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Principal Lawyer (Operational)
- Location Birmingham
- Job type Permanent
- Salary £78,417 - 85,353 per year
- Discipline Local Government & Public Sector Legal
- Reference WMP8686
Principal Lawyer (Operational) - West Midlands & Staffordshire Police
£78,417 - £85,353 | Birmingham | Hybrid
Lead operational legal services across two of England's largest police forces.
As Principal Lawyer, you will advise Chief Constables and senior officers and staff on the issues that define modern policing: operational powers, major incidents, public order, and high-profile matters that carry significant legal and reputational risk.
The role:
Lead a team of operational lawyers delivering strategic advice across West Midlands Police and Staffordshire Police. You will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, attend high level meetings where critical decisions are made, and provide clear, authoritative counsel in fast-moving, high-pressure environments.
This is a newly created role following a strategic restructure, giving you genuine scope to strengthen leadership, shape service delivery, and influence how legal support operates across an inhouse team of 50+ professionals.
From advising the Force Executive team during significant incidents to providing real-time counsel on civil orders, your advice enables effective policing when the stakes are highest.
What is in it for you:
- Work that directly impacts public safety and builds confidence in policing
- Genuine senior leadership influence, not just advisory support
- Competitive public sector pension and generous annual leave
- Agile working with regular office presence (Birmingham & Staffordshire)
- The opportunity to operate at the intersection of law and operational reality
- Professional development within one of the UK's largest joint legal services
You will bring:
- 6+ years PQE as a solicitor or barrister
- Operational policing, relevant local government, or criminal justice advisory experience
- Proven ability to lead teams through complex, time-sensitive work
- The credibility and judgment to challenge and support at Chief Officer level
This is senior legal leadership where your judgment shapes outcomes that matter. If you have the experience, resilience, and operational credibility to excel in this environment, we would love to talk.
Email your CV or call Nik Stoate at Venn Group for a confidential discussion nstoate@venngroup.com 07703 832834