Property Lawyer

Reading’s Legal Services department is composed of our highly regarded internal Corporate Legal Team, serving the needs of the Council across a wide range of functions including the provision of legal advice and support to the Council’s Property and Assets Management team. Reading is also host to the Joint Legal Team, a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire unitary councils and a recognised centre of excellence for childcare, adults, and education law.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed Property Lawyer to join the Corporate Legal Team. You’ll be working with colleagues to support and help deliver the Council’s asset management plan. The plan deals mainly with the Council's land and property assets and looks at how these assets can be used to support the achievement of the Council's objectives by ensuring that they are used and managed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

The purpose of Legal Services is to continue to provide the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community. Our ambition is to be the best place to practice law in local government by being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology, and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About the role

This position would suit someone who is passionate about delivering an excellent service, dealing with new work types, and managing a diverse caseload within the commercial property law and practice area. Our customers rely heavily on the team to help deliver the Council’s objectives, so this is a thriving and growing team working for various departments in the Council.

Drawing on your expertise and prior experience, you will excel in thriving amid the demands of a customer-focussed environment and a team with an ambitious agenda for the future. Once you are well-established in the role, there will be ample opportunities to contribute to the broader activities of the Corporate Legal Team, extending beyond your specialised field in support of the team and service objectives.

We prioritise learning and development in this role, and you will receive support to grow your skills and advance to the next level in your career.

Our Legal Operations Team will assist you in delivering your work, and they are dedicated to investing in investing in our systems and processes as we strive towards Lexcel accreditation.

You will be a valuable member of a team where everyone is crucial to its overall success and is required to play their part to the best of their ability.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours listed below guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as One Team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

About you

We are seeking a fully qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX, with post qualification experience in commercial property to support the work of the Property Team in the Corporate Legal Team. You will report to the Principal Property Lawyer, who will in turn support you in your work and professional development.

Our ideal candidate will:

• Have sound knowledge and experience of commercial property law and practice, preferably in local government or the public sector.
• Be able to support our Property and Asset Management colleagues on a range of general commercial property, landlord & tenant and development work including acquisitions, disposals, leases, property development projects, advice on property transactions, land law and practice within the context of local government or public sector (private practice experience will also be considered).
• Be confident in managing mixed commercial property caseload.
• Be a team player willing to contribute to the wider objectives of the team.
• Have excellent communication, and relationship building skills.
• Be able to work to tight deadlines and remain calm under pressure; and be committed to learning and development targets.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day Nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Victoria Lloyd-White, Interim Principal Property Solicitor at victoria.lloyd-white@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: 29th January 2024

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.