Head of Legal Practice

We are seeking someone with the passion and vision to lead a legal team that isn’t afraid to take on major environmental challenges.

Fish Legal—formerly the Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA)—has a long, proven track record of success in the courts, using the law to protect the environment and defend anglers’ rights.

At a time of significant shifts in environmental policy and increasing concern over the state of the UK’s rivers and coastal waters, mounting pressure from development, intensive agriculture, and systemic pollution has brought the work of Fish Legal into sharper focus. With growing tensions between economic growth and environmental limits, effective legal intervention is becoming more crucial than ever—as a tool for accountability and a driver of change. Fish Legal is now preparing for a new wave of legal challenges to confront failures in regulation, pollution enforcement, and water industry transparency.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced environmental or public interest lawyer to take on a high-profile role with real-world impact. This role combines strategic litigation, environmental advocacy, and team leadership in support of hundreds of thousands of anglers and river users. The successful candidate will help shape the future of one of the UK’s most respected and dynamic environmental law teams and play a central role in protecting our freshwater and marine environments.

THE ROLE

The role will have a number of core functions;

• Managing the administrative, compliance, budgetary and operational aspects of our legal team with line management of our expert team of solicitors and support staff.
• Reviewing and supervising case work, supporting colleagues’ cases and where appropriate taking up individual cases.
• Working with the Chief Executive and committee to develop strategy and operational plans, tying together themes from across the sector which will inform and drive strategic litigation and advocacy, then leading the implementation of that strategy.
• Publicly leading Fish Legal, engaging with media on cases and working with the Angling Trust campaigns team on policy and advocacy matters.
• Becoming a member of the joint Senior Management Team across Fish Legal and The Angling Trust.

The successful applicant will be an experienced practice manager or solicitor, ideally with experience in the third sector and knowledge of environmental law. The practice manager will be a committed team player with strong management skills. This is an opportunity for a talented and self-motivated individual looking to work in a demanding, yet intellectually challenging and supportive environment.

Fish Legal is a not-for-profit membership association which promotes and encourages the conservation and sustainable management of UK rivers, lakes and other freshwater bodies, estuarine and coastal waters and the role of angling within this. We use the law to fight pollution and other damage and threats to the water environment. We provide legal advice and representation to member clubs, riparians and fishery owners across the UK.

Fish Legal is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion across our organisation and our membership. We particularly encourage applications from women and people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are currently under-represented within our organisation. We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements.

PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES AND MAIN DUTIES

Case-work and risk management

• Overseeing the day-to-day operations of Fish Legal and its UK-wide advisory and litigation
• Managing court deadlines and other time limits across all legal matters
• Where appropriate, provide legal advice and representation to members; conduct litigation; correspond with government agencies and environmental regulators; and respond to relevant consultations and reviews.

Financial management

• Working with the Head of Finance, set annual budgets and manage the budgets
• Manage case related expenditure
• Manage key contracts to support the provisions of legal services

People management

• Line management of Fish Legal’s (remote-working) solicitors and (office based) legal administrator, including performance management and development.
• Actively involved in recruitment and on-boarding of new staff.

Compliance

Ensure that Fish Legal complies with all relevant legal requirements, regulations and ethical standards.

• Maintain the strictest standards of client confidentiality and data protection, in line with Fish Legal’s policies and procedures.
• Manage the internal decision-making process for the conduct of litigation.
• Ensure all Fish Legal lawyers renew their practising certificates annually and are adequately insured.

Strategic planning and business development

• Working with the Chief Executive and committee, develop and implement strategic and operational business plans, including goal setting and identifying growth opportunities.
• Join Senior Management Team across Fish Legal and Angling Trust, working with colleagues across both organisations on legal, political, advocacy and campaigning matters.

Communications and reporting

• Operational reporting to the Senior Management Team, Fish Legal Committee, the joint Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and the Legal Advisory Committee.
• Work directly with our communications team to promote the organisation across multiple audiences.

• Develop an external profile as a spokesperson for Fish Legal and on broader water resilience issues.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will have at least the following essential attributes:

Education/Qualifications - Essential 

• Qualified Legal Executive or Solicitor, with current practising certificate in England and Wales and sufficient experience at a senior level for this role (minimum 4 yrs PQE)
• Degree qualified

Experience - Essential 

• Previous experience in dispute resolution/litigation
• Demonstrable track record of managing a broad a mix of legal cases and achieving successful outcomes
• Management and development of staff
• Management of financial budgets
• Proven ability to build strong, productive internal and external relationships

Experience - Desirable

• Experience of working within or with charities and with boards of trustees
• Experience of working in an environmentally focussed setting or on environmental matters

Skills and Knowledge - Essential

• Previous experience using cloud-based matters management systems (e.g. Leap)
• A good understanding of Civil Procedure Rules 
• A good understanding of the compliance requirements for the provision of reserved legal services (litigation)
• Strong case management skills with the ability to consider risk and make sound decisions on whether to proceed with cases or not
• Excellent analytical and legal research skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong negotiation and advocacy skills
• Ability to respond to changing priorities
• Good administrative skills, including use of Microsoft Office and SharePoint

Skills and Knowledge - Desirable

• Familiarity with relevant environmental legislation
• Knowledge of the law relating to sporting rights
• An understanding of how the water industry is regulated in the UK
• Knowledge of the issues affecting water quality and quantity

Qualities - Essential

• Self-assured, confident and capable
• Sound judgement and a ‘can-do’ attitude with a flexible approach. A willingness to “pitch in” to provide cover for colleagues as required
• Detail orientated
• Committed to providing a high standard of member care
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team

Qualities - Desirable

• An interest in conservation, fisheries and healthy waters would be advantageous

Other- Essential

• Be willing to undertake continuing professional development

OTHER INFORMATION

Responsible to: The postholder will report to the Chief Executive of Angling Trust and Fish Legal, who will conduct annual and interim reviews of performance against targets.

Location: Office based in our Leominster, Herefordshire office with the option of working from home up to 2 days per week.

Holidays and working hours: 25 days leave plus Public Holidays (pro rata) increasing after 3 years by 1 further day per annum up to a maximum of 28 days per annum (pro rata). Minimum 35 hours each week, with flexible working hours. Internal candidates would retain existing annual leave entitlement.

Closing date and interviews: 23 June 2025. Interviews are likely to be held in weeks commencing 30 June and/or 7 July 2025.

Miscellaneous: the postholder will be provided with use of a laptop computer and mobile phone. Mileage may be reclaimed along with other out of pocket expenses on a monthly basis.