Address
Form of workThe Legal and Governance Service provides high quality, targeted and accessible legal advice across a range of departments within the Council, as well as schools/academies across Trafford borough, in order to secure and deliver effective solutions to legal issues.
The main duties of the post will be to represent the Legal and Governance Team in the promotion of collaborative working across the Council and the maintenance of customer focus and to achieve the highest quality results in all aspects of the work of the Legal and Governance Services.
You will provide strong professional leadership, line management and supervision of Lawyers and Legal Assistants, including carrying out performance development reviews and 1:1’s in your team(s).
You will support the Principal Lawyer in ensuring the quality of services delivered by your relevant legal service area(s) and implementation of development plans within your team(s) to deliver continuous improvement in performance and cost efficiency.
You will maintain a comprehensive understanding of legislative and service requirements for your service area(s) and ensuring changes are implemented across the relevant area(s).
You will lead on the provision of expert advice and supervising the work undertaken by Lawyers and Legal Assistants within your team(s).
You will carry a caseload of highly complex legal and procedural work and advising on technically complex matters.
Providing high quality, timely advice and guidance relating to new legislation, statutory instruments, policy documents, circulars and case law within your area of legal expertise and where required, more generally.
You will prepare, review and provide legal comments for reports and attending such meetings of the Council, the Executive Committees, Sub-Committees and Working Parties where necessary in connection with the duties of the post.
You will be responsible for and, where appropriate, conduct cases on behalf of the Council in the Magistrates, County and High Courts and before other tribunals.
Ideally, you will come from a public sector background and will have experience of elections and experience within this area of law to take a proactive approach to your role and responsibilities, learning and development.
You will possess a “can do” approach. Well organised and adaptable, you will be innovative, creative and have an aptitude for strategic and critical thinking. You will be able to communicate and explain complex issues to stakeholders in an easily digestible form and to influence decision making with an ability to develop effective working relationships with all levels of management. With an ability to learn and share learning with others, you may from time to time be asked to take on challenges outside your field of expertise.
You will join a strong management team that deals with issues in a pragmatic manner, within a supportive environment and be required to work 36 hours 15 minutes per week, between Monday and Friday. On occasion, you may be required to work outside of these hours to provide legal support to committees and/or meetings. The proposed working hours and pattern will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate. The Council also promotes flexible working initiatives for staff, to balance work and life commitments.
About you
Your style and approach will reflect our values and behaviours. You will be committed to continually learning and improving the way you do things to ensure effective outcomes; valuing and respecting others’ contribution, you will work together to deliver service; you will take ownership of your actions and strive to getting things right first time and learn from when things do go wrong; you will enjoy taking personal responsibility to resolve issues and change what you do and how you do it to make a difference.
About us
Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors are embarking on a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford’s huge potential. Our vision is working together to build the best future for all our communities and everyone in Trafford
Trafford really is a great place to work. With a positive permission culture, we embrace innovation and encourage performance. We’re keen to recruit someone with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do
We recognise that having a diverse workforce is essential to bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to our Council, so we particularly welcome applications from minority, marginalised and diverse groups, and we in turn promise a fair and unbiased recruitment process.
We currently have an exciting vacancy within our team to enable us to continue to build on our success and also bring new experience, knowledge and ideas into the team.
We are looking for a Principal Solicitor to join the People Legal Team who has the drive and determination to contribute to the team’s exciting vision.
For more information about the team/role please contact Cath Turner, Principal Lawyer, by email in the first instance at cath.turner@trafford.g
About the benefits
You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centred and values based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.
Closing date: 3 March 2024
For further information or to apply for the position please select the 'Enquire/Apply' button below and navigate to the role.
