Job title: Lawyer
Directorate: Devolution, Governance, and Law
Contract: Permanent, Full Time or Part Time
Salary: London Salary: £62,906 / Outside London: £60,711
Location: London, Cardiff, Belfast or Edinburgh
About Us:
The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity. The Commission is directly accountable to the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament and the Senedd.
We are currently seeking at least one full time or part time Lawyer to join the Commission's Legal Team.
Lawyer – Job Description:
As a statutory body, the Commission relies on its Legal Team for high quality legal advice to advance its objectives and ensure it exercises its functions lawfully. The team is led by the Commission's General Counsel, who is currently supported by the Head of Legal, two Senior Lawyers, five Lawyers and a Legal Officer.
Lawyer – Key Responsibilities:
- Advising on electoral law including during major political events such as UK Parliamentary General Elections, local elections, PCC elections, mayoral elections, referendums, and elections for the devolved parliaments.
- Advising on regulatory decisions and enforcement action affecting political parties and campaigners working on proposed legislation and the implementation of new legislation.
- Advising on the Commission's wider legal obligations as a public body, including in relation to information law, procurement, contracts and employment matters.
Lawyer – Key Skills:
- Since the Commission operates in a niche area, we do not require or expect candidates to have experience of electoral law.
- General experience of advisory work, statutory interpretation and public and administrative law will all be essential. You will be supported by one of the Senior Lawyers and receive training in role.
Lawyer – What We Offer:
The Commission operates a system of flexible and hybrid working and has offices in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. While most of the team are based in London, it would be possible for the successful candidate to carry out this role from any of the Commission's offices and we would welcome applications from dual qualified lawyers who are able to practice in Scotland as well as England & Wales.
This is an exciting time to be joining the Commission. Our work is high-profile and varied with electoral reform, the regulation of parties and candidates, and devolution all being hot topics across the whole of the UK. The work is interesting, intellectually challenging and varied.
The Commission is committed to increasing the diversity of its staff and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of open and fair competition, merit and business need.
Submission Guidelines:
Anonymous CV: To adhere to our commitment to anonymous recruitment, ensure all references to educational institutions (years of attendance for primary and secondary education) and personal information are removed. This allows us to assess candidates based solely on their knowledge and skills, free from bias related to background, gender, or ethnicity.
Supporting Statement: Your statement should highlight your relevant skills, experience, in relation to the job criteria and person specification.
Closing Date: 11:59pm on Sunday 15 September 2024.
Interviews will be held shortly thereafter.
Shortlisted candidates will also be asked to undertake a written assessment.
For the Welsh translation of this advert please visit The Electoral Commission website.
To apply for this exciting opportunity please click "Apply" now!