Post Title: Lawyer

Department: Corporate Core

Division/Section: Legal Services

Location: Town Hall, Knowsley Street, Bury

Post Grade: Career Grade 11-12 depending on experience

Post Hours: 37 per week Monday to Friday

Special Conditions of Service: Requirement to work outside office hours when required

Purpose and Objectives of Post: The Legal Team provides strategic legal and commercial services and advice across the organisation to enable the Council’s legal activity to be delivered in sustainable and cost-effective ways. The team operate in accordance with statutory requirements across all aspects of local government.

Advising council officers on the law, risks and the strength of particular cases.

Providing written and verbal legal communications, using enhanced skills in negotiating and influencing.

Accountable to: Director of Law and Democratic Services/Council Solicitor and Head of Legal Services

Immediately Responsible to: Team Leader/Senior Lawyer

Immediately Responsible for: Supervision or mentoring of the Legal Officer/Trainee Legal Officer as required by the Team Leader.

Relationships: (Internal and External)

Internal – Elected Members, Senior Management, Officers within all Departments of the Council and other related Council service providers e.g. ALMO’s, LATCO’s, schools, etc

External – Solicitors in private practice, Counsel, Government Departments, Other Local Authorities, Court Officials, Members of Parliament, Members of the public and Outside Agencies and Professional Bodies, Medical and other expert witnesses; other professional persons.

Control of Resources:

Equipment: Responsible for ensuring the security of all equipment, computer data and software.

Health and Safety: Ensure compliance with Health and Safety guidelines and instructions set out in the Health and Safety Policy.

Financial: Payment and monitoring of monies as required by the role, associated with matters which may include contracts, court fees, counsel’s fees, transactions and/or other external costs.

Duties and responsibilities 

Level 1 - Lawyer

• To contribute to the Council’s corporate strategic priorities and assist in ensuring that Legal Services supports those priorities.
• To work with the other team members in improving services and making the most of resources.
• To work as part of a team to help deliver the best outcomes.
• To actively contribute to the professional development of the service and have a proactive and positive manner.
• To assist with the other work within the team as required.
• To work on effective relationships to get the best results.
• To support Legal Services by helping to build and maintain excellent client relations acting as a role model to achieve service and Council wide objectives.
• To provide timely, and accurate legal advice ensuring the delivery of a high quality and value for money legal service.
• To provide representation on legal work on behalf of the Council, and, where appropriate, to external bodies.
• To use analytical skills to interpret information to identify legal issues, risk and other implications for clients.
• To communicate both verbally and in writing to a high standard with the ability to translate and present complex legal advice in a way that can be clearly understood by a variety of audiences.
• To demonstrate good negotiating and influencing skills to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.
• To be solution focussed, always looking positively for ways in which the clients’ desired outcomes can be achieved.
• To research law and procedure to a high professional standard and keep ahead of legal developments.
• To demonstrate competent legal drafting skills.
• To comply with quality systems adopted by the Legal Services Team.
• To conduct cases within the Case Management Software System operated by the Legal Services Team.
• To have personal commitment to continuous self-development and service improvement.
• Undertake continuing professional development as required.

Level 2 – Lawyer (all the above plus)

• To provide support and guidance to junior staff members
• To demonstrate excellent negotiating and influencing skills to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.
• To act as a point of reference and give professional advice and supervision (where required) to other members in the team as required by the Team Leader.
• Facilitate innovative solutions to legal problems across allocated department.