An essential workshop for junior lawyers and trainees in local government, sponsored by the Local Government Legal Society Trust.
Please note that this course is only open to trainee solicitors and junior solicitors (up to 5 years' PQE) currently working in a local authority. Employment status/job title must be proven.
This training consists of a live ½ day virtual session preceded by some work in advance which will be introduced by a short, recorded session for you to view in your own time.
We will explore how to operate confidently at the political interface of your council. This is a particularly important skill for officers in a legal role. Your work requires you to be confident about the political context for the operation of the council and, depending on your practice area, may well bring you into direct contact with elected members in a range of roles.
As well as equipping local government lawyers to undertake their current roles effectively, this workshop will also set good foundations for the development of your career. As you are promoted to more senior roles, the need to navigate the politics of a council confidently will become more important.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
Understand the political structure of a local authority
Explore the role and operation of the political groups
Consider the respective roles of members/officers and the interface between them
Look at the wider context including national and regional politics
We will cover:
How a local authority works
The role and operation of the political parties
The standards regime for elected members
The roles of members and officers
Political change and elections
National and regional politics
The live session will be interactive, practical and fast-moving! You will engage with colleagues in similar roles from authorities across the country and will learn from their experiences. We will build on the reading you have done in advance and use mini scenarios to bring it all to life.
The aim of the workshop is to ensure that you feel immediately more confident about operating effectively in the political environment of a local authority.
Bethan Evans Governance Training and Consultancy
Beth is a recognised expert in local authority governance, having worked in the field for over 35 years. She worked as an in-house lawyer for nearly 20 years at four different councils in England specialising in housing, education and social care. Beth then moved into management posts, culminating in roles as a County Solicitor and a Director of Corporate Services in a unitary authority.
Beth led the Welsh Local Government Agency responsible for improvement and development in Welsh local government for three years. In 2001 she joined Bevan Brittan LLP as a partner where she led the local government team for 17 years, four of which she spent as senior partner.
Beth acted as secretary and chair of a branch and then as national chair of the (then) Local Government Group in 1998/99.
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09:00 - 14:00
Online
