Lawyer (MG6)

Job Description

Job Category: Legal (Specialist)
Location: Civic Centre, Bromley Council
Hours Per Week: 36.00
Start Date: Immediate Start
Start Time: 09:00
End Time: 17:00
Salary: £27.32

The candidate concerned will have conduct of a full case load of care proceedings, participate in the legal duty rota, provide legal advice to clients on their statutory duties and carry out some advocacy.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
1. To manage own caseload, dealing with the more routine cases, with some supervision at the lower end of the grade and progressing through to the more complex cases, with a lesser level of supervision at the top end of the grade.
2. To provide legal advice to officers and elected members.
3. To conduct proceedings in courts and tribunals, including preparation of witness statements and assisting officers in the preparation of court documentation.
4. To undertake advocacy work for the Council in County Courts, High Courts or Tribunals.
5. To take part in department projects and inter-departmental projects.
6. To contribute to the effective performance of Legal Services, in particular:

⦁ Keeping the Team Leader informed of any problems and issues in a timely and constructive manner.
⦁ Assisting in the provision of statistical information to help the department monitor its service delivery.
⦁ Using the time recording and electronic case management system
⦁ To provide training to members, client Department, and other lawyers in the team

7. To provide customers with output and service delivery as specified in the service level agreement.
8. To work with external stakeholders and members as necessary.
9. To participate fully in the Council’s performance appraisal and personal development process in order to develop and enhance personal performance and service delivery.
10. To implement the Council’s equal opportunities policies and its statutory responsibility with regard to other individuals and service delivery.
11. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post, as required to ensure the efficient and effective running of the Department / Section.
12. To give expert legal advice in relation to children’s law, manage a caseload, give legal advice in relation to data protection, Freedom of information Act requests and other areas of law as may be required.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Qualified barrister, solicitor or legal executive with a full practising certificate.
• Higher Rights of Advocacy or Membership of the Law Society’s Children Panel would be desirable, but not essential

SKILLS & ABILITIES:
• Good interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Ability to build effective relationships with Council members, officers, external stakeholders and other legal team members.
• Can handle a varied caseload and can perform effectively under pressure.
• Can prioritise work and manage conflicting deadlines.
• Good advocacy skills in both courts and tribunals
• Good team player, support others and has a strong desire to achieve the overall team goal.
• Self reliant, can work effectively on own.
• Positive and flexible approach to work and will undertake work outside of area of expertise during busy periods.
• Analytical and creative approach to problem solving and decision making.
• Good IT skills and ability to use electronic case management and time recording system

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience of advising clients on childcare proceedings and dealing with childcare workload
• Experience of general litigation and other areas of law
• Experience operating at a legal professional level.
• Successful track record of advocacy and desire to carry out advocacy work

KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of family and childcare law
• Knowledge of one or more other areas of law undertaken by the team including, adoption, judicial reviews, community care, mental health, inquests, coroners inquiries, education and information governance law.
• Some knowledge and appreciation of the workings of local government and the political process that underpins it.
• Willingness and aptitude to expand into new areas of law.