Lawyer – Associate

Lawyer – Associate  

Division: Legal
Department: Payments, Credit, Competition and Claims Management (PCCC)

• Salary: National (Edinburgh and Leeds) ranging from £47,200 to £59,000 and London from £49,700 to £62,000 (salary offered will be based on skills and experience)

• This role is graded as: Associate – Practising Legal

• Your recruitment contact is Rumana Hussain via [email protected]. Applications must be submitted through our online portal. Applications sent via social media or email will not be accepted.

About the FCA and team  

We regulate financial services firms in the UK, to keep financial markets fair, thriving and effective. By joining us, you’ll play a key part in protecting consumers, driving economic growth, and shaping the future of UK finance services. 

The Legal Division provides advice and legal services across the full spectrum of FCA activities, whether regulatory, policy, enforcement or operational.

Sitting in Regulatory & Corporate Legal (R&CL) Payments, Credit, Competition and Claims Management (PCCC) is responsible for advising the FCA on law relating to consumer credit, mortgages, retail banking, payments, competition and the regulation of claims management companies.

Role responsibilities

• Gain exposure by working at the forefront of financial regulation and consumer protection on complex and high-profile legal issues

• Influence the drafting of legislation and contribute to FCA policy development, including creating rules and guidance for the FCA Handbook

• Advise on the application and effect of regulatory requirements and powers in practice, collaborating with colleagues to ensure firms comply with relevant rules, legislation and law

• Acquire broader experience in financial services regulation and policymaking, while learning how regulators operate and how laws and regulations are developed

• Collaborate on pioneering projects with colleagues across the FCA, government departments and external organisations such as the Bank of England and HM Treasury, while building strong relationships at all levels

• Shape the role around your strengths and interests while taking full ownership of your responsibilities and impact

• Work in a diverse, inclusive and supportive environment, that offers extensive learning and development opportunities within the Legal Division

Skills required

Minimum:

• Solicitor or barrister qualified in England or Wales, or holder of an equivalent foreign legal qualification

Essential:

• Ability to apply sound legal reasoning to complex and unfamiliar scenarios

• Highly developed analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic approach to tackling challenges

• Ability to create solutions and deliver pragmatic outcome-focused judgments

• Adaptability and resilience, able to thrive under pressure in dynamic and unpredictable environments

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholders’ engagement skills, supporting the development of effective relationships with internal teams, external partners and senior management

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Hybrid model with up to 60% remote work

• Non-contributory pension (8–12% depending on age) and life assurance at eight times your salary

• Private healthcare with Bupa, income protection, and 24/7 Employee Assistance

• 35 hours of paid volunteering annually

• A flexible benefits scheme designed around your lifestyle

For a full list of our benefits, and our recruitment process as a whole visit our benefits page.

Our values and culture

Our colleagues are the key to our success as a regulator. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture: one that’s free from discrimination and bias, celebrates difference, and supports colleagues to deliver at their best. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

If you require any adjustments due to a disability or condition, your recruiter is here to help - reach out for tailored support.

We welcome diverse working styles and aim to find flexible solutions that suit both the role and individual needs, including options like part-time and job sharing where applicable.
 
Disability confident: our hiring approach
We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and therefore, people or individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions who best meet the minimum criteria for a role will go through to the next stage of the recruitment process. In cases of high application volumes  we may progress applicants whose experience most closely matches the role’s key requirements.
 
Useful information and timelines

Timeline:

• Job Advert Close: 07th December 2025

• CV Review/Shortlist: 9th December 2025

• Technical Assessment / Interviews: w/c 15th December 2025

• Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time. 

• Candidates from this recruitment round may also be considered for future vacancies in the Legal Division