Legal Administrator

Essex County Council (ECC) is supporting Braintree Council to recruit a Legal Administrator. The opportunity: An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Legal Service Team as a Legal Administrator. This is a varied and important role providing high-quality administrative and clerical support to the Legal Team, supporting both legal service delivery and the Council's information governance functions. You will work closely with lawyers, governance colleagues and internal clients, helping to ensure the smooth, efficient and compliant operation of legal and information governance processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Legal Services team, including document preparation, proofreading, scanning, printing, bundling, correspondence and assisting with case management.
• Support information governance work, including preparing responses and disclosures to FOI and data protection requests including correspondence with the Information Commissioner's Office.
• Support the Council's governance processes, co-ordinating work programmes in readiness for the Council undertaking its formal decision making.
• Maintain accurate records and reports, including monthly information governance activity reports.

Job Accountabilities

• To provide timely and responsive clerical and administrative support to the Legal Services team, including the proof reading, preparation and despatch of official bundles, word processing including formatting of formal documentation, scanning, printing and binding and posting documents, and routine correspondence to parties on behalf of the team.
• In accordance with agreed procedures, to order goods and services for the Legal Service and to process payments through e-procurement, including matching invoices received to the respective Iken case management file, in order to ensure effective recharging is undertaken.
• Work with the Legal Service in the retrieval of key documentation from storage and ensure the safe return of any documents released.
• Assist with the destruction of files identified by the legal Service.
• Work with Iken (Case Management System) to set up new files for the legal Service, close completed matters, and run monthly reports, and assist the Legal Service with updating templates and case management system where necessary.
• Work with each lawyer to provide support in any matter, including diary management, management of the Legal Team inbox, obtaining/clarifying instructions, reviewing documents, drafting standard forms and templates used by the team.
• Arrange for notices to be published in the Newspaper and on the Council's website.
• To review and prepare all documentation submitted for sealing and signing registers, ensuring that all required documentation is ready for sealing, before submission to the Authorised Signatories for sealing/signing, and returning contracts to parties.
• To provide support on all Information governance requests undertaken by the team, including support in the preparation of responses to information request and correspondence with the Information Commissioner's Office.
• To administer the information governance records including the Data Breach log ensure all breaches are recorded and actioned in accordance with directions.
• To prepare monthly reports for the Information Governance lead officers including the Data Protection Officer on information governance activities.
• To administer the payment of the Annual Registration Fee with the Information Commissioner's Office.
• To support the corporate complaint process, including the co-ordinating of information and evidence in the preparation of responses being issued.
• To administer a corporate complaint records ensuring that all complaints are recorded and actioned in accordance with policy and direction.
• To provide support on the management and processing of the Council's internal governance procedures.
• Support with the issuing of new court proceedings before the Magistrates and County Court, working with the respective Lawyer in the preparation of the required documentation, liaise with the Courts Service on the management of court attendance, and all administrative duties through the Single Justice Procedure, and CE-Filing on High Court matters.
• Co-ordinate client liaison meetings, assisting in the preparation of agendas, and the circulation of any required documentation, taking of minutes and maintaining any actions and decisions logs.
• Work with colleague through the PLP arrangements to ensure the smooth transfer of matters between partnering authorities.
• Undertake some case work on behalf of the Legal Team, in accordance with defined work progresses, and under the supervisor of the instructing lawyer, undertake research as requested.
• Such variations as may be required from time to time, including undertaking duties to support the wider Governance Service without changing the general character of the duties shown above or the level of responsibility entailed.

You will be organised, reliable and able to work accurately in a confidential environment. You'll have a proactive approach, excellent attention to detail and the confidence to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

Benefits

• Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based) subject to business need.
• Competitive pay and benefits.
• Flexible working.
• Local Government Pension Scheme Defined Benefit Scheme.
• Free Car Parking.
• Learning and development for all staff.
• Staff Discounts.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff recognition schemes.
• Extensive health and wellbeing programme, including discounted gym membership.