Lawyer (Contracts & Commissioning)
About the Role
As our Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will be developed and supported to provide high-quality, proactive professional legal advice in contracts and commissioning law and practice.
Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide legal advice and communications to clients, across all three local authorities.
You will be developed and supported to supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high-quality support in legal transactions.
Additionally, you will:
- Stay updated on legal developments in contracts and commissioning.
- Be developed and supported to represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings.
- Uphold the Council’s policies.
About Us
Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) is part of Mid Kent Services, a shared services directorate formed by Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils. MKLS provides high quality legal services across the three Authorities encompassing Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance.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 a Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.
Our Offer
A range of benefits including:- 34hour 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 Lawyer (Contracts and Commissioning), you will need:
- To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience.
- Some post qualification legal practice experience in contracts and commissioning.
- Some knowledge and understanding of the new Procurement Act and experience of drafting appointment contracts, non-disclosure agreements and exclusivity agreements.
- Some knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and democratic process.
- A full, valid driving licence.
Other organisations may call this role Legal Counsel, Legal Services Advisor, Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive.
This is the ideal opportunity for a contracts and commissioning legal professional to join our forward-thinking shared service.
With generous benefits, including a brilliant pension scheme and access to professional development, you’ll thrive in a role that supports your growth in the practice area of contracts and commissioning law.
Selection ProcessIf 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.