Senior Legal Officer (Manchester)

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Legal Officer in Manchester.

Pay rate: PAYE 16.44 per hour

Contract duration: Temporary ongoing

Purpose:

The role holder will provide efficient and high quality legal advice and representation for our client’s area and where appropriate to external bodies working within a specific area of law. The role holder will provide effective advice on complex and sensitive legal issues in a constructive and positive manner. The role holder will have a personal caseload of legal work relevant to the Children & Families (Legal) Group.

Duties: 

• Provide advice to clients on relevant legal issues through knowledge of policies, practices and procedures, and ensure the effective management and maintenance of case files, in compliance with specific quality assurance requirements.
• Negotiate and draft legal documentation, including briefs/instructions to in-house advocates and external counsel.
• Conduct advocacy before the Courts, which may be contested, on behalf of the Council and external clients
• Research law and procedure to a high professional standard and keep abreast of legal developments.
• Assist and co-operate with other members of the team and other officers within Legal Services and provide cover as required. Comply with the Legal Services’ Manual of Practice Management Standards and Procedures.
• Undertake such other legal duties commensurate with grade as are assigned to the post holder by the City Solicitor or the Head of Legal Services, demonstrating political sensitivity at all times.
• Assist with the other work of the group as required and contribute to and assume a shared responsibility for the effective running and efficiency of the team.
• Comply with the Legal Services’ Manual of Practice Management Standards and Procedures
• Able to effectively influence a range of stakeholders in order to achieve beneficial outcomes for the shared legal service.
• Personal commitment to continuous self-development and service improvement.
• Through personal example, open commitment and clear action, ensure diversity is positively valued resulting in equal access and treatment in employment, service delivery and communications.

Specific Role Accountabilities:

• To have conduct, under minimum supervision of a wide range of legal case work including some of a more complex nature arising in relation to the work undertaken by the Group for children and families in public and private law pre and post proceedings.
• Providing the Councils with legal advice and representation on the law, related legislation, regulations and guidance for children and families.
• Provide legal support to the Group Head, Principal Lawyers and Senior Lawyer.
• Where required by the Principal Lawyer to act as a mentor to a designated Legal Officer or Trainee Legal Officer.
• To undertake such other reasonable legal and administrative duties as are assigned to the role holder by the Head of Group, Principal Lawyers and Senior Lawyers

Requirements:

• CILEX Professional Diploma in Law (Level 3) or equivalent legal qualification AND experience in children and family law is required.
• The role holder will be able and committed to working in a flexible manner including outside normal office hours, when the role necessitates the same.

Apply online or contact Terri O’Keefe on 01925 377 878. You can also email terri@peelsolutions.co.uk for more information on this role.