Interim Employment Lawyer Legal Services

Job Ref: Bradford 5258857

Pay Rate: 24.28 per hour PAYE

Hours per week: 37 Monday Friday, normal working hours  

Role Length: This opening assignment is for 1-2 months

City: Bradford, Yorkshire

The post holder is expected to influence and negotiate with contacts both internal and external to the Council. Contacts will include officers at Chief Executive level and below, elected members, Courts, Tribunals and regulatory bodies of staff, private practice solicitors and barristers and other professionals involved in the area of work of the Education, Employment and Litigation Law Team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a senior case holder and, where appropriate, advocate, specifically in providing professional legal services in relation to Education Law to the Children s Services Department but also in providing professional legal services on matters of Employment and Litigation Law to the Council s Departments as may be required.
• Give legal advice and guidance to the Council s officers and to Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council.
• Provide supervision and support to more junior staff.
• Act under pressure in the face of competing demands arising form emergency and urgent situations.
• Deliver training to colleagues, clients and elected members.
• Co-ordinate the work of the team, to ensure that matters are prepared to professional standards and in compliance with relevant legislation, Regulations, Statutory Guidance and Practice Directions and to ensure that Court commitments and other deadlines are properly met.
• Undertake such duties as may be allocated by the Team Leader or Deputy Team Leader, to include the preparation of reports, advice and guidance.
• Advise Committees, Sub-Committees, Members, Officers and any organisation with which the Council has a formal arrangement for the giving of advice.
• Provide professional legal services to the Council s Departments, including the Children s Services and Adults and Community Services Departments as may be required from time to time.
• Assist other public authorities within the area on legal matters as may be required from time to time.

Qualifications:

1. Qualified solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Skills & Experience:

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. Minimum 3 years PQE in employment law plus public sector legal experience.
3. Able to carry out the working practices, procedures and operations across the specialist areas of Education, Employment and Litigation.
4. Able to analyse, interpret and present complex information from a variety of sources.
5. Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).