Legal Assistant - 32975 - Environment Agency

Back

Title

Legal Assistant – 32975

City/Town

Exeter

Region

South West

Vacancies

Salary Minimum

£29,751

Position Type

Permanent

Job ID

32975

Closing date

20 Jan 2026

Published date

09 Jan 2026

Grade

Staff Grade 3

Role type

Administration / Corporate Support

Post type

Full Time, Part Time/Job Share

Security check

Basic Check

Attachments

Candidate Pack

Apply here

Job description

We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the work of our in-house legal team by providing a full and efficient administrative service to our lawyers based in our Exeter office as well as remotely to lawyers in other locations.

You will assist with a range of complex and sensitive matters including: maintaining information records, liaising with Courts to obtain hearing dates, preparing Court documentation and bundles and providing all necessary support to the prosecutions team as well as supporting other lawyers on property or civil matters and general office duties.

The work is varied and interesting and we use different legal processes and systems (including a case management system and the Land Registry portal) that allow us to maintain an effective service while supporting the delivery of environmental outcomes.

The Team:

You will work as part of our national legal support team within Legal and Audit Services working closely with others to provide both local and remote support so all our lawyers receive an efficient service wherever they are based.

Experience/Skills Required:

We are looking for someone who has relevant office experience and the ability to carry out a combination of tasks mainly unsupervised. You should be able to prioritise your workload and adapt to changeable deadlines, be highly organised and have good written and verbal skills. You will be comfortable working in a digital environment and proficient in the use of Microsoft applications. You must be able to work as part of a team, use your initiative and demonstrate the ability to work flexibly within Legal and Audit Services.

Contact and Additional Information:

Please note we do not assess CVs even if they have been attached to your application. It is your answers given to the competency questions that will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. We encourage you to refer to the candidate pack for a link to our "EA capability dictionary".

Owing to the nature of the work, regular attendance in the Exeter office will be required. There will also be a small amount of travel to attend training and workshops or occasionally to other offices to provide additional support.

We are aiming to hold interviews at the beginning of February 2026.

For further information, please contact [email protected].

Competence 1:

Works in Teams

Competence 1 Description:

Please describe a time where you have worked co-operatively as part of a team to achieve a common goal.

Competence 2:

Achieves Results

Competence 2 Description:

How do you prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure the timely achievement of results?

Competence 3:

Communicates Effectively

Competence 3 Description:

What is your preferred approach when conveying information and ideas to others so your communications are both clear and accurate?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Apply here