Crime and Regulatory Solicitor - Associate / Senior Associate

Location: Leeds or Manchester, with regular travel to London
Salary: £52,000 to £72,000, 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 successful lawyer can be based from the firm’s Leeds or Manchester office, with regular travel to London for team meetings. Travel to courts, police stations, client locations and other offices will also be required.

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

The firm offers a supportive and less hierarchical environment where lawyers are given meaningful responsibility, have access to senior leaders and receive genuine assistance with their development.

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 cases, including case theory, legal arguments and evidence review
• 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
• Guide clients through serious and sensitive circumstances
• Contribute to the continued development of the Crime and Regulatory team

About You

You will ideally offer:

• 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 written communication and drafting skills
• Strong evidence-analysis and case-strategy capability
• Sound judgement and close attention to detail
• Confidence managing matters independently
• A calm, practical and compassionate approach with clients
• The flexibility to travel to London and other locations when required

Regulatory, Corporate Crime, Health and Safety or Inquests experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Candidates outside the stated PQE range may also be considered if they possess the required accreditation, advocacy experience and technical capability.

Salary and Benefits

The firm offers:

• £52,000 to £72,000, depending on PQE, advocacy experience, accreditation and Regulatory exposure
• 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 Leeds, but the successful lawyer can be based from either Leeds or Manchester.

Regular travel to London will be required for team meetings. The role will also involve attendance at courts, police stations, client locations and other offices when necessary.

Candidates should consider the frequency and cost of London travel when assessing the opportunity. Full details of the meeting schedule and travel-expense arrangements will be confirmed during the recruitment process.

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