Head of Fitness to Practise - #2196663

An established regulatory body is seeking an experienced solicitor or barrister to lead its Fitness to Practise legal team and in-house advocacy service. You’ll oversee how cases are prepared and presented, support colleagues on complex regulatory matters and advise senior leaders on the delivery and development of the service.

About the role

You’ll be responsible for the day-to-day running of the legal team, from setting priorities and allocating cases to managing the budget and developing staff. You’ll work with colleagues across investigations, case preparation and hearings to ensure cases are progressed effectively and legal advice is available at each stage.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Fitness to Practise legal team, setting clear priorities, allocating work and supporting staff development.
• Manage the legal budget and plan resources around case volumes, complexity and hearing deadlines.
• Oversee the in-house advocacy service and the preparation and presentation of cases before adjudication panels, including interim order applications, interim order reviews and substantive order reviews.
• Provide specialist legal advice on complex or high-risk cases, including evidence, disclosure, case progression and regulatory procedure.
• Oversee work undertaken by external legal providers and give direction on complex or sensitive matters where needed.
• Advise the Executive Leadership Team and other senior leaders on operational and strategic matters affecting the Fitness to Practise function.
• Identify improvements to processes, guidance and ways of working across the legal and advocacy teams.

About you

• You’re a qualified solicitor or barrister regulated by the SRA or BSB, with at least five years’ post-qualification experience.
• You have significant experience across the Fitness to Practise process, from investigations and case preparation through to hearings and reviews.
• You have personally presented Fitness to Practise cases before adjudication panels and have advocacy experience across a range of tribunals.
• You can exercise sound judgement on complex and sensitive cases and communicate clear, practical legal advice to both legal and non-legal colleagues.
• You’re comfortable balancing competing priorities, allocating resources and overseeing the quality of legal work. Previous experience managing and developing a team is highly desirable.