CFRS0155 - Principal Legal Officer

Interviews: Interviews will be held in-person at Fire Headquarters on Thursday 27th March 2025.

Location: Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Carleton Hall, Penrith.

Contractual Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Permanent

The OPFCC has created a new role of Principal Legal Officer to provide a comprehensive legal service to the Fire & Rescue Authority, CFRS and the OPFCC across a broad range and variety of legal work. Reporting to the Chief Executive of the OPFCC and the Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive of CFRS, this influential role is an exciting and varied opportunity for a senior legal professional. The post holder will ensure the Fire & Rescue Authority, Fire & Rescue Service and the OPFCC all receive the expert legal advice and support that they require to act lawfully and fulfil their statutory obligations.

Minimum Requirements:

To apply for this role you must be a qualified solicitor, hold a current practicing certificate, and possess detailed knowledge across an array of legal disciplines that are relevant to be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the role. The successful candidate must have an understanding of public sector statutory and regulatory framework as well as have a strong political awareness.

We are seeking to appoint a high calibre individual with a proven record of working at a senior strategic level. You must have experience of effectively working across professional and organisational boundaries and in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders.

The successful candidate will also be responsible for working with the Legal Services team (provided by Cumbria Constabulary) to ensure that the OPFCC receives the advice and support on relevant legal matters.

As well as being an excellent communicator and having a commitment to all aspects of diversity and inclusion, we are seeking an individual with sound judgement and high levels of integrity. You must have the ability to assimilate and explain complex information, providing constructive challenge and fresh thinking.

To apply for this role, you must submit:

• An up-to-date CV, please ensure that it provides all your employment details to enable the shortlisting panel to understand how you meet the Post Specification.
• All candidates must provide a supporting statement, alongside your CV to be considered by the shortlisting panel. This must be a maximum of two sides A4 (we advise Arial font, size 12).
• You should ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet and satisfy all the essential criteria for this post as detailed within the Post Specification.
• Where you feel that you can demonstrate any of the key job accountabilities, this should also be included. This information should be provided preferably through examples of your previous experience or practice and will be used as part of the shortlisting process.

Knowledge, Experience and Expertise

• Practising Solicitor or Barrister. Please include your SRA ID number.
• Proven experience of working across a broad range of legal law matters that are relevant to be able to carry out the functions and responsibilities of the role.
• Experience of operating at a senior level within an organisation, e.g., involvement in policy making and decision making.
• Substantial experience of researching and interpreting complex areas of law and then providing pragmatic advice/guidance.
• Able to communicate and present information effectively, orally and in writing to suit a range of different audiences.
• Resilience and ability to deliver when working to competing deadlines.
• Ability to present cases in courts/tribunals.
• Politically astute in a rapidly changing environment.
• Experience of commissioning and managing services delivered by external providers.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in law or a relevant subject or Graduate member of CILEX.
• Successfully passed Law Society Finals or Legal Practice Course or equivalent or Bar Vocational Course Examinations.
• Qualified Solicitor holding a current practising certificate or Qualified Barrister or Qualified Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.

Documents must be saved clearly with your name and sent to the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service recruitment team, at the email address below:

This role requires a Standard DBS check.

We value the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our communities in Cumbria. We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.

We strongly encourage any candidate who may require reasonable adjustments to make us aware as soon as possible, either using the section on the application form or by contacting the Resourcing Team directly. We will have a confidential discussion with you and we take the approach of 'you tell us what you require, and we will do our best to facilitate'.