Associate / Senior Associate: Crime and Regulatory

Location: North London
Salary: £60,000 to £80,000, depending on experience
Working Pattern: Hybrid, normally two office days per week
Job Type: Permanent, full-time
Experience: Ideally 3 to 5 years’ PQE+

The Opportunity

A growing and people-focused law firm is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Crime and Regulatory team in North London.

You will handle serious, sensitive and often complex criminal matters across the full process, from police-station attendance and early advice through to Magistrates’ Court advocacy and Crown Court preparation.

The firm offers a collaborative, less hierarchical environment where lawyers are trusted with meaningful responsibility, have access to senior leaders and receive genuine support with their development.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Manage a varied Criminal Defence caseload


• Advise and represent clients at the police station


• Conduct Magistrates’ Court advocacy


• Prepare Crown Court cases, including case theory, legal arguments and evidence review


• Draft persuasive representations, applications, case notes and correspondence


• Analyse complex evidence and conflicting accounts


• Support senior colleagues on complex Crown Court and Regulatory matters


• Manage procedural requirements, deadlines and file quality


• Guide clients through serious and sensitive circumstances


• Contribute to the continued growth of the Crime and Regulatory team

About You

You will ideally have:

• Approximately 3 to 5 years’ PQE in Criminal Defence


• Current Police Station Accreditation


• Strong Magistrates’ Court advocacy experience


• Practical Crown Court experience, through advocacy or case preparation


• Recent experience within a respected UK Legal Practice


• Excellent drafting and written communication skills


• Strong evidence analysis and case-strategy capability


• Sound judgement and attention to detail


• The confidence to manage matters independently


• A calm, practical and compassionate approach with clients


• The resilience to handle demanding and emotionally sensitive cases

Regulatory experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Applications may also be considered from candidates outside the stated PQE range who demonstrate the required accreditation, advocacy and technical experience.

Salary and Benefits

The firm offers:

• £60,000 to £80,000, depending on experience and capability


• 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays


• Your birthday off


• Additional holiday linked to length of service


• Christmas closure, subject to annual arrangements


• Private medical insurance through Vitality


• Medicash health cash plan


• Employee Assistance Programme, including family access


• Enhanced wellbeing and family-friendly policies


• Salary-sacrifice pension through NEST


• Referral bonuses


• Hybrid working, normally involving two office days per week


• Access to senior partners and business leaders


• Career development within a growing firm


• CSR activities and colleague events

The successful candidate should live within reasonable commuting distance of North London and be able to attend offices, courts and police stations as required.

Apply in Confidence

To discuss this opportunity confidentially, contact:

David Hawthorne-Finch
Managing Director
Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0333 996 2882

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

All enquiries will be treated confidentially. No CV or identifying information will be shared with the hiring firm without informed written consent for this specific opportunity.