About the role
A unique opportunity to build a team and influence one of the largest and newest unitary Councils
North Northamptonshire Council is an ambitious, exciting, innovative and supportive place to work. The Council is committed to focused service delivery to improve the lives of our residents. Following local government reform, we are well on our way into our transformation journey to deliver excellent services in an inclusive and creative environment where ideas are encouraged alongside a commitment to staff development.
The Council has an ambitious growth agenda, securing significant levelling up funding to support regeneration projects and an overall revenue and capital budget of £292 million. The Council is proud to have delivered a balanced budget and despite the challenging financial position nationally is as a result, able to remain focused on delivery of its objectives.
We have invested in our legal team to support delivery of the Council’s priorities and created a structure that supports the team to deliver a holistic legal service across the Council’s functions. This is an exciting time to join us and be integral in building, establishing, and developing the new team providing high quality trusted advice.
We are committed to your personal development; the variety of work delivers an exciting mixed caseload for the team. Our approach provides you with an opportunity to influence and play a broad role in the Council and the way it delivers services to residents.
As a member of the team, you will be supported at a senior level and by your peers in a growing and developing team of professionals. The team’s focus is on enabling service delivery, to achieve this we adopt a partnering model with our clients, supporting them to deliver an ambitious agenda for North Northampton.
The newly created team provides an exciting opportunity for applicants whatever stage they are at in their career. We are committed to developing, nurturing, and growing talent from legal assistants, to the managers of the future. As a unitary authority, the opportunities are varied and broad providing a unique opportunity to shape processes and grow with the Council as it develops.
What will you be doing?
Job details
Job title: Lawyer : Property or Planning
Grade: BCW8 (£42,503-£46,549)
Reports to: Senior Lawyer, Property and Planning
Directorate and Service area: Governance & HR, Legal Services
Purpose of the job
To deliver good quality legal advice to client departments, ensuring they are aware of, and comply with, statutory requirements and the Council’s activities are conducted in a lawful and transparent manner.
General responsibilities applicable to all jobs
- Demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs.
- Comply with the Council’s policies and procedures including (but not limited to) safeguarding, financial regulations, promotion of equalities, customer care, agreed audit actions and health and safety (ensuring that reasonable care is taken at all times for the health, safety and welfare of yourself and other persons).
- Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
This job description reflects the major tasks to be carried out by the post holder and identifies a level of responsibility at which they will be required to work. In the interests of effective working, the major tasks may be reviewed from time to time to reflect changing needs and circumstances. Such reviews and any consequential changes will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.
Principal responsibilities of this job
- Provide legal advice and services as requested to the Council, its Members and it’s client departments commensurate with experience to ensure that the implications of local government law are complied with and understood, including adequately representing the Council in courts and tribunals.
- Supervision of Lawyers.
- Support senior solicitors with the drafting and provision of advise on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees and to attend Committees and other meetings as may be required, which may include meeting out of normal office hours, ensuring that all procedural and standing order requirements are complied with.
- Support and contribute to the effective delivery of the council’s objectives and priorities.
- Support achievement of the team’s income target.
- Monitor and share changes in the law and practice as appropriate and implement changes to policy and processes when necessary, informing client departments of changes in the law and practice when they occur.
- Respond to queries and calls promptly and professionally, using effective communication and engagement.
- Ensure complete and proper digital and physical records are maintained as appropriate relating to all work undertaken including time records using the service’s case management and time recording system.
- Work collaboratively with other teams and support the training and development of colleagues and clients.
About you
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Attributes |
Essential criteria |
Desirable criteria |
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Education, Qualifications and Training |
Relevant degree. Qualified CILEX, Solicitor or Barrister, licensed to practice.
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Postgraduate level management qualification. |
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Experience and Knowledge |
Effectively and appropriately provide and communicate legal advice commensurate to experience to Members, Officers and other stakeholders generally and at committee meetings. Good negotiating and influencing skills. Effective management of competing demands and tight deadlines. Flexible, positive can-do approach to managing change and work demands.
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Work constructively with Members and demonstrate political sensitivity.
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Ability and Skills |
Leadership, delegation and team building skills. Problem solving. Strong communication and presentation. |
Analytical thinking and evaluation. Strategic thinking - balancing expectations and requirements now and in the future. Political and cultural awareness.
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Equal Opportunities |
Ability to demonstrate awareness / understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
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Additional Factors |
Promote the Council’s values of being:
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Our benefits
We offer:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
About us
We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.
Our priorities are:
- helping people live active fulfilled lives
- caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
- enabling a thriving and successful economy
- leading on a green and sustainable environment
- ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
- providing modern public services
Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.
Your differences make us different - Achieve Together.
We are undertaking consultation with the Trade Unions on terms and conditions and the future NNC pay structure and during this time are appointing new employees on interim spot salaries. You will be advised of the outcome and any impact on your role once this work is complete.
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