NMC Pupillage Case Preparation and Presentation

Fitness to Practise

Being fit to practise requires a nurse, midwife or nursing associate to have the skills, knowledge, health and character to do their job safely and effectively. The Code sets out the professional standards that nurses, midwives and nursing associates must uphold to be registered to practise in the UK. We will investigate whether someone on our register is fit to practise if an allegation is made that they do not meet our standards for skills, education and behaviour. The NMC’s fitness to practise work sits within the larger Professional Regulation directorate.

Case Preparation and Presentation (‘CPP’) team

The pupil will mostly be based within the directorate’s CPP team, which has the largest number of Lawyers and Paralegals within the NMC. The legal team review, prepare and present fitness to practise cases before the NMC’s practise committees. The hearings are very varied, and include new interim orders, interim order reviews, substantive hearings and substantive order reviews. The team also files applications to the High Court in each of the UK’s jurisdictions in relation to interim order extensions requiring Court approval as well as conducting the advocacy before Judges. Finally, the team also advises on appeals brought by registrants and the Professional Standards Authority, and again the lawyers conduct the advocacy. 

The NMC is authorised by the Bar Standards Board as a pupillage training organisation. 

Pupillage structure

The pupil will be employed by the NMC on a fixed term contract for 12 months. In advance of the end date, we will explore with the pupil the possibility of continuing their employment with the NMC. We have an excellent track record of pupils staying with us once the pupillage has been completed.   

The pupil will undertake the NMC’s standard induction, as well as specialised induction to the CPP team and the work of other legal teams across the directorate. The pupillage will be conducted and assessed in accordance with the Pupillage Handbook and the NMC’s bespoke pupillage programme.

During the course of the pupillage, there will be the opportunity to spend periods of time with other legal teams across the NMC. 

It is likely the pupil will have two different supervisors during the course of the pupillage to reflect the difference in work between the first six and the second six.

During the first six, the pupil will undertake a wide range of NMC legal work under supervision. Within the CPP team, this includes:

• Legal research, advice, and drafting;
• Reviews of cases which have been referred to Fitness to Practise Committee;
• Preparation for hearings; and
• Assisting with the management of cases in the High Court.

The pupil will be expected to attend all types of hearings to observe advocacy by the pupil supervisor and other advocates.

In the second six, the pupil will continue to work on cases as well as undertake advocacy under supervision in both substantive and non-substantive matters.

Person Specification

Applicants must have their BPTC results at the time of application. In addition, applicants with more than a 5-year gap between completion of their vocational Bar training course and the start of this pupillage must set out the legal experience they have gained during this period and have gained a BSB exemption. The key person specification criteria are as follows:

• Good academic record (we will review all mitigating circumstances)
• Commitment to a career at the Employed Bar
• Confident advocacy skills obtained through experience outside of compulsory studies
• Excellent written and presentation skills (legal and non-legal)
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to develop a rapport and obtain client confidence
• Solid understanding of principles of evidence
• Excellent organisation, time management and record keeping skills
• Ability to maintain high standards of professional conduct and presentation
• Ability to work under supervision and respond positively to direction, instruction and advice
• Good IT skills
• Highly motivated and flexible
• A good team player
• Able to travel and work out of office hours as required

It would also be desirable for applicants to have experience of/interest in regulatory law (and preferably healthcare), an understanding of the professional regulation framework as well as have experience of already having worked in a legal capacity in an organisation outside of mini-pupillages.

Application details

If you wish to apply for this position, please complete the application on the NMC website. You should include a copy of your CV and a personal statement which addresses the specifications of the role, in particular: how you demonstrate confident advocacy skills; excellent legal research and analytical skills; and your understanding of the professional regulation framework and fitness to practise issues; to a maximum of 500 words. 

You will be able to access this from 9am on Thursday 2 January 2025 in accordance with the Bar Council Pupillage Gateway timetable, and all applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59pm on 6 February 2025. If you have any queries, please email recruitment@nmc-uk.org and mark the subject heading “Pupillage 2025 Application”. 

Please note, if we receive a high level of applications, we may choose to close this advert early. We encourage you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The role you are applying for is a flexible role, and whilst you will be posted initially to a team, this may require movement between teams as the flow of work dictates. You will of course understand that this flexible approach enables us to provide the best possible service to our registrants and reach the outcomes to our cases quickly and within a reasonable timeframe. This will not change your terms and conditions and will be discussed with you prior to you taking up the post.

Up to Band 5: 
Due to the nature of your role and the work undertaken by the NMC, on very rare occasions you may be required by the NMC or the Courts to assist in litigation proceedings or inquests. This may involve collating information, providing a witness statement, or giving oral evidence on behalf of the NMC.

 

Due to the nature of your role and the work undertaken by the NMC, you may be required by the NMC or the Courts to assist in litigation proceedings, inquests, or inquiries. This may involve collating information, providing a witness statement, and giving oral evidence on behalf of the NMC. Such evidence may be in relation to specific cases, policy decisions or operational, strategic issues taken by the NMC.

 

Our Pay Policy
It is expected that staff new to the NMC will ordinarily be appointed to the bottom of the relevant pay band. However in exceptional circumstances, it may be possible to offer a salary above the bottom of the relevant pay band but we may request proof of current earnings. Please note that we offer an annual review of salaries and adopt a generous progressive pay approach. Further details of which are available on request.


For our internal colleagues, you will be paid in accordance to our internal pay policy.


Reasonable adjustments

We will provide reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates throughout the recruitment process. Please let us know if you need any additional support to enable you to make an application with us.

Screening and vetting

All of our roles are subject to pre-employment checks. We are in the process of introducing a vetting policy, and it is possible that this role may become subject to DBS and further vetting checks in future.