Job Description

About the team

Our Inquiries and Investigations team work on some of the highest profile and most complex matters for a wide range of clients, including public, private and third-sector organisations. Our team provides targeted legal and strategic advice and engages collaboratively across a wide spectrum of stakeholders whilst protecting the interests of those we support. We also support clients with litigation matters, in both public and private law contexts.


Members of our team have supported the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, Cabinet Office, Department for Health & Social Care, Financial Reporting Council, Ofqual, large housing associations, care home providers, local authorities, private organisations and non-departmental public bodies.

About the roles

We are seeking permanent Inquiry and Litigation Lawyers at varying levels to join our growing team providing high quality services. You will work closely with senior lawyers, partners and Counsel to deliver strategic, practical and commercially astute advice to a wide range of clients. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to contribute to matters of national significance, working at the intersection of law, policy and public accountability.


The roles will require individuals to be able to perform the following key responsibilities:


Acting as a supporting Lawyers to Principal Associates and Partners (more senior lawyers will support Partners) at Gowling WLG across inquiries, investigations, reviews and other inquisitorial processes including related litigation. Assisting to support key clients and senior officials. Providing advice in relation to the provision of witness statements, drafting statements and providing support to witnesses and liaising with Counsel. Analysing high-volume complex information, identifying key documents and materials. Leading the management and coordination of complex disclosure and document review work, including supervision of paralegals and other team members. Supporting the preparation of hearings and manage responses to directions. Attending hearings in order to support witnesses. Managing of own workload (often as part of a wider team on larger matters) with the ability to organise tasks on a day-to-day basis. Identifying, manage and mitigate legal risks ensuring compliance with statutory and procedural obligations Actively participating in team training as well as self-development of related skills.
Any other reasonable duties delegated by any Partner, Senior Manager or Practice Operations Manager of the firm

Essential criteria

Qualified Solicitor/Barrister entitled to practice in England and Wales Knowledge and experience of public law, litigation, and inquiry/investigatory proceedings Excellent legal analysis, drafting and communication skills Proven ability to manage large and complex workloads under pressure and to tight deadlines Demonstrated sound judgment in handling sensitive and high-profile matters Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills, including working with Counsel and clients. Commitment to upholding the highest professional and ethical standards. Commercial awareness and the ability to deliver pragmatic, solutions focused advice. You will ideally hold

SC

(Security Clearance) - please note this is not just DBS clearance. Please note we will require your SC certificate/confirmation details at application stage.

Desirable criteria

Working knowledge of disclosure obligations within the Inquiries Act 2005 and civil litigation Knowledge of judicial review proceedings Familiarity with government or public sector legal work Good understanding of data protection/GDPR Experience working with multidisciplinary teams or cross team working projects. An interest in developing business and contributing to the firm's growing Inquiry and Investigations team.

What we can offer you

The opportunity to work for a firm which has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK and has been ranked by Great Place to Work for 25 consecutive years.


A hybrid approach to office and remote working. Lawyer bonus Generous annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week's extra annual leave Private medical insurance, and the option to add family members A generous pension allowance Life assurance covering four times your annual salary The chance of a three-month sabbatical every five years Maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes A range of health and wellbeing programmes State of the art offices Opportunities to flourish in your role through training and personal development
Many of our people work flexibly in some way. If you would like to explore your own flexible working arrangements with us, we are happy to discuss this during the recruitment process.

Equal Opportunities:

We offer a supportive and inclusive environment that values professional development.


Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.


At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.


Any offers we make will be conditional subject to clearance by the SRA, evidence of eligibility to work in the UK and Security Clearance.

Please note, we do not accept unsolicited CVs from recruitment agencies and will not be liable for any fees associated with such submissions.

If you have any queries in relation to this position, please contact Nana Panti-Amoa at

Nana.Panti-Amoa@uk.gowlingwlg.com

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