Overview

The Environment Agency operates at the place where environmental change has its greatest impact on people’s lives. We work with a wide range of partners to ensure there is enough water for people and wildlife, reduce flood risk, and protect and improve air, land and water quality. We 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:

Responsibilities

• Give accurate, risk-based legal advice at the forefront of a broad spectrum of commercial matters, including public procurement, dispute resolution, intellectual property, Net Zero and Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Manage your own caseload, providing clear risk-based advice and solving complex and sensitive matters.
• Advise all levels of the organisation across 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, and offers flexible work arrangements for all vacancies. Join us in a diverse environment where every voice is heard and valued.

Team

We are six lawyers based across Bristol, Birmingham, and Peterborough, each with our own legal specialisms but with shared expertise in general commercial contract work. We come from private practice and local authority backgrounds. We attend client and team meetings in person where appropriate and otherwise work hybridly. Two of us work part-time.

Experience / 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 experience in construction law or dispute resolution is a plus.
• 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 composing responses to challenging external inquiries.
• Ability to guide managers, officers, and fellow lawyers on strategic direction and management of casework.
• Strong influencing and persuasive abilities, capable of engaging organisational leaders and teams.

Role specifics

• You must be an English law-qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive (with a current practising certificate) or 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 upon appointment; continuous service requirements may differ for local government employees.
• We welcome flexible working patterns, including job share; please include any information about preferred working arrangements on your application.
• Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria.
• The Environment Agency uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment; for information on becoming a supplier, see the Crown Commercial Service guidance.

Seniority and Employment

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Contract
• Job function: Legal

Contact and additional information

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

Some national travel is required for this role. Interviews to take place in October 2025.