Lawyer (Local Government)

Positive Employment is currently recruiting for a Lawyer for our client a local government organisation in Merton, London.

The successful candidate will provide customer focused, high quality and responsive specialist legal advice in relation to more than one of the areas of legal expertise covered by a local authority legal team. These areas are as follows:

Children’s Social Care; Adoption; Adults Social Care; Education; Employment; Planning; Planning; Debt recovery; Debt recovery; Highways; Property; Procurement; Administrative Law; Constitutional law; Finance; Elections; FOI; Licensing; Environment.

This is initially a 3 month contract with the possibility to extend after that date. This role is hybrid working.

Duties and Responsibilities but not limited to:

• Provide timely and effective specialist legal advice to elected members, including committees and to Directors senior managers and officers across both authorities as part of a team of lawyers, and to any other clients of the Shared Legal Service.
• Be responsible for providing innovative solutions to deal with complex issues arising in connection with the work within the team and the legal issues presented by clients.
• Manage a large caseload of wide-ranging work within two of the above specialisms , including but not limited to; drafting legal letters, legal agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents byelaws as well as negotiating agreements, settlements and such matters, managing competing demands and meeting deadlines and the requirements of the Shared Legal Service.
• Where relevant, to prepare and process all matters relevant to any proceedings before a court, arbitration, mediation or public inquiry and to attend such as the client’s advocate or, if appropriate, select and instruct appropriate external legal representation.
• Work proactively to maintain and improve the relationship with the clients of the Shared Legal Service.
• Supervise, and be responsible for the work of, junior staff as required and to provide management and leadership to the staff working on their cases.
• Keep clients informed of new legislation and case law relevant to their operations, including training seminars where appropriate and to ensure that they maintain a sound application of legal requirements.
• Advise upon, draft and approve committee reports in respect of cases and legal issues.

Personal Requirements:

• Qualified solicitor or barrister or chartered legal executive or equivalent legal experience with a background in local government.
• Good knowledge of relevant legislation to the service area and the decision-making processes and procedures.
• Good and demonstrable analytical legal skills.
• Ability to be available to attend premises out of hours to attend evening meetings and in the event of emergencies or urgent management issues in relation to all 5 authorities.

Working Hours: 35hrs / 9:00am - 17:00pm / Monday to Friday

Pay: £50.00 per hour

Please note this role is within the scope of IR35.