Lawyer

Associate / Senior Associate – Dispute Resolution / Risk, Government & Compliance (Criminal Law)

About Brodies

Brodies LLP is a prominent UK law firm headquartered in Scotland, that provides expert advice to UK and international clients. We have the capability and expertise to deliver mandates with global reach, uniting specialist perspectives from across our firm to offer bespoke legal solutions and advice, resulting in impactful outcomes for our clients. With offices in London and throughout Scotland, we are dedicated to driving innovation in the legal sector, leveraging new technologies and forward-thinking strategies to deliver exceptional value and efficiency for our clients. Our contract with our people underlines our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment, prioritising the wellbeing and development of our colleagues to ensure they thrive both personally and professionally. We are also deeply committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which we live and work. Through our pro bono work, charitable activities, and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion, we strive to contribute meaningfully to society.

About the Role

We currently have an exciting opportunity for an experienced criminal lawyer at Associate or Senior Associate level, to join our market leading Risk, Government & Compliance team.

We bring together experts in a range of disciplines focussed on giving advice on compliance, regulatory issues and public law. We are ranked Band 1 for the work we do by the UK legal directories.

Our wide range of individual, commercial and public sector clients are active in all sectors across Scotland and in the rest of the UK. The successful applicant will provide criminal law advice and representation to individual, commercial and public sector clients.

Day to day work will include drafting legal advice, preparing legal arguments, and representing clients in courts. The candidate will be expected to build and develop strong client relationships. The successful applicant will be expected to help support the growth of the practice through both client work and co-ordinated business development activity.

Qualification as a criminal solicitor advocate, or the ambition to qualify as a solicitor advocate, would be a significant advantage as it would enable the successful candidate to become an active member of Brodies' Solicitor Advocacy Unit from the outset.

Responsibilities

• Creating, developing and analysing legal arguments
• Developing close working relationships with clients, often in challenging circumstances, and assisting with ongoing management of these relationships
• Liaising effectively with clients in explaining and discussing complex legal issues
• Delivering exceptional client service at all times
• Communicating with regulators and law enforcement utilising negotiation skills, where appropriate
• Identifying and recovering all relevant evidence and effectively analysing and evaluating that evidence
• Carrying out all preparations appropriate for court appearances, demonstrating research skills and the ability to construct and understand legal arguments
• Presenting effectively before courts and other tribunals
• Instructing and working with counsel and/or Brodies' solicitor advocates
• Actively contributing to the development of a team environment
• Developing your own understanding of and expertise in the areas of law and practice relevant to the team's work, through both working with senior team members and taking the initiative yourself
• Supporting the development of the team's internal and external profile including working with senior team members to grow the practice
• Be aware of Brodies' information security policies, and protect information assets from unauthorised access, disclosure, modification, destruction or interference at all times.

Qualifications

• Applicants should demonstrate strong experience in criminal law, coupled with the ability to work on investigations and regulatory matters, if required.

Required Skills

• Excellent attention to detail
• Adapts style of communication appropriately when dealing with clients
• Takes personal responsibility to keep legal knowledge up to date
• Shows understanding of client needs and tailors advice appropriately
• Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills, particularly in explaining complex legal issues
• Demonstrates strong research skills
• Able to work with a degree of autonomy
• Able to manage own case load which will be varied and demanding
• Knowledge of Sheriff Court, High Court and Appeal Court procedure
• Committed to keeping up to date on changes in law and developments in practice areas
• Self-motivated and driven
• Prepared, organised and able to prioritise
• Applied knowledge
• Commercial and profit focus
• Conduct and communication skills

Equal Opportunity Statement

At Brodies LLP, we value and respect all colleagues as individuals. The experiences and perspectives of a diverse workforce that reflects our communities, and the clients we serve, allow us to see the world through many lenses.