NQ Solicitor
- London
- Permanent
- £35,000 - £50,000 per annum
Newly Qualified Solicitor – Criminal Defence
Launch Your Criminal Defence Career with a Top-Ranked Firm We are seeking a Newly Qualified Solicitor to join a leading and highly regarded Criminal Defence team in London. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills at a nationally recognised firm with a strong reputation for complex, high-profile, and sensitive criminal work.
What’s on Offer
- Hybrid working model for better work-life balance
- 23 days’ annual leave plus public & bank holidays
- Pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Regular social events and a genuinely friendly, supportive culture
About the Role You will be joining a forward-thinking criminal defence department known for its breadth of expertise — from serious crime and fraud to protest cases and high-profile investigations.
As part of the team, you will:
- Manage and prepare a range of criminal defence cases
- Represent clients at police stations, Magistrates’ Court, and Crown Court
- Prepare cases for trial and handle appeals to higher courts
- Participate in the out-of-hours rota
- Handle both legal aid and private client matters
- Begin building your own client following
- Work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic team environment
What We’re Looking For We’re looking for newly qualified solicitors with a real passion for criminal defence and social justice. The ideal candidate will:
- Have strong academic credentials
- Be enthusiastic about developing expertise in criminal law
- Demonstrate excellent client care and communication skills
- Show initiative and strong case management abilities
- Be committed to access to justice and high-quality client service
- Duty status and Higher Rights of Audience are an advantage but not essential
About the Firm This is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary law firm ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners for its work in Criminal Defence, Civil Liberties, and Family Law. The firm is known for handling complex, high-profile, and politically sensitive cases, often reported in national media, and for maintaining a clear ethical commitment to social justice and fairness.