Qualified Lawyer - Litigation

Division: City Barrister & Head of StandardsService: Legal Services

Interim role: £55ph

Overall Purpose of Role:To provide an advanced level of legal advice and representation in the field of Litigation. To provide decisive and effective supervision to the team in line with the council’s ‘Vision & Values’ and ‘Leadership Qualities’ that enables them to do their best work, resulting in high levels of people and organisational performance.

Key Job Activities:

Case Management (40%)

• Hold and manage a complex caseload of contentious and/or non-contentious legal matters, depending on the area of specialism.
• Undertake complex assessments, investigations, evaluations, analyses, and resolve associated issues, conflicts, and anomalies. Monitor activity/progress and take appropriate action.
• Carry out detailed and often complex legal research and interrogate intelligence and data sources to make informed decisions and recommendations in line with current legislation, policies, and procedures. Explore creative and innovative approaches to resolve problems across diverse issues.

Legal Advice & Representation (40%)

• Provide an advanced level of legal advice to Council officers and members to inform strategies, actions, priorities, and decisions.
• Attend and formally represent the Council/service at meetings, committees, forums, and consultation events. Create and provide engaging presentations and supporting documentation.
• Represent the Council at court, appeals, and inquiries as required.
• Provide legal advice on all stages of procurement activity and on drafting, negotiating, and finalising contract terms in accordance with procurement law and Council standards and policies.
• Leading People (10%)
• Matrix-manage approximately 5 staff within a service to set priorities and allocate/oversee activities.
• Provide supervision and direction to staff temporarily assigned to support projects and initiatives.

Supporting Change Projects & Legal Performance (10%)

• Use legal expertise to lead on areas of and/or support service programmes/projects and improvement initiatives, from inception, scoping, planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and issue resolution, to deliver the required business outcomes and benefits. Work collaboratively with Heads of Service, Managers, and planning/project specialists.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Substantial experience of working in a legal environment and commensurate knowledge of law, practice, and procedure.
• Experience of holding and managing a legal caseload of a complex, specialist nature.
• Experience of Local Government legal work in the public or private sector.
• Must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive and hold a current practising certificate.