Job Description
3 month contract role with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• The Assistant Lawyer / Lawyer role within the Law and Governance Directorate of Wirral MBC provides legal advice and services to the Council, its Members, officers, and external bodies.
• The post-holder supports governance, safeguarding, education, litigation, property, planning, and commercial matters, ensuring that the Council’s policies and decisions are legally sound and aligned with organisational objectives.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Provide legal advice across Safeguarding, Education, Litigation, Governance, Property, Planning, and Commercial matters.
• Draft and review contracts, legal agreements, committee reports, and policy documents.
• Represent the Council in Courts, Tribunals, statutory appeals, inquiries, and external meetings.
• Participate in project teams to ensure delivery of timely, high-quality legal services.
• Mentor junior colleagues and provide training as required.
• Maintain compliance with Legal Services’ policies, quality standards, and case management systems.
• Work flexibly across office and remote environments; attend meetings as required.
Skills/Experience:
• Practising barrister, solicitor, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
• Legal Knowledge: Sound understanding of local government law, governance, corporate decision-making, and regulatory frameworks.
• Contract drafting, negotiation, and litigation.
• Advocacy and representation in courts, tribunals, and public inquiries.
• Research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Written and verbal communication skills for both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• IT literacy and experience with legal case management systems.
• Organisational, time management, and workload prioritisation skills.
• Tact, diplomacy, empathy, and political awareness.
• Resilience under pressure and ability to handle sensitive or challenging situations.
• Teamwork and collaborative working.
• Flexibility and adaptability to varying workloads and hybrid working arrangements.
Additional Information:
• Bi-Weekly Payments.
• Hybrid work pattern: 2 days remote, 3 days in office.
• May require evening/weekend work and travel across the borough.
Requirements
• Practising barrister, solicitor, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. • Legal Knowledge: Sound understanding of local government law, governance, corporate decision-making, and regulatory frameworks. • Contract drafting, negotiation, and litigation. • Advocacy and representation in courts, tribunals, and public inquiries. • Research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. • Written and verbal communication skills for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. • IT literacy and experience with legal case management systems. • Organisational, time management, and workload prioritisation skills. • Tact, diplomacy, empathy, and political awareness. • Resilience under pressure and ability to handle sensitive or challenging situations. • Teamwork and collaborative working. • Flexibility and adaptability to varying workloads and hybrid working arrangements.