Senior Lawyer (Contentious)

About the Role

As our Senior Lawyer (Contentious), you will manage a caseload of complex, high profile contentious work for the Councils within our shared service.

Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide high-level legal advice and services to elected members, committees, senior managers and staff across all three local authorities.

You will supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high-quality support in legal transactions.

Additionally, you will:

• Stay updated on developments in contentious law/legal practice.
• Represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings.
• Deputise for the Team Leader when required.
• Uphold the Councils’ policies.

About Us

MKLS’s vision is aligned to the Partner Authorities for which it acts which is forward thinking, progressive and innovative. We look at utilising technology to maximise lawyers' time to deliver an efficient service to our clients.

MKLS is a supportive and nurturing environment which provides opportunities to progress through learning and development.

We are now looking for Senior Lawyers (Contentious) to join us on a permanent basis, working up to 34 hours per week.

Our Offer

• 34 hour full time working week with the offices closing at 1:30pm on Friday.
• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities.
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most role.
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
• Free parking.
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
• Annual flu vaccine.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping.
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals.
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role.

About You

To be considered as our Senior Lawyer (Contentious), you will need:

• To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience.
• Post qualification legal practice experience in contentious law, including criminal and/or County Court and/or inquiry procedures.
• Experience providing legal advice and support to senior leaders and key decision-makers in contentious law and practice.
• Experience advising Members on all aspects of contentious law and procedures.
• Experience operating in politically sensitive environments.
• Knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and democratic process.
• A full, valid driving licence.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.

This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced contentious lawyer with a track record of providing high-level legal advice to join our forward-thinking shared service.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant on 01622 602155.

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

Swale Borough Council has a Sponsor License which enables successful candidates in eligible roles to be sponsored for work Visa purposes.