We are recruiting for full time Solicitors on both a permanent and fixed term basis

5 permanent Solicitor posts
1 fixed term for 1 year Solicitor post
1 fixed term to 12th January 2027 Solicitor post

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 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 Solicitor, that involves:

Providing professional legal support to Regulatory colleagues on options for enforcement and on drafting of relevant documentation.
Understanding complex and varied information, much of which will be of a technical or scientific nature, as well as complex legal arguments and concepts, to provide comprehensive legal advice and guidance to support SEPA in the performance of its duties.
Providing legal advice to officers on criminal prosecutions: working with Regulatory colleagues to identify offences and draft and complete prosecution reports for submission to the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), including consideration of disclosure requirements, and liaise with COPFS on progression of cases.
Providing legal advice to Regulatory colleagues on permits: Assessing relevant environmental legislation, background guidance and procedures in order to advise officers on permitting requirements and provide advice to officers on permit conditions.
Supporting Legal Senior Managers and Senior Solicitors to defend legal challenges (such as statutory appeals) to regulatory decisions.

Respect for your expertise

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

To be a Scottish qualified solicitor with current full, unrestricted practising certificate. LLB Degree and Diploma in legal practice or equivalent
Ideally, 2 years legal professional post qualifying experience
Knowledge and experience of application of legislation, ideally environmental legislation
Problem solving skills
Communication skills (both written and verbal) and ability to develop good working relationships

Please open the link to the 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 homelife. 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 recruitment@sepa.org.uk

Apply now to join a Passionately Purposeful workplace