VACANCIES  

Criminal Defence Solicitor – Derby 

Full-time; 3+ years’ PQE 

Join a long-established legal firm in Derby and become part of a committed and enthusiastic team. You will represent clients at the police station and Magistrates’ Court on a wide variety of matters, some being complex and requiring detailed knowledge of the relevant law. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Represent clients during police station interviews and at Magistrates’ Court hearings 

• Prepare cases including doing legal research and drafting documents 

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the department, ensuring compliance with LAA requirements 

• Undertake file reviews 

• Participate in out of hours’ rota for police station attendance 

Requirements 

• Qualified Solicitor with 3+ years’ PQE 

• Good advocacy experience 

• Duty Solicitor accreditation or the willingness to become accredited 

• Police Station accredited 

• Ability to communicate well and give clear advice whilst having empathy towards the client 

• Knowledge of legal aid billing or willingness to become proficient 

Further Details 

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays 

• Hours: 35 hours a week 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday plus out of hours’ rota 

• Out of hours work paid at the current rate set by the partners 

• Salary according to experience 

 

If you are interested, please contact Christopher Gabb (CMG@ewlaw.co.uk) (01332 348484) for an informal discussion. 

For an application form please contact: 

Matthew Zolkiewicz (mz@ewlaw.co.uk) 

Eddowes Waldron Solicitors 

12 St Peter’s Churchyard 

Derby DE1 1TZ 

Posted 15/01/25 

 

 

 

Salary dependant on experience and qualifications 

 

Ripley, Derbyshire 

 

This new role is a great opportunity to join our growing Wills and Probate team. 

 

Working mainly on wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) you will be responsible for providing professional legal advice and support to clients. This will include undertaking client meetings, drafting and producing wills and LPAs, updating wills and registering LPAs. 

 

Previous professional will and LPA writing experience is essential. You must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be able to work quickly and accurately and have high level IT skills. You must be able to work to deadlines, meet targets, manage your own workload and have a caring and empathetic approach. 

 

In return we offer a range of benefits including a health cash plan scheme, wellbeing support, 24/7 advice and information line, a range of learning and development opportunities, generous annual leave plus Christmas closure, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, selling annual leave scheme, a supportive work environment and the opportunity to join a company that cares. 

 

We are a multi-disciplinary high street legal practice serving clients in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire for 130 years and our mission is to establish lifelong relationships with all our clients by anticipating and responding to their needs for quality legal services. 

 

For an informal conversation about the role please email Luke Smyth on Luke.smyth@ellis-fermor.co.uk to arrange a time to talk. 

 

For more information about the role and about Ellis-Fermor and Negus Solicitors please visit https://www.ellis-fermor.co.uk/contact-us/careers/ 

To apply please send your CV and covering letter to applications@ellis-fermor.co.uk. 

Posted 17/02/25 

 

Salary for this role is dependent on experience 

About Alexander & Co Solicitors LLP 

Alexander & Co offers a comprehensive range of legal services to businesses and individuals. 

As long-established Derby solicitors with offices at Spondon, Alvaston, Loughborough, Eastwood & West Bridgford, the firm prides itself on the number of returning and referring clients. 

Alexander & Co offers exciting opportunities for motivated individuals who share our vision. We are looking to attract and retain the most talented people in the fields in which we specialise and to create an environment in which each member of our team can flourish personally and professionally, and progress based on their contribution and merit. 

About the role 

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated individual preferably with experience in the legal sector to join our busy practice management team. Working closely with the existing three members of our practice management team and the partners, it is anticipated that this will be a full time, permanent position to achieve the following: 

• Working closely with the partners to ensure that the firm and its employees comply with all relevant regulations including, but not limited to, legal, quality standards, data protection and cyber security. 

• The firm has a comprehensive office manual and suite of reporting forms, records and registers. It will be your responsibility to maintain these documents, conduct regular reviews of all polices and draft and ensure all policies and procedures are updated as appropriate and rolled out to the wider team. 

• You will give regular consideration to training needs within the firm. This may relate to new policies and procedures, refresher training, or mandatory training such as AML, CQS and WIQS. You will prepare an annual training plan and collate training presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations, as training aids. 

• Whilst you are not expected to be an expert in every aspect of legislation that affects our business, it is essential that you have a proactive approach to keeping informed and up to date regarding new legislation and changes that affect the business and ensuring the firm’s policies and procedures support the firm in maintaining its compliance. 

• Assist colleagues in a timely manner with queries and concerns relating to the firm’s policies, procedures and compliance issues. 

• Working with the partners to ensure the Business Plan meets the needs of the business and its ongoing objectives are correctly documented. 

• You will work closely with the firm’s COLP, COFA, MLCO, and SRO’s for Lexcel, CQS and WIQS to assist them in meeting all regulatory requirements regarding their roles and the firm’s obligations. 

• You will conduct due diligence on all outsourcing arrangements, documenting all such arrangements and ensuring they meet the requirements of our regulators and other bodies. 

• Working with the property team you will be responsible for managing the firm’s status on lender panels, managing users and updating details and maintaining the firm’s central register of lender panels. 

• Managing administrative tasks on court and other portals used by the firm ensuring user lists are up to date. 

• Co-ordinating destruction of data held by the firm in accordance with data protection principles 

• Dealing with the annual applications for reaccreditation with Lexcel, CQS and WIQS. Managing all associated audits and reviewing and if applicable, actioning any recommendations within the specified timeframe. 

• Monitoring the firm’s client care policies and updating the TOB and associated templates when necessary. 

• Collating all feedback from client satisfaction reviews. Monitoring reviews, reporting any areas of concern to the partners and ensuring a full review of all data is conducted at least annually. 

• Arranging contractors to attend site for repairs and maintenance, including emergency call-outs. Obtaining quotes for new projects and overseeing the work undertaken with the support of the HR Manager. 

• Monitoring social media, review platforms and coordinating advertising campaigns within the firm. 

• Ensuring Insurances and utility contracts are negotiated and renewed, completing proposal forms and collating information to ensure best value. 

• Documenting and minute taking for meetings and training sessions when required. 

 

Knowledge, skills and experience 

The successful candidate will have: - 

• Knowledge and understanding of the SRA Standards and Regulations, Lexcel Standard, CQS Core Practice Management Standards and WIQS Core Practice Management Standards 

• A flexible approach and the ability to manage a diverse workload, prioritise work and to work to strict timescales are essential 

• Technical proficiency and good IT skills. 

• Excellent standard of English is essential as you will be required to proof read policies, client care documents and other material for publishing. 

• Good communication skills as the candidate will be required to be a main point of contact with various advisors, including regulators, and other third parties. 

• Full UK driving licence, own transport and willingness and ability to travel between the firm’s six offices as required to meet business needs 

• The firm subscribes to a comprehensive research tool which contains resources to assist the successful applicant in fulfilling their role. 

Our Expectations 

• a good team player and communicator; 

• support the successful development of the practice in line with its overall objectives and regulatory requirements; 

• proactive approach to keeping up to date with changes in legislation and any of the standards and regulations relevant to our firm; 

• competent use of the firm’s IT and case management systems; 

• willingness to undertake any other matters reasonably required by the partners/firm. 

Equal Opportunities 

Alexander & Co Solicitors LLP is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the firm. The company is committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and ensuring that our staff and everyone that we deal with is treated equally and fairly, and with dignity and respect. 

Posted 28.02.25