Lawyer

Do you want to play a vital leadership role in one of Scotland’s most significant public inquiries, helping shape its progress at a critical stage?

The Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry is recruiting additional Deputy Solicitors to join its senior legal team, due to the scale and complexity of its work. The legal team supports the Inquiry in investigating the handling of the pandemic in Scotland and delivering a comprehensive and meaningful report for the public.

As a Deputy Solicitor, you will support the Solicitor to the Inquiry by coordinating and advising on a range of workstreams, including evidence gathering, investigations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. The core purpose of the role is to provide high-quality legal advice and leadership across the Inquiry’s operations to help ensure its effective delivery.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment (Fair & Open) for a period of up to 23 months, with a minimum duration of 18 months. This is not a permanent post.

Responsibilities

• Line-manage approximately six Assistant Solicitors and provide indirect oversight of a wider team.
• Assist the Solicitors to coordinate and project manage extensive investigations and the advisory work of the legal team.
• Work closely with the Counsel team to ensure they have the necessary material to prepare for hearings.
• Provide legal advice to the Chair, the Chief Executive and other members of the Inquiry team.
• Liaise effectively with other operational functions in the Inquiry to deliver the Inquiry’s work, including the Hearings and Witnesses team and the Document and Evidence Management team.
• Participate in senior management meetings, and steering conversations on forecasting, risk management, and project planning of the legal work.
• Draft/advise on Inquiry procedures and protocols.
• Work closely with the UK Inquiry team to ensure minimising of duplication and to ensure both legal teams work effectively alongside each other. 
• Advise upon and conduct any ancillary litigation involving the Inquiry.
• Ensure that fairness, independence, human rights, and a trauma informed approach is core to the Inquiry’s work.

Qualifications

You must be a solicitor or advocate entitled to practise in Scotland or be willing to become so entitled prior to beginning work with the Inquiry.

Success Profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Technical/Professional Skills:

1. Strong legal skills applicable, or transferable, to public law in Scotland. 
2. Ability to conduct sound legal analysis taking account of multiple sources of information and data. 

Experience:

Prior experience supervising/managing/motivating a team of legal professionals, ideally within a public sector setting. 

Experience of delivering complex legal projects by matching resources to competing priorities and managing risk effectively.

Behaviours:

• Leadership - Level 4.
• Communicating and Influencing - Level 4.

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 18 August 2025 however this may be subject to change. About Us

The Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry is an independent, high profile public inquiry. It is established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and has an extensive Terms of Reference. The Inquiry aims to establish facts and learn lessons from the strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. 

The Inquiry legal team is comprised of the Solicitor to the Inquiry, a Principal Deputy Solicitor, four Deputy Solicitors and a team of assistant solicitors and paralegals, with support from a number of legal assistants. The wider team supports the Solicitor and the Chair, and works closely with the Counsel team, and with policy and operational teams.

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. 

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working Pattern

Our standard working hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, depending on the needs of the role. Part-time or job-share arrangements will also be considered.

This post is based at Waverley Gate in Edinburgh. In line with our current ways of working, the team follows a hybrid model, typically combining two days per week in the office with remote working (working from home). Please note that some periods, particularly around hearings, may require increased on-site presence.

If you have any specific questions about the role you are applying for, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.  

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

Apply before: 30 July 2025 (23:59)