Senior Legal Adviser; General Counsel Advice Solicitors Regulation Authority

Senior Legal Adviser (General Counsel Advice) – SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY

We are looking for a Senior Lawyer to join our General Counsel Advice team. This is a hybrid role working from home and in our Birmingham or London Office.

• Work in a fast‑paced environment at the forefront of legal services regulation, supporting the delivery of the SRA's strategic objectives.
• Deal with intellectually challenging matters in a complex legal framework.
• Support the regulation of the profession, protecting and promoting the public interest, and help shape and implement our responses to new challenges.
• Work on a variety of projects with teams across the SRA, using problem‑solving and analytical thinking to solve legal and practical problems.
• A broad and varied workload, with a core focus on public law and regulatory policy development.
• Advise colleagues across the business on a whole range of discrete legal issues affecting the business, working within a close‑knit, friendly and supportive team.

The General Counsel Advice team is part of the General Counsel Directorate within the SRA, responsible for providing legal advice (apart from enforcement and employment law matters) to the SRA, staff, operational units and senior management.

It plays a major role in providing strategic advice on a wide range of regulatory policy development projects for the SRA and supporting the wider organisation. Key recent activities include:

• The development and implementation of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
• Advising on sanctions and anti‑money laundering matters.
• Consultation on “Protecting client money” that solicitors hold.
• Supporting regulatory arrangements such as new fining powers and wellbeing at work rules.
• Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys, a high‑profile case.

As a Senior Lawyer in the General Counsel Advice team, you will provide high quality, effective and timely advice on queries received by the team. You will advise on legal obligations and regulatory powers, interpret statutes such as the Solicitors Act 1974, Administration of Justice Act 1985 and Legal Services Act 2007, and how they apply to the SRA.

You will help provide innovative solutions to complex legal problems, draft professional rules and guidance, and advise on the SRA's own operations. You will work closely with team members, other departments and external stakeholders, supervise, mentor and coach others, and may eventually line‑manage lawyers.

Desired attributes include being a self‑starter, proactive, detail oriented, and having a track record of delivering quality results.

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX lawyer, admitted in England and Wales.
• Experience providing high quality strategic regulatory/public law advice and drafting in a regulatory or public law environment.
• Track record of leading and delivering solutions, taking accountability for timely resolution of complex issues.
• Understanding of SRA objectives, key deliverables and ability to connect them with the political landscape.
• Pragmatic and able to work collaboratively with legal and non‑legal colleagues, including at senior level.

The General Counsel Advice team is primarily based in Birmingham; we are recruiting for this role in both Birmingham and London offices. This is a hybrid role: you will be based in the office nearest your location, with an expectation of 1–2 days a week in the office and the remainder from home. London based applicants will need regular travel to Birmingham.

We welcome applicants looking to balance personal and professional life, offer full‑time (35 hours) and part‑time options, compressed hours and flexible working.

Please click “apply” to complete the online application form and upload a CV and cover letter, addressing how you meet the requirements, particularly those highlighted in the “What We Are Looking For” section.

Closing date for applications is 19 January 2026 at 09:00. Applications are accepted from now until the closing date; we may close early if sufficient applications are received. Shortlisting and interview will take place in February 2026.