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
• 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, prepare and process all matters relevant to any proceedings before a court, arbitration, mediation, or public inquiry and 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 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 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, 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.