Associate / senior associate – crime & regulatory team - any orwins location, with regular presence at london office

Join Orwins as a Senior Associate in our Crime & Regulatory team and take on the kind of work that tests you every day - high-stakes, human and rarely straightforward.

Criminal defence is not for everyone. The cases are serious, the clients are often at their lowest, and the pressure to get it right is real. Our team handles the full spectrum - from police station through magistrates to crown court - and the caseload spans ever topic you can think of. Emotive, sensitive, tough - that is the daily reality, and we would not have it any other way.

We do law differently - less hierarchical, more human, and genuinely focused on doing right by the clients who trust us with some of the most important moments of their lives. We are a firm that backs its people and expects them to back their clients.

If you are the kind of lawyer who does not switch off when a case is difficult, and who will work not stop to find the best possible outcome - this is the role for you. 3–5 years PQE in criminal defence, with solid magistrates court advocacy behind you and real crown court experience - whether as an advocate or in case preparation. Police station accreditation is essential. You have come from a reputable private practice background - Legal 500 recognised or equivalent - and you know the difference between being technically correct and actually winning for your client.

You are practical, not just academic. You think laterally, you work under pressure without losing precision, and your ability to interpret complex instructions, conflicting accounts and difficult evidence is where you earn your reputation.

Your written English is excellent - representations and applications that are clear, persuasive and built to land. Regulatory experience is a bonus, not a requirement.

The work here is human and often hard. You need to be a tough cookie who can hold the line when things get difficult - and compassionate enough to get the best from a client who is frightened, angry or both. What is non-negotiable: you care, you go the extra mile, and you would rather fight and lose than not fight at all.

• Running a caseload that spans the full criminal process - from police station and early advice through to magistrates court advocacy and crown court preparation.
• Appearing as a advocate in the magistrates court and supporting senior colleagues on crown court work.
• Preparing crown court cases to a high standard - case theory, legal argument, evidence review and all the pre-trial groundwork that makes the difference at trial.
• Providing sound, steady advice at the police station and supporting clients through some of the most stressful situations they will ever face.
• Drafting written representations, case notes and correspondence to a high standard - clear, precise and persuasive. Your written communication is one of your sharpest tools.
• Handling sensitive and emotionally demanding matters with professionalism and genuine care for the client in front of you.
• Working closely with and supporting senior members of the team - you will have backup, but you will need to stand on your own feet.

At Orwins, we invest in our people just as much as our future. Our future is our people. This is a firm where your voice is heard, your contribution is recognised, and your development is taken seriously - not just talked about.

Your remuneration will be commensurate with your experience and the market. You will get genuine access to our C-suite, senior partners, leaders and clients from day one, working alongside a team that values expertise, supports each other and takes pride in doing things well. We are growing fast, and the people who join us will grow with us too.

In addition:

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and your birthday off - increasing with service, plus Christmas break (if the firm closes over the festive period)
• Private Medical Insurance through Vitality
• Cash plan through Medicash
• EAP scheme (open to family members)
• Referral bonuses
• Enhanced wellbeing and family-friendly policies
• Salary sacrifice pension through NEST
• Hybrid working - office presence a couple of days a week; location flexible across our offices
• Free fruit, drinks and regular freebie lunches
• CSR events and summer and winter colleague celebrations
• A people-focused, collaborative culture that makes coming to work genuinely worth it.