Principal Legal Officer - REQ003754

Job title: Principal Legal Officer

Salary: PO4 £46,142 - £49,282

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Civic Hall

Leeds City Council is a progressive authority which works closely with local communities and businesses to create a vibrant and economically thriving city. Our planning legal team is continually highly ranked in the annual Law Survey conducted by Planning Resource.

We are looking for a qualified planning lawyer, who will be required to undertake a substantial personal caseload (both contentious and non-contentious) of legal professional work in the areas of development, planning law, highways law and some local government law.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Principal Legal Officer, you will bring to the role:

the ability to manage a substantial personal caseload of complex legal professional work (both contentious and non contentious), primarily development, planning law, highways law and local government law legal work;
good interpersonal skills;
a “can do” attitude with regard to all aspects of the role, including advising and supporting colleagues, clients and members;
the ability to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed; and
the ability to grasp and assimilate new information quickly.

About the role

You will advise on a wide range of planning and highways matters, working closely with council colleagues and third parties to find pragmatic solutions to issues; and provide advice to the council, attending committee and board meetings on occasion as required.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays;
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions;
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements;
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities; and
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Pippa Plumtree-Varley, Team Leader Development Team. Call 0113 3785131 or email philippa.plumtreevarley@leeds.gov.uk.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: The section covers the following areas of work: development, planning law, highways law, and local government law. The postholder will provide a high quality, value for money legal service, which actively supports the delivery of the Council’s strategic objectives as set out in the Leeds Ambitions. The post holder would be expected to deal with advice and contested hearings, with more complex advice and advocacy being dealt with by higher graded officers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work (both contentious and non-contentious) primarily in the area of development, planning law, highways law and local government law. The post holder will be expected to have this area of work as a focus but also to provide support on other areas of law as required, and any other local government legal matters and /or matters dealt with by Legal Services.
To draft legal documentation, agreements and advice
Contribute directly to the generation of external income and work flexibly across the Service as and when required.
Undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal matters in one or more areas as set out above
Draft and issue court and other documentation as necessary including instructions to counsel.
Conduct investigatory and preparatory work as necessary to ensure effective presentation of cases to court and provide advice/updates as to the progression of cases and the value of particular strategies
Attend court/tribunals/inquiries/appeals with counsel as instructing representative if required
Undertake advocacy on cases where appropriate including contested hearings.
Work flexibly to support other staff across the Service and as part of a team to cover court, tribunal/inquiries/appeals commitments and other work as required.
Provide advice to clients both orally and in writing.

To provide and develop high quality legal services for clients

Maintain an awareness of all legislative and case law developments which might impact on the work of clients and advise them as appropriate.
Prepare and deliver training for clients and colleagues with regard to law and practice relating to their functions and work.
Contribute directly to the generation of external income.
Meet all professional requirements, for example and as appropriate, the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) competence framework in relation to personal development and SRA Standards and Regulations.
Undertake work for other authorities under partnership and/or other arrangements
Attend meetings, tribunals, inquiries/appeals and courts outside the boundaries of Leeds City Council as required
Carry out such other duties within Legal Services and the Council, and for other clients as required commensurate with the grade
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate or FCILEX. (FCILEX will need to hold a Grant of Rights of Audience or a Legal Executive Advocate Certificate)

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application, Test, and Interview

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Plan and organise own workload, with minimum supervision, and to strict deadlines
Act as an advocate on behalf of the Council including dealing with contested hearings
Work and communicate effectively as a member of a team.
Establish productive relationships with people and organisations at different levels inside and outside the Council
Grasp and assimilate new information quickly
Resolve a wide range of legal problems in a local government context
Draft and prepare clear and concise documents, procedures, guidance notes, reports, statements, letters and memoranda.
Carry out effective legal research
Contribute directly to generate external income
Work flexibly across the Service as required
Professional approach and presentation
A willingness to work flexibly beyond normal office hours

Knowledge Required

Of the law and practice relating to planning and highways law and to local government
Awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work

Experience Required

Of managing and dealing with a personal caseload
Of advocacy e.g. courts/tribunal/inquiries/appeals including experience in dealing with contested hearings, as appropriate
Of providing advice to clients
Of assisting others in providing training, preferably legal

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

Committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

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