Crime and Regulatory Solicitor - Associate / Senior Associate

Location: Manchester, with travel to London
Salary: c.£60,000, depending on experience
Working pattern: Hybrid, normally two office days per week
Job type: Permanent, full-time
Experience: Ideally 3 to 5 years’ PQE or above

The Opportunity

A growing and people-focused law firm is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Crime and Regulatory team.

The role can be based in Manchester or Leeds, with regular travel to London for team meetings. You will also need to attend courts, police stations, client meetings and other offices when required.

You will manage serious, sensitive and often complex criminal matters across the full process, from police-station attendance and early advice through to Magistrates’ Court advocacy and Crown Court preparation.

The firm offers a collaborative and less hierarchical environment where lawyers are trusted with meaningful responsibility and have direct access to senior colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Manage a varied Criminal Defence caseload
• Advise and represent clients at the police station
• Conduct Magistrates’ Court advocacy
• Prepare Crown Court matters, including case theory, evidence review and legal arguments
• Draft representations, applications, case notes and correspondence
• Analyse complex evidence and conflicting accounts
• Support senior colleagues on complex Crown Court and Regulatory matters
• Manage procedural requirements, deadlines and file quality
• Support clients through serious and sensitive circumstances
• Contribute to the continued development of the Crime and Regulatory team

About You

You will ideally have:

• Approximately 3 to 5 years’ PQE in Criminal Defence
• Current Police Station Accreditation
• Strong Magistrates’ Court advocacy experience
• Practical Crown Court experience through advocacy or case preparation
• Recent experience within a UK Legal Practice
• Excellent drafting and written communication skills
• Strong evidence-analysis and case-strategy capability
• The confidence to manage matters independently
• Sound judgement and attention to detail
• A calm, practical and compassionate approach with clients
• The flexibility to travel to London and other locations when required

Regulatory experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Applications may also be considered from candidates outside the stated PQE range who can demonstrate the required accreditation, advocacy and technical capability.

Salary and Benefits

The firm offers:

• £60,000 to £80,000, depending on experience
• Hybrid working, normally two office days per week
• 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Your birthday off
• Additional holiday linked to length of service
• Christmas closure, subject to annual arrangements
• Private medical insurance through Vitality
• Medicash health cash plan
• Employee Assistance Programme, including family access
• Enhanced wellbeing and family-friendly policies
• Salary-sacrifice pension through NEST
• Referral bonuses
• Access to senior partners and business leaders
• Career development within a growing firm
• CSR activities and colleague events

Location and Travel

This vacancy is being advertised in Manchester, but the successful lawyer may be based from either the firm’s Manchester or Leeds office.

Regular travel to London will be required for team meetings. Additional travel to courts, police stations, client locations and other offices will form part of the role.

Apply in Confidence

To discuss this opportunity confidentially, contact:

Lee Hawthorne-Finch
People and Talent Director
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com
Telephone: 0333 996 2882

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

All enquiries will be handled confidentially. No CV or identifying information will be shared with the hiring firm without informed written consent for this specific opportunity.