Lawyer - Legal and International Enforcement, (12‑month Fixed‑Term Contract / Secondment)
Division: Legal
Department: Law, Policy and International
Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £47,200 to £59,000 and London from £50,300 to 62,700 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)
This role is graded as: Associate - level 8 - Practising legal
Your external recruitment contact is Raimonda Stankute via Raimonda.stankute@fca.org.uk
Your internal recruitment contact is Fizah Ibrahim via FizahFarouk.Ibrahim@fca.org.uk. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.
About the FCA and team
We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services.
Law, Policy & International (LPI) Department provide legal and policy advice on enforcement matters and international investigations. The department ensures the FCA has the appropriate powers and policies to achieve fair and just outcomes in response to misconduct. We look for creative, pragmatic and legally sound solutions to the problems we come across.
The Law & International (L&I) team sit within LPI and provide legal advice on international enforcement engagement and related aspects of confidentiality and disclosure. L&I owns the FCA strategy for engagement on international enforcement matters and is responsible for managing key international enforcement relationships. The team represents the FCA at IOSCO’s Committee on Enforcement and the Exchange of Information Steering Group.
Role responsibilities
Handle incoming requests for assistance from international regulators and judicial authorities, advising on strategy, scope, use of statutory powers and other complex legal issues
Manage and coordinate communications with firms and individuals under investigation, their legal representatives, and overseas regulators throughout the investigative process
Assist with and participate in interviews of witnesses and suspects using FSMA compulsory powers on behalf of overseas regulators
Build, maintain and promote effective internal and external working relationships, including ongoing relationship management with strategically important international authorities
Provide specialist legal advice to investigation teams on matters relating to international and domestic cooperation, information sharing and relevant policy considerations
Develop and maintain a strong understanding of regulated industries, relevant legislation, regulatory frameworks and policy developments
Engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders across the Division and the FCA, as well as with international and domestic authorities, government bodies, industry participants and the legal profession
Apply professional legal skills to complex, high‑impact and sensitive matters, undertaking challenging and meaningful work across the department
Skills required
Minimum:
Applicants should be a qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, or overseas equivalents)
Experience in any of the following areas: contentious financial services or other regulatory investigations or proceedings; and/or large scale, complex litigation or arbitration experience (criminal or civil)
Essential:
Experience of applying sound, principled legal and evidential analysis to complex and sensitive matters
Ability to think strategically, proactively identifying what needs to be done and exercising judgement to make and enact decisions.
Taking responsibility for making timely decisions based on relevant analysis
Strong relationship management skills to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and with external bodies
Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines
Strong communication skills to present the outcome of analysis clearly and effectively, orally and in writing
Experience or real interest in international work, policy work and cross-border cooperation
Benefits
25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary
Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance
35 hours of paid volunteering annually
Hybrid model where employees work a minimum of 40% in the office each month (expectation of 50% for senior leaders). Changing from September to a minimum of 50% in the office each month (expectation of 60% for Directors and Executive Directors)
A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle
For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.
Our values and culture
Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.
If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.
We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.
Disability confident: our hiring approach
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes, we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.
Useful information and timelines
Timeline:
Job advert close: midnight, 5th May 2026
CV Review/Shortlist: 7th May 2026
Interview: w/c 11th May 2026
Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.