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales.
* Litigation Experience: Minimum of five years of litigation experience.
* Caseload Management: Experience in managing your own caseload, determining necessary investigations, and organizing meetings.
* Court Compliance: Ability to comply with key dates set by the Court.
* Inquest/Inquiry Skills: Ability to identify key issues in an inquest or inquiry and determine the most effective method to assist the tribunal.
* Advisory Skills: Ability to advise other departments on the lawfulness of their decision-making.
* Team Collaboration: Ability to work with and support other department members and liaise with other areas of the force as necessary.
* Issue Identification and Communication: Ability to identify issues affecting other areas of the force and communicate these through the Senior Management Team, Chief Officer Team, and OPCC when necessary.
We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
What we offer
* 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
* NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
* Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
* Flexi time – allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
* Flexible working options
* Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force
* Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
* Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
* Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
* Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
Just so you know
Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Force Lawyer Inquests and Inquiries with #TeamNP. The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face-to-face interview.
If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.
Terms of appointment
This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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