Legal Director

Metropolitan Police Service

Holborn Police Station but will require regular attendance at New Scotland Yard and Counter Terrorism Operations Centre.

  • Location Holborn Police Station but will require regular attendance at New Scotland Yard and Counter Terrorism Operations Centre.
  • Sector Community Protection
  • Client Metropolitan Police Service
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £105,000 to £130,000
  • Reference GSe125753
  • Closing Date 23:55, Monday, 20 October 2025

Location:

The role is based in Holborn Police Station but will require regular attendance at New Scotland Yard and Counter Terrorism Operations Centre. You will be required to work from a Met location on at least 3 days per week (60% of working time). There is a further expectation that individuals will remain flexible on individual agile working arrangements so that they are available to attend work when/where there is a business need to do so.

Overview

The Met is the UK's largest police force, dedicated to safeguarding London. With a workforce of over 46,000 officers and staff, the Met is a cornerstone of public safety, serving a population of approximately 9 million people across 620 square miles. Headquartered at New Scotland Yard, the Met operates with a budget of approximately £4.4 billion, representing about 25% of the total police funding for England and Wales.

We recently launched the second phase of A New Met for London (NMfL 2), as the Met’s plan for the next three years. NMfL 2 is a continuation of the first phase – the mission, values and principles, and core delivery areas remain the same – but it will see us shift our focus slightly, from reforming the organisation to improving how we perform too. There will also be a greater focus on working with partners to tackle the issues that matter most to our communities. The plan is principally focused on making the Met the best possible local police service for London and after public and employee consultation, it will be published in October 2025.

We are seeking an exceptional strategic leader to join the Met’s Legal Services Directorate (DLS). Reporting to the Met’s Chief Legal Officer, you’ll work alongside one other Legal Director and share responsibility for around 95 lawyers as part of a 160 strong legal department. DLS is the largest and busiest in-house police legal team in the UK, responsible for delivering all legal services to the Met. The breadth of work covered is unparalleled, offering a challenging and intellectually stimulating environment.

This role presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of the Met, rebuild public trust, and lead DLS through a period of transformation and growth.

Key Responsibilities

As Legal Director, you will play a pivotal role in leading the Met’s Legal Services. You will oversee legal performance, manage a large group of lawyers and paralegals, and contribute to strategic leadership across the Met. Your responsibilities include advising the Commissioner and senior colleagues on a wide range of legal matters —from counter-terrorism, operational and public order to employment, misconduct and human rights law - although the exact areas of responsibility will depend on the experience of the successful candidate. You will also safeguard the Met’s legal interests in litigation and inquiries, manage strategic legal risks, and represent the Met in national forums. Additionally, you will oversee relationships with external legal stakeholders, including solicitors and Counsel, and lawyers in government, UK intelligence community, other police forces and wider law enforcement.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer in England and Wales with a strong track record of advising on complex legal issues and managing legal risk. You will bring strategic leadership experience, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and the ability to influence and build relationships across senior levels. Strong organisational and interpersonal skills are essential. Desirable attributes include experience in public law or policing-related legal matters, and expertise in areas such as human rights, civil and criminal law, employment, misconduct, and commercial law.

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