The Undercover Policing Inquiry was established to investigate and report on undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968. The Inquiry will examine the contribution undercover policing has made to tackling crime, how it was and is supervised and regulated, and its effect on individuals involved - both police officers and others who came into contact with them. For our terms of reference and more information about our work visit our website at ucpi.org.uk
Junior Junior Counsel
The Undercover Policing Inquiry invites applications from junior members of the bar (who we would generally expect to be practitioners under four years call) to join a security-cleared panel interested in joining the Inquiry Legal Team upon suitable vacancies arising.
The Inquiry is seeking to establish a panel of SC-cleared junior juniors keen to work for the Inquiry as and when vacancies arise, in order to assist with the review and analysis of evidence, together with requests for witness statements. Given the time involved in the security process, the establishment of a panel will provide the Inquiry with the capability to fill vacancies as they arise on the Inquiry Legal Team.
Candidates should be able to assess and evaluate large volumes of material quickly and identify legal issues within the context of a public inquiry. Candidates must have strong written and verbal communication skills and be able to display sound legal judgment and strategic thinking. A good understanding of the work of a public inquiry is an advantage, as is some exposure to handling sensitive material in legal proceedings.
Such vacancies will ordinarily require you to be available to work for the Inquiry for not less than 22 hours per week on average.
There may also be opportunities for short term engagement of a number of weeks or months on a full or near full time basis in periods where the Inquiry sees to ‘surge’ resources during busy periods.
Remuneration is at the rate of £45 per hour.
Second Junior Counsel
The Undercover Policing Inquiry are also seeking to recruit suitably experienced counsel to work as Second Junior Counsel to the Inquiry in central London.
Applicants should note that a Second Junior role will ordinarily require you to be available to work for the Inquiry for not less than 25 hours per week on average.
Essential Skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Sound legal judgment and strategic thinking
• Ability to assess and evaluate complex material to reach clear and logical decisions
• A good understanding of the work of a public inquiry
• Exposure to handling highly classified material in legal proceedings
Main Duties
Inquiry work can vary from week to week, and the role will necessarily require some
flexibility.
However, the main duties are likely to include:
• Identification of evidence required in order to further the terms of reference
• Drafting formal requests for evidence; reviewing and responding to applications for restriction orders over the disclosure of sensitive or private information
• Analysis and review of documents and witness statements disclosed to the Inquiry
• Working with other members of the Inquiry team to ensure effective progress
• Attending meetings with Counsel for key stakeholders
• Legal research
• Assisting with preparation for oral hearings, including drafting explanatory and other documents
• Attending some oral hearings, including the possibility of some advocacy
Remuneration is at the rate of £80 per hour.
Information Regarding both roles
Successful applicants will need to agree to submit to vetting for security clearance if this is not currently held. Subject to successfully passing clearance, they would be contacted when a suitable vacancy on the Inquiry Legal Team arises with an offer to join the team.
If you have any queries, please contact Sam Ryb on 07780 491726.
If you wish to apply for these interesting and varied roles, giving the opportunity of working at the heart of a high-profile public inquiry please send your curriculum vitae, with a covering letter (of no more than one page) setting out your legal, decision making and communication skills. Please also include any relevant legal experience.
For the second junior role only please also provide a statement of suitability of no more than one page summarising your suitability for the role, using the skills and responsibilities above as a guide.
Please title your email “Junior Junior Counsel” or “Second Junior Counsel” as applicable.
Closing date: Applications for both campaigns must be sent by 23:59hrs on 22nd August 2022 to the following email address: recruitment@ucpinquiry.org.uk
Conflict of interest: Current or previous employment or work within the policing field, or for associated bodies, or on policing or associated policy within the Civil Service (or wider) may constitute a conflict of interest given the work of the Inquiry. Any potential conflicts of interest which could affect the independence of the Inquiry should be declared at the time of application and will then be assessed.
Location: Due to the sensitive nature of the material the inquiry deals with, successful candidates would be required to work at secure central London offices (currently being managed to accommodate COVID-19 risks in accordance with government guidance).
