Legal Adviser - London, United Kingdom - Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority

Description

An exciting and uniqueopportunity has arisen for an exceptional legal adviser to join our smallin-house legal team providing high-quality legal advice in one of the mostcomplex and contested areas of healthcare law.

Main duties of the job

You will work alongside the Senior LegalAdviser providing legal advice to the Chair, Chief Executive and SeniorManagement Team. You will lead on policy matters and be expected to work withregulatory and policy staff across the HFEA, supporting areas of work includingchanges to the Code of Practice; Opening the Register; and changes the HFEA areproposing to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

Youll be a qualified solicitor or barristerwith a background in public law.

Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 8th May 2024.

About us

The HFEA isthe UK's independent regulator overseeing safe and appropriate practice infertility treatment and embryo research. We license and monitor clinicscarrying out IVF, donor insemination, and human embryo research.

This post isoffered as either office based (in which case you will need to attend theoffice at least one day per week or home based (in which case office attendance will be specified byyour line manager based on business need). Our office is in Stratford, eastLondon, in attractive new premises on the edge of the Olympic Park, alongsideseveral other health Arms Length Bodies. In addition to flexibility and hybridworking we offer generous annual leave and pension arrangements.

Job responsibilities

To play an active part in the work of theHFEA, particularly in relation to the work of the policy team, by supportingkey areas of activity and giving advice in relation to particular issues.

The post holderwill work alongside the Senior Legal Adviser, whose primary area of focus willbe licensing and compliance issues.

The Legal Advisor role will support the policy team, othercolleagues including the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team, looking atissues relating to our legislation and regulations as they arise and supportingareas of work including changes to the Code of Practice; Opening theRegister; and changes the HFEA are proposing to the Human Fertilisation andEmbryology Act.

Key responsibilities

To workwith colleagues, particularly in the policy team, to offer advice on issues asthey arise and to ensure that legal advice is embedded in all policy decisions.

To work with the Senior Legal Adviser asrequired to support other areas of HFEA activity including any litigation.

To advise on issues arising from inspectorenquiries, patient enquiries, Freedom of Information requests and pressenquiries.

To translate formal legal advice into workablepolicy advice.

To review and advise on policy documents from alegal perspective

Tocontribute to key areas of work including the Code of Practice changes; Opening the Register; and changes the HFEAare proposing to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act.

Workingwith project managers across the organisation to support projects along with amulti-disciplinary team ensuring any legal advice is provided as needed.

Toliaise with DHSC lawyers or external advisers as required.

Attendinginternal and external meetings as required.

Person Specification Qualifications

• An experienced Solicitor or Barrister ideally with 3 years PQE or equivalent

Interpersonal skills

• Collaborative and a good team player
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the confidence to work with and communicate effectively with people at all levels both inside and outside the organisation
• Good time management skills and experience in handling multiple projects
• Sensitive and discreet
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and competing priorities while working to tight deadlines
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Good IT skills including a good working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook Word PowerPoint and Excel

Experience

• Confidence in giving legal advice to senior colleagues on complex and/or highly sensitive issues, including issues of reputational risk
• Some experience in public law
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Background in Public Law.
• Experience of advising a public body on policy matters preferably in healthcare or regulation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.