We are recruiting a part time Solicitor on a fixed term contract for 12 months.

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 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 Solicitor, that involves:

Using your legal knowledge of various environmental regimes, the criminal law, our statutory duties and strategic objectives to provide environmental & regulatory legal advice that allows officers to take informed decisions arising from the performance of our regulatory function, particularly in relation to enforcement activities.
Understanding complex and varied, often technical, information and complex legal arguments and concepts to provide bespoke and comprehensive regulatory and environmental legal advice and solutions tailored to each individual issue/situation and specific facts/circumstances. This will include providing advice on enforcement options and on the drafting of relevant documentation.
Working with officers to identify environmental offences and to draft prosecution reports for submission to the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), including consideration of statutory Disclosure requirements, and liaising with COPFS on progression of cases.
Assessing relevant environmental legislation, background guidance and procedures in order to advise officers on environmental authorisation requirements and provide advice to officers on environmental authorisation conditions.
Assist Legal Senior Managers and Senior Solicitor to respond to statutory appeals against decisions by SEPA.

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 (ideally with 2 years post qualifying experience) with LLB Degree and Diploma in legal practice or equivalent and current full (unrestricted) practising certificate
General understanding and knowledge of SEPA and its duties
Knowledge and experience in the interpretation and application of legislation
Excellent communication skills, with ability to demonstrate excellent, concise communication in complex and sensitive written documents including reports to the Procurator Fiscal, statutory enforcement notices and environmental authorisations.
Excellent oral communication skills: ability to explain legal requirements to non-legal staff; presentation skills; and ideally advocacy skills.

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