Chief Legal Advisor
Overview:
An exciting opportunity for a versatile legal professional who can shape the future direction of HB Public Law, a shared local government legal practice.
HB Public Law is one of the largest local government legal practices, with a focus on career development from entry level to management. With local government reorganisation and devolution on the national agenda, this is a key opportunity to support our local authority clients to shape their future, whilst delivering excellent legal services across a range of functions.You will need to be commercially aware, with an appetite to work at pace, build excellent relations with staff and clients and the ability to juggle competing priorities.
This is an excellent opportunity for a Chief Legal Advisor to join the London Borough of Harrow, the host authority for HB Public Law. This role will lead, direct and develop HB Public Law as a key member of the senior leadership team and will take a lead lawyer role with one of the four local authority partners.HB Public Law is the brand name of the shared legal service providing legal services to four local authority partners and other public sector clients. This post reports directly to the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance.
About you:
The successful candidate will have experience of:
- Legal practice management and public sector leadership;
- Managing a number of teams with diverse legal specialisms;
- Advising senior client officers and elected members;
- Fronting a legal practice;
- Governance in a public sector body and ideally local authority setting
- Creating a high-performance culture and ethos of continuous improvement
You will need:
- To be a qualified solicitor or barrister with significant PQE and evidence of career development and training.
- Enthusiasm regarding the growth, development and enhancement of the shared legal service.
- Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire confidence in clients and staff.
- To be risk aware and have an understanding of risk appetite and management in different organisations.
- The ability to develop relationships and understand the role of in-house lawyers in a public sector body.
- A deep understanding of local authority governance and public sector legal frameworks
- To undertake high-profile roles at elections.
- Be able to work unsocial hours, including attending formal member meetings in the evenings and work at venues a distance from Harrow.
- Undertake a role in emergency planning and civil contingencies.
For an informal discussion prior to applying for the role please contact Sarah Wilson (Assistant Director for Legal and Governance) on 07900 226230 or sarah.wilson@harrow.gov.uk.
The closing date for an application is Monday the 3^rd of February 2025
Related Documents:
For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria