Legal Advisor - Adecco : Job Details

We have an exciting new role for an experienced Legal Advisor to work for Devon and Cornwall Police at their Charles Cross Police station in Plymouth.

This role will be working Mon - Fri plus Weekend working (1 in 4 on a Saturday)NB - please note that the NWD day during the week that a Saturday is worked is NOT fixed and will be determined in line with the business need

This opportunity will see you working until end of September 2025 initially.

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO THE POLICE VETTING CRITERIA YOU MUST HAVE RESIDED WITHIN THE UK CONTINUOUSLY FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION. UNFORTUNATELY ANYTHING LESS THAN THIS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Principal Responsibility

The principal responsibility of the Legal Advisor is to provide a comprehensive legal service to the Chief Constables of both Forces, their officers and staff and the Offices of the Police and Crime Commissioners (OPCC).

Legal Advisors report to Senior Legal Advisors within the Legal Services Department and provide tactical and strategic advice on a wide and varied range of legal issues.

Legal Advisors operate within the three teams that exist within the Legal Services Department; Litigation, Operations and Vulnerability. The skillset required within each area is commensurate with the level of work across the entire remit of the role. Each Legal Advisor will primarily work within one of the three teams but will be required to undertake work in the other areas when necessary, according to business need.

Vulnerability

The role holder will work directly with police officers, police staff and partner agencies to obtain civil preventative orders such as Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Closure Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Sexual Risk Orders, Civil Injunctions and Stalking Protection Orders. This will include proactively identifying opportunities for civil prevention, building cases, presenting applications in Court and supporting officers in responding to breaches of orders. The role holder will develop relationships with partner agencies such as the local authorities and the CPS and review/respond to statistical data to target areas where particular types of offending are significant.

• Liaise with, advise and influence the decision making of staff at all levels of the organisations, including the Chief Constable, Police and Crime Commissioner, and other members of the Executive.
• Investigate, research, and advise upon a range of contentious and non-contentious legal issues, including high profile and high-risk matters.
• Manage a large and varied caseload of files.
• Sit as a member of strategic boards to proactively identify and mitigate strategic legal risks.
• Prepare for and carry out advocacy representing the Chief Constable in a variety of legal proceedings including Civil Litigation, Employment Tribunals, Inquests, internal misconduct hearings, Family Court proceedings and obtaining Civil Preventative Orders.
• Provide tactical and real-time advice on police operations.
• Task and direct individuals within other business areas within the Force and external agencies to undertake tasks in order to provide a comprehensive legal service, including the development and delivery of problem-solving initiatives.
• Ensure that appropriate organisational learning is identified and progressed.
• Deputise for the Senior Legal Advisors and take on some responsibilities of the role in their absence.
• Prepare and deliver training on relevant legal issues within the Forces.
• Consider appropriate safeguarding referrals in respect of individuals which the role holder comes into contact with.
• Attendance at national Association of Police Lawyers sub-committee meetings dealing with a range of strategic and tactical issues, either as chair or a formal representative of both Forces.
• Represent the Forces at meetings with external agencies such as local authorities, Mental Health Services, Coroners Services, Employment Tribunal User Group, and Probation Services dealing with strategic issues, influencing decision making and providing support on behalf of the Police across multi-agencies.
• Line manage Paralegals, including performance/PDR, welfare, and suitable training to ensure that they have the knowledge skills and experience to achieve the required standards of performance.
• Supervise, monitor, and assist the wider team of Paralegals in the provision of general advice to officers and staff on a range of legal issues.
• Supervise, monitor, and assist Legal Administrators when tasking and directing them to carry out legal tasks in support of the provision of legal services.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• LLB (Hons) degree to second standard (or another degree to upper second standard if CPE has been passed with commendation). Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CFILEX.
• Experience of handling contentious matters generally.
• A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of legal principles, legislation, case law, legal systems and police law, ,
• Ability to manage a considerable and diverse caseload providing clear advice.
• Ability to work in a highly pressurised environment and to be able to offer flexibility and advice within time constraints.
• Demonstrable ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal, with the ability to liaise and influence at all levels, internal and external.
• Research and investigative skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to think critically and adapt to changing circumstances in a fast-paced environment.
• IT literate with the ability to navigate specialist databases and systems

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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