Duty Solicitor | Criminal Defence | Police Station, Magistrates’ & Crown Court
Hartlepool | Permanent | Full-Time

If you're a Duty Solicitor looking for a proper long-term home in Crime, rather than another role where you're simply picking up the same Police Station and Magistrates' Court work, this is one I'd be interested in talking to you about.

I'm working with an established North East law firm with a long-standing Criminal Defence practice, looking to strengthen its Hartlepool team.

This is a busy Criminal Justice environment covering the Police Station, Magistrates' Court and Crown Court, with the opportunity to build on your advocacy experience and, depending on your level, take on considerably more responsibility within the department.

The firm is open to speaking with Duty Solicitors at different stages of their careers.

If you're recently qualified and have obtained your Duty Solicitor status, this gives you the chance to establish yourself within an established criminal practice, develop your advocacy and build a long-term career in Crime.

If you're more experienced, particularly if you've already got Higher Rights, there is a different proposition.

The firm is looking for someone who can ultimately have an influence on how the Criminal Justice department develops, with scope around mentoring, management, business development and departmental strategy. For the right person, that can develop into a genuine longer-term route towards partnership.

The day-to-day work will include:

• Police Station representation and Duty Solicitor work
• Magistrates' Court advocacy
• Crown Court work, depending on experience and rights of audience
• Managing your own criminal defence caseload
• Advising and representing clients throughout the criminal process
• Participating in the Duty Solicitor rota and associated out-of-hours work
• Working alongside an established Criminal Justice team
• For a more senior appointment, helping develop the team and shape the future direction of the department

What I'm really looking for is genuine Criminal Defence experience and Duty Solicitor status.

You don't need to have every qualification in place for this to be relevant.

A recently qualified Duty Solicitor with solid Police Station and Magistrates' Court experience could be a very good fit.

Equally, an established Duty Solicitor with stronger advocacy experience, Higher Rights already secured or an ambition to obtain them, could potentially come into the role at a much more senior level.

And if you're at the stage of your career where you're starting to think “I could run a department, but I don't necessarily want to join a huge corporate firm to do it”, that's where this opportunity becomes particularly interesting.

It's an established regional practice, with a genuine Criminal Justice caseload and the infrastructure of a long-standing firm behind it. The opportunity is there to continue developing as a criminal advocate, but also to have a say in how the department grows and where your own career goes next.

Hartlepool | Duty Solicitor | Criminal Defence | Permanent, Full-Time

Salary will depend on experience and level.

If you're a Duty Solicitor in the North East and would be interested in hearing more — whether you're recently qualified and looking to establish yourself, or you're more senior and looking for a genuine route into management and partnership — I'd be happy to have a confidential conversation.

For a confidential discussion and to learn more about the firm behind the opportunity, please contact Eoghan at QED Legal Recruitment Ltd.