London is a fantastic place, a global city of extraordinary talent, diversity and complexity, with the MPS serving nine million Londoners across 620 square miles and the millions of commuters and visitors to the city. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, headed by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on behalf of the Mayor of London, is responsible for setting policing and crime priorities for London, holding the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to account and working with partners to ensure that crime goes down and criminal justice outcomes are improved.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner is committed to renewing policing by consent and will deliver more trust, less crime and high standards, whilst responding to Baroness Casey’s report, the HMICFRS Engage process and increase public confidence in policing in London. MOPAC is also committed to ensuring that Londoners are served by an efficient and effective police force. Transparent, fair and robust arrangements for police officer discipline are an important way of inspiring public confidence in the high professional standards and ethical values of our police.
The role of Legally Qualified Advisor is a new statutory public appointment following the Home Secretary’s Police Officer Dismissals Review and subsequent amendments to the Police Conduct Regulations (2024). The amendments to the 2024 Conduct Regulations provide that a Legally Qualified Advisor will be appointed to support the police chair and panel.
Where the officer concerned is a senior officer, legal advisors will also be appointed to support the chair of senior officer accelerated hearings.
The Legally Qualified Advisor is a legally qualified person held on a list maintained by MOPAC for the purpose of supporting police misconduct panels (PMPs). The Legal Advisor is responsible for providing legal and procedural advice to police misconduct panels taking place within the London Region, specifically the Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and Ministry of Defence Police.
The Legal Advisor is appointed to advise the panel members on points of law, or procedure arising in the pre-hearings and hearings.
The Legal Advisor must also (if delegated by the Chair) draft the panel’s outcome report. However, they are independent from the panel and play no part in the decision-making process.
The role of Legally Qualified Advisor is critical in upholding the professional standards the public rightly expect from our police service.
You will support misconduct panels for the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police, and the Ministry of Defence Police.
These panels preside over serious misconduct cases, in what is an important aspect of the disciplinary rules that govern the police.
This is an opportunity to be involved in one of the most important responsibilities in policing – by providing greater transparency and independence whilst upholding the high professional standards the public expects from our police service. Applications are sought from qualified lawyers who can demonstrate integrity and independence of mind, commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, analysis, sound judgement and an objective approach to issues presented.
Candidates for this role must have at least five years post-qualification experience, experience of evaluating evidence, or information and providing advice, and excellent communications skills. An ability and willingness to learn and apply Police regulations and relevant Human Rights legislation is also essential.
Appointments will be made on a five-year term, with the possibility of a second term. We may consider further terms as approved locally. Security clearance and attendance at training events is a mandatory condition of appointment for these posts.
A Legal Advisor should be prepared to support 6-10 pre-hearings/hearings per annum. Hearing lengths average 3-10 days and, in exceptional cases can extend for a number of weeks.
The locations for hearings are Sutton, Hammersmith and Fulham and Southwark.
Candidates must be willing to travel to each of these locations and any other location within the Metropolitan Police District which may be used to facilitate future hearings. The City of London Police and Ministry of Defence Police will have different locations, to be advised.
This role attracts an allowance and expenses. Details can be located in the recruitment information pack.
For more information about the application process
https://webmicrosites.hays.co.uk/web/mopac
The closing date for completed applications is 12 noon on Monday 17th March 2025
Interview selection panels will be scheduled between 2nd and 8th April 2025
- Andrew Timlin
