Solicitor

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2021 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

Our Emergency Services team is one of the largest in the UK. Our lawyers have hands-on experience of working in-house for the police. Our approach is focused on solving our client's legal problems as quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. We have considerable experience in handling sensitive and/or high profile matters and are equally skilled in handling the media attention that these cases sometimes attract.

Our specialist practitioners act exclusively for the police service, representing 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 10 years.

The department for this role sits within Surrey Police and is an in-house legal services team for Surrey & Sussex Police.  

To prepare and present cases in court on behalf of the police including SPO’s, SHPO, SRO, ASB injunctions, closure orders, DVPO’s etc.  

Key duties and responsibilities

• Predominantly a court advocacy role specialising in acting on behalf of police forces
• Manage a caseload of civil applications in the Magistrates’ and County Courts on behalf of the police including but not limited to sexual harm prevention orders, sexual risk orders, closure orders, DVPOs, stalking protection orders
• Present cases in the Magistrate’s and County Courts
• Providing regular face to face training to police officers.
• Maintain Case Manager diary and action lists
• Draft Court documents
• Satisfy standards of client care
• Complete Client MI procedures
• Achieve set financial and chargeable targets
• Comply with relevant rules, policies and procedures
• Keep up to date with legal developments
• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

Mandatory

• Self-motivated and self-directed 
• Experience of drafting and presenting cases in Court
• Strong advocacy skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent IT skills
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team or on own initiative
• Willingness to learn new areas of law
• Flexible approach to work and a willingness to travel and preferably based within a reasonable commute of Guildford 

Desired

• Experience of advocacy in the Magistrates’ Court
• Experience of advising and acting on behalf of police forces
• Knowledge of the Magistrates’ Court rules

Some home working is envisaged but as the role is predominantly an advocacy role, attendance at Court is a core requirement.

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.

• We're committed to diversity and inclusion and to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential.  For more information please click  on the following link:

https://www.weightmans.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion