Lawyer

6 Month Contract With A Local Authority

**Job Purpose

To provide high-quality legal advice, representation and support across a range of Council service areas, ensuring the delivery of effective legal services that support corporate objectives, statutory compliance and good governance.

The postholder will manage a varied caseload of routine and complex legal matters with minimal supervision, provide legal advice to Council officers and Members, undertake advocacy where required and contribute to the continuous improvement of Legal and Governance Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of routine and non-routine legal matters with minimal supervision.

• Provide clear, accurate and practical legal advice to Council services and officers.

• Undertake advocacy on behalf of the Council in courts, tribunals and hearings where required.

• Draft legal documentation, agreements, pleadings, reports and correspondence.

• Research and analyse legislation, case law and legal developments.

• Prepare and present complex legal arguments.

• Attend and advise at Council committees, working groups and external meetings.

• Deliver seminars, briefings and training sessions to clients, colleagues and Members.

• Maintain case files in accordance with professional and practice management standards.

• Use the case management system to record and manage legal work.

• Meet service performance targets, including chargeable hours requirements.

• Provide performance and management information as required.

• Support client care arrangements and maintain high standards of customer service.

• Work collaboratively with Council services to support strategic objectives.

• Keep up to date with developments in relevant areas of law and local government practice.

• Identify and escalate legal risks, governance concerns and compliance issues.

• Support and supervise junior staff where required.

• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Attend evening meetings when required.

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).

• Experience managing a caseload of routine and complex legal matters.

• Experience providing legal advice and guidance to clients.

• Experience using legal case management systems.

• Experience undertaking legal research and drafting legal documentation.

• Advocacy experience.

• Experience presenting complex legal arguments.

• Understanding of local government functions and governance arrangements.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong client care and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to manage a demanding workload and work independently.

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

• Good IT skills.

Experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Adult Social Care

• Children's Services

• Employment Law

• Environmental Law

• General Litigation

• Housing Law

• Licensing

• Local Government Law

• Planning Law

• Policy and Governance

• Procurement and Contracts

• Property Law

• Prosecutions

• Regeneration

• Trading Standards and Consumer Protection

Desirable

• Experience working within Local Government legal services.

• Experience meeting chargeable hours targets.

• Experience providing legal services within Lexcel-accredited environments.

• Experience supervising junior legal staff.

Additional Information

• Location: London Borough of Hackney

• Hours Per Week: 36 Hours

• Payment Frequency: Bi-Weekly Payments