Senior Solicitor

Scottish Enterprise; Holytown; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A Scottish environmental protection agency is seeking an experienced Senior Solicitor to provide critical legal support focusing on environmental law and corporate governance. With a commitment to flexible work arrangements, this role offers enriching benefits and opportunities for career development, including up to 35 days of annual leave and support for community volunteering. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of legal experience and an LLB Degree with relevant qualifications. Join a purposeful workplace prioritizing the environment and your career.

Benefits

Hybrid working opportunities

Annual leave and public holidays

Paid time off for wellbeing and volunteering

Local Government Pension Scheme

Family Friendly policies

Training & development opportunities

Qualifications

• Scottish Qualified Solicitor with a current full practising certificate.
• Minimum of 5 years experience as a practising solicitor.
• Experience in regulatory or environmental law context.
• Proven experience in legislative analysis.
• Supervisory experience in a legal environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist legal advice and support to SEPA.
• Deliver complex legal advice to leadership teams.
• Advise on the implementation of new legislation.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Supervise solicitors and paralegals.

Skills

Environmental law

Corporate governance

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Supervisory skills

Education

LLB Degree and Diploma in Legal Practice

Job description

We are currently recruiting a full timeSenior Solicitor on a permanent basis

Your passion has never had a greater purpose

Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take – to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

That’s why, when you join us as a Senior Solicitor, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful – for our environment, and for your career.

Work that goes beyond your desk

Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As a Senior Solicitor, you will,

• Use your advanced legal expertise, particularly in environmental law and corporate governance, to provide specialist legal advice and support to SEPA. This role is critical in ensuring SEPA safely delivers its duties for Scotland;
• Deliver complex and sensitive legal advice to SEPA’s leadership teams. Your work will directly support SEPA’s mission and strategic objectives;
• Provide expert legal advice across a wide range of practice areas;
• Advise on the interpretation and implementation of new legislation. Contribute to SEPA’s input in shaping legislative and policy frameworks, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives;
• Analyse and interpret complex information from diverse sources, including legislation, case law, as well as technical scientific data, in order to provide clear and actionable legal advice;
• Communicate effectively with internal teams to deliver detailed legal advice that supports SEPA’s goals. Engage with external stakeholders, including government bodies, legal representatives, and partner organisations, to advance SEPA’s interests;
• Develop and deliver training sessions and guidance materials to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations across the organisation;
• Support the Head of Corporate Legal and the Legal Senior Manager in managing litigation, disputes, and judicial reviews. Responsibilities include drafting legal documents, representing SEPA at tribunals and hearings, and liaising with external agents; and
• Supervise solicitors and paralegals; ensuring high‑quality work and adherence to professional standards. Provide mentorship and guidance to develop team capability;
• This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. You may be required to undertake other duties consistent with the level and grading of the role.

Respect for your expertise

This is a highly important role within our Governance, Performance and Engagement portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• To be a Scottish Qualified Solicitor with LLB Degree and Diploma in Legal Practice or equivalent and a current full (unrestricted) practising certificate;
• At least 5 years legal professional experience as a practising solicitor;
• Knowledge and experience of application of legislation in either a regulatory or environmental law context;
• Proven experience analysing and interpreting legislation to inform policy, strategy or approach; and
• Supervisory experience.

Please open the link to Senior Solicitor role profile which outlines the core responsibilities and expectations of the role within a defined activity family. Please note the role profile name may be different to the job title being advertised.

Support that goes beyond the workplace

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home. Such as:

• Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
• Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Progressive Family Friendly policies
• Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

Passionately you. Purposefully supportive

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does – as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment – and your career.

Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise – and your wellbeing. So you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.

We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. Please ensure that you include all relevant information when you apply.

We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and home life. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.

We are proud to be a 'Disability Confident' employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you in the role that you do.

Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.

For the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre‑employment checks including a level one Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have questions or need any assistance with the recruitment process please contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team at [e-mail]

Apply now to join a Passionately Purposeful workplace