Our Emergency Services team is one of the largest in the UK. We are brand leaders in services for police forces, with in-depth expertise in all types of claims and operational advice. We have considerable experience in handling sensitive and/or high‑profile claims and are equally skilled in managing the media attention that these cases sometimes attract. Our specialist practitioners act exclusively for the police service, representing a diverse range of 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 15 years.
Responsibilities
* Act on behalf of various police forces, claims handlers and insurers in the defence of civil actions against the police.
* Manage a caseload of pre‑litigated and litigated civil ‘malfeasance’ claims (such as false imprisonment, trespass, malicious prosecution, and Human Rights Act claims) as well data breach claims and employer's liability claims.
* Attend court hearings and conduct your own advocacy where appropriate.
* Liaise with solicitors, insurers, experts, counsel and clients.
* Control diaries and action lists and complete client MI (Management Information) procedures.
* Support team members.
* Assist the Team Manager and wider team with client development, training and networking.
* Satisfy standards of client care in accordance with guidelines and directions.
* Achieve financial and chargeable hours targets.
* Comply with relevant rules, policies and procedures.
* Keep up to date with legal developments.
* Work in accordance with Weightmans' values.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive. You will be expected to perform other duties falling within the wider remit of the role and to comply with relevant Weightmans and client policies and procedures.
Ideally, you will have experience as a solicitor with a genuine interest in the above area of work. As the role is varied, we are looking for you to have a flexible approach to the work you do and be able to adapt to different tasks.
Qualifications
* Qualified solicitor (England & Wales) NQ to 3 years' PQE.
* Either demonstrable police claims litigation experience (malfeasance/civil actions against the police), Data Protection Act (DPA)/information law experience (e.g., DPA 2018, UK GDPR, FOIA matters within policing) or police operational advice experience.
* Willingness to cross‑train from your current specialism into the other area; full training and support provided.
* Strong litigation experience across pre‑litigated and litigated matters; comfortable with procedural rules, evidence, and advocacy where appropriate.
* Excellent stakeholder management and client‑facing communication skills.
* Ability to manage competing deadlines, maintain accurate MI, and deliver against financial and chargeable hours targets.
* A collaborative mindset: mentoring, knowledge‑sharing, and teamwork.
* High levels of professional judgement, discretion, and resilience when handling sensitive and/or high‑profile matters.
If you meet our criteria and think this is a job where you could bring enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn, then we look forward to receiving your application.
Weightmans is a Leading national law firm, with strong international capabilities. Weightmans has been recognised as a leading employer for the 19th consecutive year at Britain's Top Employers awards, and ranking top 10 in the list, the firm has also secured top positions in Chambers UK. Join Weightmans as we continue our journey to becoming one of the UK's top 30 law firms.
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