Solicitor

Why Castle Point? Castle Point Borough Council is a statutory body responsible for employing nearly 350 staff, and delivering over 150 council services, both statutory and for the community's well-being and benefit. Castle Point Borough Council aims to provide high-quality and financially sustainable services while prioritising outstanding customer service, transparency in decision-making, and promoting local democracy. Additionally, the council seeks to transform, modernize, and improve its performance, as well as support and enable the communities within its jurisdiction to be strong, healthy, and thriving.

Our values: Trust, Respect, Improving and Learning, and Customer Focus

Job purpose

To provide high quality, customer focussed, professional advice across the Council which is proactive and responsive to the Council’s requirements and business needs.

To provide a responsive service providing legal advice in at least one of the following areas: Planning, Commercial, Procurement and Contracts, Governance, Licensing, Information law.

To support the Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services) in implementing the vision and core values of the Council and provide a clear sense of leadership direction and purpose across Legal and Democratic Services.

Key Responsibilities

• To contribute to achieving the Council’s corporate objectives and priorities.
• To manage a large caseload of wide ranging work, including but not limited to; drafting legal letters and contracts, legal agreements, deeds, notices, orders, consents by-laws as well as negotiating agreements, settlements and such matters, managing competing demands and meeting deadlines and the requirements of the Council.
• 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.
• To attend, advise and provide legal services to council Committees and Panels as are required.
• Within the caseload of the team to be responsible for the strategically important legal work and to be the lead expert lawyer for a particular legal area.
• To prepare reports for Committee and attend Committee, where necessary, to present recommendations to Members.
• To research and assist with the proper implementation of legislation affecting the Council including, where appropriate, the seeking of Counsel’s opinion on the effect of statutory enactments and caselaw.
• To provide pragmatic advice across a range of local government work, providing appropriate solutions that are legally and constitutionally compliant.
• Any other duties consistent with the post holder’s responsibilities, qualifications and experience, relevant to the purpose of the job as may reasonably be requested by the Legal and Local Land Charges Manager and the Assistant Director. This may include legal training and professional development.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with at least 2 years PQE
• Knowledge of local government context including council policy and processes
• Ability to work under pressure and respond efficiently to the changing needs of the clients
• Good knowledge of relevant legislation to the service area and the decision-making processes and procedures
• Good understanding of current issues and best practice on service delivery relevant to the service areas
• Good and demonstrable analytical legal skills
• Good communication skills, both orally and in writing and good numeracy and analytical skills
• Ability to respond positively in urgent situations, prioritising workload and working to meet tight deadlines and resolves issues
• Ability to give clear and concise advice on the telephone, in meetings and in correspondence
• Understanding the political context in which the council operates
• Good interaction skills and the ability to influence and persuade effectively and to build and maintain contacts and rapport
• Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to work individually as well as part of a team and to identify high risk issues which require escalation or immediate action

Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have queries on this role or would like to see a copy of the full role profile, please email ashleigh.drake@essex.gov.uk OR EssexSharedServices@essex.gov.uk