Principal Legal officer - Childrens Social Care - REQ000255

Job title: Principal Legal Officer

Salary: PO4 £43,421.04 - £46,464.00

Contract: Permanent

We serve an outstanding Children’s & Families Department, and seek three full time permanent Principal Legal Officers (PO4) to practise primarily in the area of Children’s Social Care Law.

Benefits include:

Access to West Yorkshire Pension Scheme
Generous annual leave entitlement
Training and development
Flexible working, including from home.

The successful candidate will be supported by an experienced team of Legal Officers and Legal Assistants. They will also be supported by an experienced team of senior principal legal officers and team managers to assist with personal development and career progression.

The successful candidate will be a solicitor or barrister holding a practising certificate or FILEX with knowledge and experience of Children’s Social Care Law. This position would suit a newly qualified solicitor or Legal Executive. Previous experience of child care law would be welcome but not essential.

Leeds is an award winning and progressive authority, which works closely with local communities and businesses to create a child friendly city. At its core is the overall vision to be the Best City, to tackle poverty and inequality and improve quality of life for everyone who calls Leeds home.

Having a workforce that reflects the people of Leeds is important. We value diversity and fair treatment of employees and applicants. Leeds City Council is a Stonewall Top 100 and Mindful employer, and proudly retains the Disability Confident Standard.

Our Legal Services department reflects the diversity of Leeds, and is a welcoming and inclusive team, with a positive, healthy workplace culture where everyone can be themselves. Our Lexcel accreditation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing a quality legal service.

Essentials include good teamworking and interpersonal skills, ability to prioritise own workload, to undertake some advocacy, working to tight deadlines, and adhering to our values;

Being open, honest and trusted
Treating people fairly
Spending money wisely
Working as a team for Leeds
Working with people, engaging all communities

This is a rolling advert, however applications will be shortlisted at the end of each month.

Contact Safeena Koshar (Team Manager) on tel:01133789101 or via email at safeena.koshar@leeds.gov.uk or in her absence Rebecca Roberts (Section Head) on tel:0113 3789134 or via email at rebecca.roberts@leeds.gov.uk for an informal discussion about these posts.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - 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 and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

PURPOSE OF THE JOB
To 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 Best Council Plan.

To undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal professional work in the area of Children’s Social Care law. The post holder will be expected to have this areas of work as a focus but also to provide support on other areas of child care related law (eg private Children Act matters) as required, and any other local government legal matters and /or matters dealt with by Legal Services.

The post holder, depending on the job role and area of law as outlined above, would be expected to provide advice; draft legal documents, including agreements, and deal with contested hearings, with more complex advice, drafting and advocacy being dealt with by higher grader officers.

To contribute directly to the generation of external income and work flexibly across the Service as and when required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

To undertake a substantial personal caseload of legal matters in one or more areas as set out above in “Purpose of job”.
To draft legal documentation as necessary relevant to the job role.
To conduct investigatory and preparatory work as necessary to ensure effective presentation of cases to court and or successful completion of agreements as appropriate.
To provide advice/updates as to the progression of cases and the value of particular strategies.
To draft instructions to counsel.
To attend court/tribunals/inquiries/appeals with counsel as instructing representative if required.
To undertake advocacy on cases where appropriate, including contested hearings.
To work flexibly as part of a team to cover commitments including for example court work/ completion of agreements and other work as required.
To provide advice to clients both orally and in writing.
To maintain an awareness of all legislative and case law developments which might impact on the work of clients and advise them as appropriate.
To prepare and deliver training for clients and colleagues with regard to law and practice relating to their functions and work.
To contribute directly to the generation of external income.
To work flexibly across the Service as and when required.
To support other staff within the Section and Service as required.
To take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety policy.
Willing to abide by the Council’s Equality and Diversity policy in the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council.
To perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the Council’s policies.
To foster and deliver a “can do “attitude with regard to all aspects of the role, including advising and supporting colleagues, clients and members and contributing to change.
To meet all professional requirements, for example and if appropriate, the SRA competence framework in relation personal development.
To carry out such other duties within Legal Services and the Council, and for other clients as, from time to time, may be reasonably required, which are commensurate with the grade, experience, training and level of responsibility within the Council at your initial place of work or from any other of the Council's establishments or from any other suitable place of work identified by the Council. You may be required to attend meetings, tribunals, inquiries/appeals and courts outside the boundaries of Leeds City Council.
To undertake work for other authorities under partnership and/or other arrangements.

RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will be part of a large team and will also work with internal and external clients, other stakeholders and partners across the city and region to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
The post holder will be based in an establishment within the city of Leeds but it is expected they will need to work at any location in the city. The Council operates a changing the workplace policy and the post holder will be expected to work from home on a regular basis.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Terms and conditions of employment are in accordance with collective agreements negotiated from time to time by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services set out in the National Agreement on Pay and Conditions of Service and as supplemented by local collective agreements reached with Trade Union recognised by the Council.

EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION
Detailed below are the types of skills, experience and knowledge which are required of applicants applying for the post. The “Essential Requirements” indicate the minimum requirements and applicants lacking these attributes will not be considered for the post. The points detailed under “Desirable Requirements” are not essential, but may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
SKILLS

Able to plan and organise own workload, with minimum supervision, and to strict deadlines.
Able to act as an advocate on behalf of the Council including dealing with contested hearings as appropriate and relevant to the job role.
Able to draft and prepare clear and concise documents as relevant to the job role, including for example legal agreements, procedures, guidance notes, reports, statements, letters and memoranda.
Able to work and communicate effectively as member of a team.
Able to establish productive relationships with people and organisations at different levels inside and outside the Council.
Able to grasp and assimilate new information quickly.
Able to resolve a wide range of legal problems in a local government context.
Able to carry out effective legal research.
Able to contribute directly to generate external income.
Able to work flexibly across the Service as required.

KNOWLEDGE

Solicitor or Barrister entitled to hold a practising certificate or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (with a Grant of Rights of Audience).
Knowledge of the law and practice relating to Child Care law.
Knowledge of the law and practice relating to at least one other area of law covered by the service.
Knowledge of law and practice relating to local government. (A basic knowledge of local authority functions relevant to the job role).

EXPERIENCE

Experience of managing and dealing with a personal legal caseload.
Experience of advocacy e.g. courts/tribunal/inquiries/appeals including experience in dealing with contested hearings as appropriate and relevant to the job role.
Experience of providing advice to clients.
Experience of drafting legal documents and or agreements as relevant to the job role.
Experience of assisting others in providing training, preferably legal.
Experience of Windows based IT systems.
Experience of working to a quality system e.g. Lexcel, ISO or similar.
Experience of working as an effective member of a team.

BEHAVIOURAL AND OTHER JOB RELATED CHARACTERISTICS

To demonstrate and evidence living the Council’s values and behaviours.
A commitment to provide and develop for clients high quality legal services.
A professional approach and presentation.
An awareness of the sensitive and confidential nature of the work.
A willingness to work flexibly beyond normal hours.
To take ownership of your personal development planning and be willing to actively participate in learning and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.

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