Environment Agency – Senior Lawyer, Commercial Law Team

Overview

The Environment Agency operates at the place where environmental change has its greatest impact on people’s lives. We work closely with a wide range of partners to ensure there is enough water for people and wildlife, reduce the risk of flooding, protect and improve air, land and water quality and apply environmental standards within which industry can operate. The breadth and diversity of the Environment Agency’s remit provides evolving challenges for our legal teams.

As a Senior Lawyer in the Commercial Law Team, you will provide legal advice and support across a broad spectrum of public sector commercial matters, including procurement, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and projects linked to Net Zero and Biodiversity Net Gain.

Responsibilities

• Give accurate, risk-based legal advice at the forefront of a broad spectrum of commercial matters, from public procurement to dispute resolution, and from intellectual property to Net Zero and Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Manage your own caseload, providing clear risk-based advice and solutions to complex and sensitive matters.
• Advise all levels of the organisation across the spectrum of commercial law, including public procurement, civil litigation and dispute resolution, intellectual property, externally funded projects, and collaborations with other public bodies, charities, and research bodies.
• Collaborate with other legal teams and specialisms within the Environment Agency and with Government Legal Services.

The Environment Agency is committed to inclusivity and equal opportunities, offering flexible work arrangements for all vacancies. Join a diverse environment where every voice is heard and valued.

Team

We are six lawyers based across Bristol, Birmingham and Peterborough, each with specialist knowledge in general commercial contract work. The team includes members from private practice and local authority backgrounds. We adopt a hybrid working model with in-person client and team meetings where appropriate; two team members work part-time.

Experience and Skills Required

• An excellent track record of handling technical issues and negotiating and advising on commercial contracts in a public sector context.
• First-class communication, influencing and analytical skills with up-to-date knowledge of commercial law; experience in civil litigation or general public law is useful, and knowledge of construction law or dispute resolution is advantageous.
• A quick learning style with the ability to rapidly grasp new legal issues and apply them in a commercial or other legal context.
• Proficiency in producing detailed legal briefings for senior levels (directors, boards, government officials) and responses to challenging external inquiries.
• Ability to provide guidance to managers, officers and fellow lawyers on strategic direction and case management.
• Strong influencing and persuasive abilities, capable of engaging and convincing individuals at all levels, including organisational leaders.

Role requirements

You must be an English law-qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive (with a current practising certificate) or otherwise have the right to practice English law.

If applying from the Civil Service, note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of appointment, and would not have continuous service for that status. For those currently working in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for calculating future redundancy payments. If unsure, consult your HR Team.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. Please include any information about your preferred working arrangements in your application. We also guarantee an interview to any applicant with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment. We are not able to engage with the market directly by post, email or phone. If you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks, please visit the Crown Commercial Service website for more information.

Other information

Interviews are anticipated to take place in October 2025.

Some national travel is required for this role.

Location: Torquay, England, United Kingdom (and other listed locations).

Compensation and benefits

You will have access to our benefits package, including a Market Forces Factor payment of £5,250, a generous career-average pension scheme, and 27 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays for full-time employees (pro rata for part-time).