PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
To develop, lead and have overall accountability as the principal legal advisor to Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Lead the team across all aspects of law including:
* Operational policing
* Enforcement activity (including fire protection enforcement)
* Employment law
* Commercial law
Support the team to assess and manage levels of risk through legal routes.
Be responsible, in conjunction with others, for setting and maintaining the organisations legal framework.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Lead the legal function as the principal legal advisor, ensuring an appropriate mix of specialisms to meet demand across the organisations.
2. Maintain close liaison with senior leaders across the organisations to ensure that legal is embedded within the culture of the organisations, assessing and managing risks appropriately as required.
3. To lead on the provision of proactive, in-depth, pragmatic and business focused advice to the organisations on all legal and regulatory matters.
4. To implement and maintain the key legal processes, systems, practices and competencies required to meet the needs of the organisations.
5. To lead on and support the team with the identification and management of all legal risks and implications for the organisations, advising appropriately.
6. To build relationships with external solicitors and Legal Counsel and instruct as required.
7. To set the performance regime for the department, ensuring adherence to the requirements and measures.
8. To be a key member of the leadership teams of the organisations, working across the organisations with people at all levels of the organisations.
9. Drive proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies, anticipating legal challenges associated with the organisations service delivery.
10. Maintain awareness of forthcoming legal challenges regionally and nationally, impacts from relevant case law and legislative changes and engage with the organisations regarding the changes required.
11. Devise, implement and maintain effective systems to monitor, measure, control, evaluate and report on the work of the functions of the department, to take account of changes in internal and external environments, which may impact on and influence priorities and needs.
12. Seek routes for innovation and reimagine how the services of the department can be delivered to be more effective and efficient in support of the operational business.
13. Provide strategic leadership and direction across the legal department, coordinating specialist skills and responsibilities to ensure the delivery of effective functions.
14. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, across the organisations, creating clear operating standards and ensuring that professional practice is maintained through robust policies, procedures and processes.
15. Enhance the value for money provided by the department by working closely with local authorities, regional partners and other agencies to identify good practice and develop partnership and collaborative arrangements.
16. Represent Northamptonshire OPFCC, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue and Northamptonshire Police, at regional and national level meetings, on matters relevant to the department.
17. Develop and maintain effective working arrangements and relationships with professional peers on national, regional and local specialist forums, in order to achieve the benefits of good practice; identifying and developing collaborative and partnership opportunities at a strategic level to maximise effectiveness and efficiencies of service delivery.
18. Maintain own levels of CPD required and manage and maintain CPD within the legal team.
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