lawyer - Housing & Litigation (Interim)

Start Date : Immediate Start

1. To have personal responsibility for a caseload of legal work, and act as subject expert, with appropriate support and supervisions from a Senior Lawyer or Principal Lawyer
2. To notify all high risk matters to the Senior Lawyer To pick up casework arising in their respective teams during peak times or where additional resources are required to meet demand, and if requested to do so by the Principal Lawyer provide support to other teams
3. To support strategic projects across multi-functional teams, assisting to ensure that an innovative and commercial solutions focus is adopted across projects.
4. To have responsibility for support staff.
5. To carry out advocacy when necessary on own caseload, and not to instruct external support except in accordance with agreed procedures
6. To attend meetings of the Councils as required to provide legal and governance advice.
7. To produce or comment upon reports for various Council meetings or decision making processes.
8. To work some evenings, weekends and occasional public holidays in order to meet the service requirements of customers and in order to ensure appropriate representation of the Councils with residents, elected members, and external bodies.
9. Ensure that the partner Councils are provided with the best legal advice, and that legal advice is appropriate to ensure propriety of decision making.
10. Other duties – the job description indicates the main areas of activity for this post. From time to time other tasks/duties maybe required which are commensurate with the general area of responsibility and grade of the post.

Able to demonstrate and evidence

Knowledge and experience in:

• An understanding of the workings of local government and the challenges being set by the new local government agenda along with the financial, legal and political context of local government.
• The ability to contribute towards setting the strategic direction of Legal Services, supporting the senior management team to develop the overarching strategy for the service and the necessary supporting plans for delivery, with and through partners.
• Knowledge of local government powers and duties and at least one of the following areas of law, civil litigation, procurement & contract, planning, development.
• Civil litigation, housing and corporate issues and related areas
• A solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive holding a practicing certificate,

• A corporate team player, highly motivated and resilient.
• A decision maker who listens to, and takes cognisance of, the views of others along with a high degree of integrity and probity.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to communicate orally and in writing to a diverse range of audiences.
• Ability to influence and negotiate effectively along with the ability to lead, motivate, inspire confidence and enthusiasm.