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 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
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.
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.
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 paid by the Government Legal Service for junior junior counsel: £45 per hour.
If you have any queries about this advertisement please contact the Inquiry team on
07780 491726.
If you wish to apply for this interesting and varied role, 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 2 x A4 pages) setting out your legal, decision making and communication skills to recruitment@ucpinquiry.org.uk
Please title your email “Junior Junior Counsel”.
Closing date: 7 January 2022
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).
