Employment Lawyer

Information about the Command

The in-house legal department sits at the heart of the NCA; providing specialist advisory and litigation support across the entire organisation. NCA Legal collaborates with operational officers as well as other Government departments, agencies and police forces on a daily basis to assist with live investigations around the world and defend against legal challenges aimed to disrupt those investigations. The advice provided by the department contributes directly to the disruption of serious and organised crime.

The teams include solicitors and barristers from a variety of backgrounds and with a wide range of experience alongside paralegals and a business management team.

Information about the Business Area

The Commercial and Employment Team advises the NCA on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious work. This ranges from advising on public procurement and transformation projects to advising on employee matters and policies. We ensure that decisions about the NCA’s people and contracts are made lawfully and in a way which minimises the risk of legal challenge.

Role Summary  

NCA Legal comprises of the following teams:

Data and Operational Advisory Team, Civil Litigation Team, Financial Disruptions Litigation Team, Disruptive Actions Litigation Team and Commercial and Employment Law Team.

This vacancy is for an employment lawyer in the Commercial and Employment Law Team, focused on advising on employment matters only. The employment work is varied and challenging, ranging from advising on complex disciplinary matters and grievances to managing employment tribunals, including advising on matters with a national security aspect.

Role Description  

We are currently recruiting an exceptional Solicitor and/or Barrister specialising in employment law with significant post qualification experience. As an NCA officer in the Legal Team you will support the Agency's mission to lead the fight against serious and organised crime.

Duties and Responsibilities

As an employment lawyer you will provide legal advice on a range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters. This includes advising on the following areas:

• Policy and Trade Union Consultation - Advising HR colleagues on policy development and assisting with drafting policy wording to ensure the NCA's employment related policies are legally compliant.  Advising in respect of engagement with the Trade Unions regarding the same.
• Workforce planning, including recruitment - Support HR with legal advice to enable the implementation of the Agency's strategic vision for its workforce.
• Individual employment matters - Providing legal advice to HR specialists on complex issues relating to staff such as in relation to sickness management and ill health retirement.
• Grievances and employment tribunals - Advising decision-makers on grievances and leading for Legal on overseeing the defence of employment tribunal proceedings, which may involve complex and sensitive national security matters.
• Disciplinary and misconduct matters - Advising the Professional Standards Unit on the application of the NCA (Complaints and Misconduct Regulations) 2013 to enable conduct matters to be effectively and efficiently managed, and advising disciplinary panels.
• Pensions - Advising Finance in respect of any pension disputes as well as key changes in pension legislation to facilitate the management of NCA staff with police pensions in particular.

Person Specification  

You will be expected to use your legal skills and judgement to contribute to the strategic direction of the NCA by providing specialist employment law advice across all areas of the Agency.  You will need to be able to think creatively to help manage legal risk in cases that are often novel, complex and challenging.

Flexible Working

This role operates under a hybrid working model, offering flexibility between office-based and remote working.

However, permanent homeworking is not available. Successful candidates will be expected to attend the office as required and undertake court attendance where necessary as part of their duties, in line with the NCA's hybrid working policy.

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.

Entry Requirements  

Significant and strong employment law knowledge and experience.

Please see qualifications required below which are essential criteria for this role.

Qualifications, Membership and Licences  

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for this role.

To apply for this role you must be either (a) a Solicitor or Barrister qualified to practise in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, with significant relevant experience; or (b) Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales, with significant relevant experience. Upon appointment, Barristers and Solicitors qualified in Northern Ireland will be registered by the NCA with their respective professional bodies in England & Wales, to enable them to practise in both jurisdictions.  

You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx. Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / Common Professional Examination (CPE) has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:

1. Criminal Law
2. Equity and Trusts
3. Law of the European Union
4. Obligations 1 (Contract)
5. Obligations 2 (Tort)
6. Property / Land Law
7. Public Law (Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights Law)

Additionally, Chartered Legal Executives may need a Practice Rights Certificate depending on the role.

Please ensure the dates of any accreditations you are relying on, are entered on to your CV.

Solicitors should also include their roll number.

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

Virtual Open Evening Event  

To find out more about the role and the application process we will be holding a virtual open evening via MS Teams on Tuesday 6th October 2026 at 1800 to 1900 hours.

This event is by invitation only. To register, please click on the following link: Virtual Event - Employment Lawyer

You will be asked for your name and email address.

Registration will close at midday on 5th October 2026. You will not be able to register after this date and time.

To apply for the role click HERE. Apply before 18th October 2026, 23:55.