Job title: Senior Legal Officer

Salary: SO2 £38,510 - £40,444

Hours: 37 per week

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.

We are looking for an enthusiastic lawyer who is keen to learn new skills and develop expertise in new areas of law to handle a diverse workload of equal pay, employment and other areas of 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 Senior Legal Officer, you will bring to the role:

Organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your own workload
Sound research and drafting skills, and the ability to give clear advice on legal issues
Good interpersonal skills
The ability to work as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed.
The ability to grasp and assimilate new information quickly

About the role

The successful candidate will support the Head of Legal Services with Equal Pay litigation, which will be the primary focus of the role. The post will be based within the Licensing Communities & Corporate Legal Section, and the post holder may also be required to work flexibly across that Section and others within Legal Services. The successful candidate will be supported to develop expertise in all relevant areas.

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
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 guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Kev Shillitto, Head of Legal Services by email at Kevin.Shillitto@leeds.gov.uk.

Interviews are expected to be held week beginning 5 October.

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 visa route 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: To carry out legal and administrative work and provide an effective, high quality, professional service within Legal Services and the City Council generally.

The post holder will report to, and be allocated work by, the Head of Legal Services in respect of Equal Pay, which will be the primary focus of the role. Line management will be undertaken by an appropriate Team Leader. The post will be based within the Licensing Communities & Corporate Legal Section, but the post holder may be required to work flexibly across other sections within Legal Services.

Responsibilities

To undertake a personal workload of more straightforward employment law (equal pay) matters, including, by way of example, but not limited:

To assist the Head of Legal Services with legal work relating to equal pay, and to assist Principal Legal Officers, Team Leaders and the Section Head with other legal work carried out by the Section/s.
To give written and oral advice as appropriate.
To undertake legal research.
To prepare cases for hearing in Courts and Tribunals, including drafting orders, case summaries, correspondence, taking statements, collating documents; to arrange for the attendance of witnesses at Court, and to prepare instructions for Counsel.
To attend at Court with Counsel.
To draft, issue and serve appropriate pleadings.
To represent the Council, where appropriate, in Courts and Tribunals.
To inform instructing services of all outcomes, post hearing; and prepare all necessary updates.
To maintain and operate computerised systems.
To deal with enquiries/correspondence from instructing services, external solicitors, members of the public, Council Departments and other agencies.
To provide administrative support as required.
To prepare and deliver training.
To perform all functions and duties effectively and in accordance with the following:
- the Department's Standards, Objectives, Targets and Timescales
- the Department's Quality Procedures

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

Member of CILEX (level 6), Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) or a Degree in English Law

A non-legal degree level qualification or equivalent AND the applicant can demonstrate s/he has experience of working in a legal environment and dealing with legal work, 12 months experience in the past 5 years.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

To prioritise and organise own workload.
To work within time constraints and meet strict deadlines.
To establish effective relationships with people at different levels inside and outside the Council, i.e. external Solicitors, members of the public, and other Council Departments.
To grasp and assimilate new information quickly.
To work with minimum supervision within a supportive environment.
To draft legal documentation, agreements and advice.
To prepare cases for Courts and Tribunals, including drafting and preparing clear, concise and accurate documents, letters, memoranda and Court documents.
Ability to act as an advocate for the Council in appropriate cases at Court and Tribunals.
To express concepts and ideas clearly.
To communicate effectively as a member of a team.
Organising and prioritising own workload with minimum direction.
Dealing with enquiries and/or correspondence from a wide range of people.
Experience of using IT systems such as Windows, Word, Excel and Databases.
Experience of legal research.
Experience of assisting in the preparation of cases for Court or Tribunals.
Experience of working as a member of a team.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Experience of the preparation of court/tribunal documents e.g. witness statements.
Experience of giving legal advice in writing and orally.
Experience of advocacy.