Legal Officer (Hillsborough)
Role: Legal Officer – Civil Litigation
Department: Legal Services
Location: Carbrook, Sheffield
Salary: £31,296 – £35,526
Hours: 37
Contract Type: Temporary until 31st March 2027
We have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Officer to join our Legal Team at South Yorkshire Police. As part of the Legal Services Team you will support the provision of a comprehensive legal service to the Chief Constable, the Chief Officer Group and all officers and support staff at Humberside and South Yorkshire Police.
Key responsibilities:
- Under supervision conduct a caseload of civil claims on behalf of the Chief Constable, undertaking research, liaising with interested parties, interviewing witnesses at all levels, assessing information, making decisions on liability and compiling reports for solicitors. This includes making recommendations for settlement or undertaking negotiations and putting forward arguments to reach a settlement with the claimant.
- Deals with disclosure requests, including assessing requests, conducting research, liaising with internal and external parties.
- Provide legal advice on a broad range of topics by researching and interpreting legislation, policy and national guidance. Prepare evidence bundles. Collate relevant information from varying sources to assist in making evidence-based decisions.
- Attend proceedings to support Counsel and provide updates to Head of Department by producing a comprehensive summary to include the salient points.
- Organise and prioritise own workload and keeping to tight deadlines.
Skills and experience:
- Educated to ‘A’ Level standard with a legal qualification e.g. law degree or CILEX level 3 or higher.
- Experience of working as a legal executive or similar role within a legal services environment. Has the ability to read, understand and apply case law and statutes.
- Experience of management of claims for personal injury, civil procedures and disclosure with negotiation skills.
- A good understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules
- Excellent Oral and Written Communication Skills. Work to a high standard whilst dealing with sensitive issues.
- Computer literacy/keyboarding skills.
- Provide legal advice on a broad range of topics by researching and interpreting legislation, policy and national guidance. Ability to collate relevant information from varying sources to assist in making evidence-based decisions.
- Experience of drafting witness statements and creating files for Court.
- A logical, methodical approach to work with a high level of attention to detail.
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload balancing competing demands, meet deadlines due to efficient time management.
- Confident working as part of a team or independently together with flexibility to meet demands of the post.
Skills and experience as documented in the role profile need to be evidenced in your application to be considered for interview
For more detailed information relating to the role, skills and experience for this role, please click here to view the role profile
What we offer:
We offer generous entitlements and supportive policies to enable a better work-life balance, some of which are listed below:
- A highly competitive salary and access to a generous pension scheme
- Generous annual leave allowance
- A wide range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Flexible working arrangements including flexi-time and hybrid working
- A transparent and collaborative team culture underpinned by our core values of Fairness, Integrity & Trust
- Comprehensive range of development and leadership courses to develop your career with South Yorkshire Police
- Employee Assistant Programme (accessible 24/7) offering confidential support and advice
- Flexible lifestyle benefits such as: Blue Light Card, Company Shop, Cycle to work scheme
- Committed to embedding sustainability: South Yorkshire Police Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025 (yhrn.police)
- Membership to the Sports and Social Club
- Access to a wide range of staff support groups and networks
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the minimum requirement checkable history criteria, which must be taken into account for individuals applying to work with South Yorkshire Police in any capacity. A minimum checkable history of 5 years is required for this role and successfully undergoing recruitment vetting procedure is a pre-requisite of employment with South Yorkshire Police.
Appearance & Standards:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to striking a proportionate balance between self-expression and the need to maintain role sensitive professional standards in dress and appearance. Officers, staff, and volunteers of South Yorkshire Police are permitted to have tattoos visible whilst on duty provided the tattoo is not considered to be unacceptable or otherwise inappropriate. Tattoos will be reviewed as part of the recruitment and selection process.
Smarter ways of Working:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to developing working practices which assist staff to balance their personal and professional lives, whilst meeting the needs of the organisation. This in turn enables South Yorkshire Police to provide an outstanding service to the community.
There are 3 different categories as part of this which are: Fixed, Field and Hybrid.
This role has been evaluated as a hybrid role.
Hybrid: Applicable when the work can be undertaken at any location, whether that be a SYP building or from home.
South Yorkshire Police’s Key Values:
At South Yorkshire Police we have 3 key values which run through everything we do Fairness, Integrity & Trust, the attached document details the key behaviours we expect all employees to adhere to.
Contact details:
For further information about the role, please contact: Alan Pritchard on email at Alan.Pritchard@southyorkshire.police.uk
Closing Date: 31st July 2025
Closing dates are not normally extended, other than in exceptional circumstances and agreement is made between the Talent Acquisition Manager and the Line Manager for the role.
How to apply:
To apply for this role, please submit your CV and Covering Letter to Alan Pritchard at Alan.Pritchard@southyorkshire.police.uk before the closing date.
Candidate Information:
Please note that, should you be successful at the interview stage and before appointment, the relevant pre-employment checks are required. These include references, medical clearance, vetting clearance and sickness absence criteria check.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Applications are particularly welcome from female and ethnic minority candidates.
It is really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from these valuable underrepresented groups.
If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on positiveaction@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
In addition, we will look to support anyone who requires Part Time/Job share working hours.
Internal Candidates:
This vacancy is temporary therefore, you must have the support of your current Line Manager to apply. If you are a permanent member of staff, this would be classed as a secondment opportunity. If you are on a fixed term contract, you must contact the Talent Acquisition Team before applying.
Please ensure that you and your current line manager complete the attached consent form. Please email the completed form to the hiring line manager, with the role title and the closing date stated in the subject of your email.
Without support, your application will not be considered any further.
This role is offered on a fixed-term basis in accordance with applicable employment legislation and South Yorkshire Police policy.
Fixed-term contracts are used where there is a genuine business need, such as project-based work, temporary cover or time-limited funding. The fixed term period is subject to change, linked to the posts requirements and may be subject to extension or early termination in line with appropriate notice period.
All fixed-term employees will receive equal treatment and access to opportunities in line with our commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices.
Where appropriate, fixed-term roles may be made permanent without the need for a further recruitment process.
Documents to Review:
For the Police Staff Recruitment Vetting Handbook - Please Click here
For Application Guidance and Tips - Please Click Here
For the FIT Values of South Yorkshire Police - Please Click Here
For Secondment Approval - Please Click Here
View our recruitment video: