In-house Solicitor

Environmental Standards Scotland’s (ESS) role is to monitor, investigate and secure public authorities’ compliance with environmental law in Scotland. We also scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law and policy in Scotland and how it is implemented and applied. In our investigative and analytical reports, we may also identify instances where we consider there to be gaps in environmental protection legislation.

ESS is an independent non-ministerial office, accountable to the Scottish Parliament and overseen by a non-executive board. It is part of the Scottish Administration and its employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website.

Our Strategy 2026-2031 sets out how we will work as an organisation to deliver our vision that ‘by holding public authorities to account, we will ensure that Scotland’s people and nature benefit from a high-quality, healthy environment through improved compliance with and better implementation of effective environmental law’.

ESS’ role is expanding to take on two new roles:

• scrutinising the Scottish Government’s delivery against the new statutory biodiversity and nature restoration targets which will be set under the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026
• scrutinising local authorities’ reporting against climate change duties as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

To deliver these duties and to manage this significant organisational change, ESS has been recruiting new posts over the last six months to establish a new team within the organisation to lead the development of work to deliver these roles, alongside related corporate services requirements.

Job Description

We are recruiting for one new In-house Solicitor to support our expanding work in ESS. This post holder will work to our Principal In-house Solicitor and within our Corporate Services and Communications Department. Additional support is available, as required, from external solicitors.

The focus of this post is to provide legal advice and support at all levels of the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

To provide legal support to ESS’ Principal In-House Solicitor to assist them with:

• providing legal advice on a broad range of matters, which include environmental law, public law, corporate governance and information law
• assessing lawfulness and legal risk, making recommendations to mitigate and manage legal risk as part of providing legal advice
• identifying where external legal advice is required, managing the delivery of any externally commissioned legal services and managing partnerships with our contracted legal service providers
• building a comprehensive understanding of the legal, strategic and policy landscape within which ESS operates to see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly
• utilising relevant legal experience and research skills to analyse, understand and interpret environmental legislation and case law alongside technical and scientific information
• monitoring updates and changes to law within Scotland, across the rest of the UK, the EU and internationally, to ensure that ESS is well-informed about legal changes of relevance to the organisation
• drafting and reviewing legal processes and guidance as required
• developing and delivering internal training and knowledge building in relevant legal topics
• representing ESS at external fora, such as meetings, legal conferences and stakeholder events to promote and explain the role of ESS as a trusted and effective oversight body

The candidate is also required to work collaboratively and flexibly with colleagues across ESS on key operational work streams to support the development of effective and efficient processes and systems within ESS.

Person specification

• experience of working in a team at pace to deliver high quality products or service
• excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to establish strong working relations with a range of internal and senior external stakeholders
• excellent organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to work independently to deliver at pace, without sacrificing quality

Essential criteria

• experience within an environmental or public law context
• proven experience of exercising reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risks, with the ability to analyse and advise on complex and novel legal issues
• strong communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability to present findings of analysis in a clear and compelling manner to technical and non-technical audiences, and defend decisions, based on evidence
• significant planning and organisational skills to manage and balance a full and fast-paced case load

Desirable criteria

experience of working in environmental science, law, policy or regulation

Qualifications/experience

We are looking for a candidate currently practicing as a solicitor, or with experience of practicing as a solicitor, in Scotland.

The following knowledge, membership and qualifications are essential to this post and will be tested at sift and interview:

• a minimum of one year of post-qualification experience within an environmental, regulatory or public law context
• must hold a valid practicing certificate or equivalent, or have the ability to obtain one

Please note: If you fail to demonstrate how you meet the minimum qualifications as stated above, your application will be automatically sifted out.