Legal Advisor

An exciting opportunity has arisen to provide dedicated support to police officers and partner agencies by promoting opportunities for safeguarding and protecting vulnerable members of the community.  We are looking to recruit a motivated lawyer to join our well-regarded in-house team. 

About us

Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police have been in a strategic alliance since 2015, with a number of shared business areas working across all three counties.  Shared services include the People Function, Finance, Information Technology, Recruitment, and training as well as several other enabling functions.  We work together to deliver efficiencies, savings, increase resilience, improve information sharing and deliver improvements for the public.

While working closely together, we continue to have our own distinct identities and pursue Police and Crime plans agreed locally with our elected Police and Crime Commissioners. Each force has our own Chief Constable, Deputy chief constable and broader Executive Team.

The Joint Legal Services Department works across both police forces, providing dedicated in-house legal support across a wide-ranging areas of law. 

About the role

Whilst you will have a base in Exeter, you will be working alongside police officers and police staff throughout Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, providing and supervising legal advice and representation.  The specific focus of this role will be to deal with a range of operational case files, including preparation for and presentation of police officer gross misconduct cases, providing commercial and disclosure advice, presenting applications (such as Football Banning Orders and Proceeds of Crime Act applications) and advising upon / presenting other operational matters such as Liquor and Firearms Licensing and Family Court disclosure.  Additionally, the role holder will provide proactive operational legal advice at a tactical and strategic level, as required, including for protest matters, policing events and reputational operational matters.  

What are we looking for?

• A qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
• Comprehensive knowledge of human rights, Licencing, PACE, Family Law, GDPR and experience in handling contentious matters generally. 
• Able to demonstrate previous advocacy experience and of working in a demanding environment and be able to offer advice within time constraints.  
• The ability to travel is essential for this role.

In return?

We know that a genuinely good role goes both ways so for your commitment and hard work in return our promise to you is:-

• A completive salary with yearly increments.
• 24 days a year leave entitlement, with an increase to 30 days after 5 years continuous employment, plus bank holidays.
• Competitive local government pension scheme.
• Flexitime, with the ability to take additional leave up to a maximum of 2 days per month in addition to the annual leave entitlement
• Access to gym membership at Police sites throughout the county
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme for discounts and services.
• Support networks, free Employees Assistance Programme, Occupational Health and wellbeing services.
• Clear development and training opportunities 

For an informal discussion about this vacancy, please contact our Legal Services Practice Manager – sarah.knight@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk. 

For further information please see the attached role profile.