Principal Lawyer
Principal Lawyer
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Salary Not Disclosed
1 Vacancy
Job Description
The Principal Lawyer will lead teams of Operational and Regulatory lawyers and will be directly responsible for delivering strategic legal work in these disciplines. The work in these areas include operational policing advice civil orders police officer misconduct inquests and a range of other connected areas in Police Law and Practice.
Working as part of the Joint Legal Services Senior Leadership Team you will operate at a strategic and operational level to deliver an exceptional legal service by identifying and managing Force strategic and reputational risks across numerous and diverse national and regionalwork streams and on highly sensitive matters.
Reporting to the Assistant Director the Principal Lawyer will manage direct and lead a credible professional and respected group of lawyers in a wide rangeof legal work.
Role and Responsibilities
- As Principal Lawyer you will influence the future direction strategy and capability of Joint Legal Services (JLS) including identifying and planning for the organisations challenges direction and purpose and drive an integrated approach to service delivery as members of the Senior Leadership Team
- Delivers leadership across JLS to ensure an efficient and effective legal service.
- Works collaboratively with clients colleagues and other stakeholders including at Force Executive Team (FET) level and equivalent level partners and agencies
- Works with external partners to represent the interests of each Chief Constable and Force and the Office of the Police Crime Commissioner or equivalent
- Providing legal advice to the Chief Constables of Staffordshire and West Midlands Police and the OPCC for Staffordshire and the OPCC for West Midlands Police.
- Providing advice to Senior Leaders/Executive Team on the full range of legal issues and national/policing sector developments relevant to the above portfolios
- Delivers direct support to the strategic objectives of both forces and JLS including leading on the delivery of objectives and projects and working on high profile cases with FET from each respective force
- Leading and developing the department as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in both forces.
- Ensure that JLS advice is effectively integrated with other strategic change projects and initiatives to deliver a joined-up delivery model and approach
- Ensure legal advice and policy development is in line with best practice legal requirements and in support of the Forces strategic objectives
Essential Experience & Skills
- Experience of working within at least one of the following areas:
- Operational (advising on Civil Orders and PACE)
- Police Officer Misconduct
- Inquests
- Qualified solicitor or barrister with a minimum of 6 years post qualification experience or equivalent
- Experience of managing and leading a team of lawyers delivering complex areas of law and working with sensitive information
- Experience of working and delivering at strategic level particularly and advising Senior Leaders
- Experience of working in a multi-agency environment
- Experience of managing a budget and financial delivery of set objectives
- Previous experience of working in an in-house team (highly desirable)
- Previous experience of working in a public sector environment
- Experience of other legal areas
Desirable Experience & Skills
- Previous experience of working in an in-house team (highly desirable)
- Previous experience of working in a public sector environment
- Experience of other legal areas
Hours:The post holder will be required to work core service hours..
Location: Lloyd House Birmingham.
Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearancescrutiny prior to commencing their role this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.
Interviews: In person at Lloyd House on Wednesday 24th September 2025.
Contact:For further information regarding this role please contact
West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume seasonal and high-peak times the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled these circumstances the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities
By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:
- Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme
- Enhanced annual leave in additional to public holiday entitlements
- Discounts across travel parking daily costs of living and leisure activities
- A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support free eye tests and flu jabs
Required Experience:
Staff IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
