Senior Lawyer (Regulatory)

Torbay is breathtaking, captivating, and welcoming, occupying a prime position on the south coast of Devon. Currently experiencing unprecedented levels of investment and the Council’s own ambitious transformation programme have given Torbay the opportunity to capitalise on the area’s profile and many assets.

As a small unitary authority, you’ll discover Torbay is a place where you can make things happen quickly. We have real momentum building, fuelled by a shared sense of purpose and ambition - which is evident by our success in being awarded the ‘Most Improved Council’ at last year’s Local Government Chronicle Awards. We want Torbay and its residents to thrive and are committed to making a difference in our community, delivering high quality services to local people.

To complement this journey, we are now seeking a Senior Regulatory Lawyer to join our Legal Services Team to assist and support in our regulatory caseload which incorporates housing, licensing, judicial reviews, and prosecution and enforcement work. You will have particular experience in housing law to include homelessness (and judicial reviews arising from homelessness decisions), housing standards, and anti-social behaviour injunctions. This varied role provides a platform to be actively involved, supporting key agendas pertinent to the success and prosperity of Torbay, its residents, businesses, and wider communities. No two days will be the same, for which those already working within local government will attest to and actively thrive upon.  

Undertaking the role of a Senior Lawyer, you will be a suitably qualified professional with at least 3years PQE; excited by a fast-paced and varied caseload, conscientious, professionally curious and a role model to other team members. In return, you will join a supportive and rewarding organisation and team, whereby your talent will be valued and actively developed. At Torbay Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from our people, and we are excited for you to join us.

We also understand the importance of an effective work-life balance, therefore offer an enviable hybrid working approach. This is managed effectively around the need to attend essential meetings and/or make court appearances in line with the remit of the role. 

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work for an employer that is in a great period of change and sees legal services as not simply a support function, but an enabler in the pursuit of the highest standards and outcomes for its residents. 

In return we offer:

• A generous salary (to include market supplement). 
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service. 
• A Career Average Re-Valued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme through Peninsula Pensions. 
• Flexible working. 
• Paid professional subscription. 
• Learning and development opportunities. 
• A supportive management and team structure. 
• Family friendly policies. 
• Key skills relocation package. 
• Golden Hello opportunity. 
• A wide range of lifestyle discounts and health and wellbeing benefits. 

We would welcome applications from suitably qualified and experienced candidates.

For an informal chat please contact Samantha Goodwin on 01803 207164 or samantha.goodwin@torbay.gov.uk, or Amanda Barlow on 01803 207172.

1. Key purpose of job:

• To provide high quality efficient and effective legal advice and services to the Council. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post:

• The delivery of high quality efficient and effective legal advice and services to the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics, in a way that furthers and promotes good customer care within Legal Services.
• To undertake all legal services work as required, with minimal supervision and professional support.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post:

• To undertake case work and provide advice within the specialist areas of law.
• To provide legal advice and services in relation to other areas of local government law as required by the Senior Solicitor or Head of Legal Services.
• To consider, prepare and conduct (including advocacy) matters in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and High Court and in all other Tribunals or hearings of whatever description, on behalf of the Council.
• To attend quasi-judicial bodies as Legal Advisor, including Council Committee meetings.
• To provide training as required to client departments.
• To be knowledgeable and up to date on the law, practice, and current issues within the specialist areas of law upon which the post holder advises on.
• To be knowledgeable and up to date on the general law relating to local government, including Freedom of Information and Data Protection. 
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post:

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post:

• The post holder is required to provide informal support and supervision to junior members of the team and Business Support Officers.
• The post holder will allocate work to junior members of the team and Business Support Officers; and assist the Senior Solicitor in quality assuring the work of these Officers.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post:

• The post holder operates in an environment governed by the need to meet deadlines    (including those externally imposed) in a context of continually changing priorities and where the work is usually of a complex and/or sensitive nature. 
• The post holder is required to be able to travel to site visits, Court hearings and meetings.
• The post holder is likely to handle cases of a sensitive and emotive nature concerning matters which may have caused persons distress and upset.
• The post-holder may occasionally experience verbal abuse and aggression during the course of their duties. Policies are in place to mitigate the frequency and extent to which these will affect the post-holder. 

7. Physical demands of the post:

• The post holder may occasionally be required to handle heavy documentation e.g., deed parcels, court bundles and public inquiry files, offsite with appropriate manual handling equipment provided to enable safe working.

8. Specific resources used by the post:

• The post holder will have access to a laptop computer and other agile working equipment.
• The post holder is required to ensure the security of confidential and sensitive information when transporting and using files and laptops when homeworking, travelling and working away from the office.

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External
  • Contact with service users, other Local Authorities, Partners and external bodies, Government Departments, other professionals (legal and others), Courts and Tribunals.
  • Contact with members of the public.
• Internal
  • Contact with officers at all levels within the Council. Frequent contacts with Senior Officers. Contact with Members on specific case matters, including giving advice on courses of action and their legal risks and ramifications.
• The post holder will represent the Council and be responsible for influencing and negotiating with others on contentious matters in circumstances where the relationships between contacts and the matters in question will usually be complex and may involve difficult situations requiring tact and sensitivity.

10. Other duties:

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information:

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles.
• The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.
• Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence of this will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info details

Job Title Senior Lawyer (Regulatory) Strategic team/Directorate Joint Commissioning Team

Service Corporate Services Business unit Legal Services

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness:

• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
• Able to influence and persuade others at a high level both inside and outside of the Council.
• Advanced negotiating skills.
• Ability to manage a full and substantial workload.
• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise work effectively.
• Able to work as an integrated part of the wider Legal Services team and be supportive of colleagues and management.
• Ability to command respect and authority with those persons the post holder is required to influence, support and advise.
• Proficient in Information, Communication and Technology skills.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post. 

Desirable skills and effectiveness:

• Ability to adapt to new areas of work.

Knowledge Essential knowledge:

• A high level of knowledge of the law and procedure within the specialist discipline to which the post holder is appointed.
• A detailed knowledge of the law applicable to Local Government.
• A general working knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of the Monitoring Officer.
• A general awareness of the policies, aims and objectives of the Council.

Desirable knowledge:

• Understanding of the nature of a Local Government in-house Legal Service. 

Experience and achievements Essential experience and achievements:

• Experience as a Legal Advisor and advocate.
• Experience of working within a legal environment.
• Able to devise, prepare and deliver training.

Desirable experience and achievements:

• Experience of working in an in-house local government Legal Service.
• Experience of working in accordance with the LEXCEL standards.
• Experience in providing formal and/or informal support, supervision and mentoring to junior members of staff.

Qualifications/professional memberships Essential qualifications/professional memberships:

• Admitted and practicing Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (or equivalent), with at least 3 years post qualification experience.
• Professional Membership of the Solicitors Regulatory Authority or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships:

• Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice.
• BIIAB Level 2 Qualification for Licensing Practitioners (Alcohol).

Other requirements Other requirements of the job role:

• Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling). 
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties. 
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent homeworking.