Overview
Job Purpose: To deliver good quality legal advice to client departments, ensuring they are aware of, and comply with, statutory requirements and the Council’s activities are conducted in a lawful and transparent manner.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide legal advice and services as requested to the Council, its Members and its client departments commensurate with experience to ensure that the implications of local government law are complied with and understood, including adequately representing the Council in courts and tribunals.
* Supervision of lawyers.
* Support senior lawyers with the drafting and provision of advice on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees and to attend Committees and other meetings as may be required, which may include meeting out of normal office hours ensuring that all procedural and standing order requirements are complied with.
* Support and contribute to the effective delivery of the council’s objectives and priorities.
* Support achievement of the team’s income target.
* Monitor and share changes in the law and practice as appropriate and implement changes to policy and processes when necessary, informing client departments of changes in the law and practice when they occur.
* Respond to queries and calls promptly and professionally, using effective communication and engagement.
* Ensure complete and proper digital and physical records are maintained as appropriate relating to all work undertaken including time records using the service’s case management and time recording system.
* Work collaboratively with other teams and support the training and development of colleagues and clients.
Person Specification
* Relevant degree
* Qualified CILEX, Solicitor or Barrister, licensed to practice
* Ability to handle a broad caseload including advocacy in criminal and civil litigation matters.
* Leadership, delegation and team building skills.
* Problem solving.
* Strong communication and presentation.
* Commercial and Procurement Expertise: Skilled in preparing and negotiating a wide range of contractual documentation, including service, funding, grant, variation, and concession agreements.
* Legal and Governance Advisory: Experienced in providing legal advice on procurement processes, risk mitigation, and compliance with Public Procurement legislation and Council Contract Procedure Rules.
* Strategic and Dispute Management: Knowledge of intellectual property, alternative delivery models (e.g. trading companies, partnerships, shared services), and handling contractual disputes while managing competing priorities and tight deadlines.
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