Job Details
MAIN PURPOSE:
• To provide operational legal advice and assistance on at least one of the following:
o Education
o Children’s Social Care
o Adults Social Care
• To assist other members of the Shared Legal Service in the delivery of their duties.
• To be responsible for representing the interests of the service within the wider council organisations in any of the four authorities and with external clients.
• To manage a case load of legal matters
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• To provide, under limited supervision, timely and effective operational legal advice and assistance to officers across both authorities as part of a team of lawyers responsible for Social Care and Education and to any other clients of the Shared Legal Service.
• To have a good and up to date knowledge and practical experience in at least one of the above areas of legal work.
• Liaising with solicitors and other legal professionals and working with outside bodies including the court service on matters relating to the work of the section.
• To manage a caseload of wide ranging work, including but not limited to, drafting legal letters, legal agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents, by-laws and such matters in accordance with precedents, relating to the Social Care and Education team, managing competing demands and meeting deadlines and the requirements of the Shared Legal Service.
• To work proactively to maintain and improve the relationship with the clients of the Shared Legal Service.
• To provide support to the team to ensure effective service delivery
• To undertake duties on behalf of the Monitoring Officer (AD Corporate Governance) for both authorities.
• To undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the grade.
Variable Grade Criteria:
ME9 – all of the above and:
• Take responsibility, under limited supervision, for providing advice and assistance to clients on a range of legal issues relevant to the team.
• To assist in ensuring that the Council’s position is presented in the most effective and efficient manner in any court, tribunal or other forum, including instructing counsel where necessary or expedient.
ME 10 – all of the above and:
• To supervise, and be responsible for, the work of (approx 2 or 3) junior staff in preparation of legal cases as required
• To deputise for and assist senior colleagues
• To carry out a wide range of specialist legal research, including but not limited to case law, precedent and interpretation of new and existing statutes for members of the Shared Legal Service with minimal supervision. It is anticipated that this legal research will form the basis of formal legal advice that will be provided to clients and will have long term consequences for the organisation and other clients.
• To be able to move seamlessly from completing routine legal work through to providing legal advice and carrying out legal research and drafting on more complex matters
• Provide complex and specialist advice to managers, and external clients on a range of legal matters which have long term consequences for the individual client or the organisation.
• Work with clients dealing with contentious, and consequential, matters.
ME 11 – all of the above and
• Regular independent attendance at courts and/or having direct responsibility to negotiate and agree complex legal documentation, all with substantial consequence to the organisation or client, without referring up to a manager.
• Maintain an in depth knowledge of the legislation that is relevant to the area of law you are working in and provide briefings for lawyers and senior lawyers within your team should there be anything relevant that they should be aware of on your own initiative.
• Contributing to developing the service plan for the Shared Service.
• Undertake projects to assist, support or where required, deputise for the other fee earners within the team, whether on legal, professional or managerial issues as required in order to ensure the best use of the Department’s resources.
• Take a proactive role in working with clients to manage demand from their service for legal services.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Qualifications and Experience
• Knowledge of relevant legislation for the service area
• Understanding of current issues and best practice on service delivery relevant to the service areas
• Experience of working on own initiative and of dealing with sensitive/urgent matters
ME 10 – all of the above and:
• In depth knowledge of the relevant legislation to the service area
• Must be undertaking or have undertaken relevant professional training for a recognised professional legal qualification or commensurate experience
• Experience of supervising junior work in the preparation of legal casework.
• Good knowledge of relevant legislation to the service area and the decision making processes and procedures
ME 11 – all of the above and
• Significant experience of independent advocacy in courts and tribunals, including on more complex cases.
• Proven track record of managing own clients and their cases
Skills and Knowledge
• Ability to work under pressure and respond efficiently to the changing needs of the clients.
• Ability to contribute to the ongoing development of the Shared Legal Service
Personal requirements
• Commitment to the principles of and development of the Shared Legal Service
• Good communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Good analytical skills
• Understanding of the role of legal services and how it can contribute to the effectiveness of direct service provision
• Understanding of the principles of value for money
• Clear understanding of ways in which the council’s policy of equality in employment and service provision can be reflected in all aspects of work of the team
• Understanding of both authorities’ vision and mission statement and how they relate to the work of the team
• Ability to be able to travel to attend client offices wherever that service maybe based.
• Ability to be able to travel to attend courts wherever the client’s case is being considered.
• Ability to be available to attend premises out of hours to attend evening meetings and in the event of emergencies or urgent management issues in relation to both authorities
If you are interested in this role please do reach out to me via email or telephone!
amberrayment@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
020 753 766 07
