Lawyer (Highways and Licensing) WCC625344 in London

Westminster is the largest licensing authority in the country, with a uniquely diverse and challenging portfolio of licensed premises. From Soho to major cultural and sporting events, this is licensing work on a scale and profile few organisations can offer. Our decisions are regularly scrutinised, often attract national media attention, and frequently help shape best practice across the country.

You will advise Licensing Sub Committees across both boroughs as a Legal Adviser on a rota basis, attending hearings in person. The work is varied, fast paced and intellectually demanding and professionally rewarding. Growing talent, supporting each other, we work the Westminster Way valuing difference, acting with integrity and taking responsibility for the impact of our work. You do not need to be a licensing specialist already. We welcome candidates with planning or highways experience who want to build a long term career in this specialist area. You will be supported by a close knit, highly experienced team who take pride in developing people, sharing knowledge and delivering excellent advice to Members and clients.

As a Lawyer with our Licensing and Highways team you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster's success. Providing expert, high level legal, technical and procedural advice to Members and Officers in relation to a wide range of licensing cases and associated local government legislation, you'll act as one of the Legal Advisers to the weekly Licensing Sub-Committee and call-over meetings. Drafting the documentation relating to these meetings, and conducting and defending judicial reviews and statutory appeals in relation to licensing and highways matters, you'll also advise on enforcement matters and expedited reviews.

Undertaking a wide range of routine and complex legal cases, some of which will be high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted, you'll be ready to draft, advise on and produce key decisions for senior Council members and committees, and ensure that all procedural and standing order requirements are complied with. We'll also expect you to deal with a range of highways matters, including pavement licence applications and status queries, and draft and advise on highway notices and stopping up orders.

But your work won't stop here - you'll also work on Assets of Community Value applications and reviews, monitor changes in the law as they affect the Licensing and Highways Team, and make an active contribution to Legal Services' objective of continuous improvement, innovation and Lexcel accreditation. Committed to ensuring proper records are maintained and work is saved on our case management system, you'll also make sure the team's database is kept up to date.

You will have experience in some or all of the following:

• Advising on applications under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005, including Sexual Entertainment Venues.
• Advising Members at Licensing Sub Committee hearings and providing clear, confident legal advice.
• Drafting high quality written advice, summaries and full decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
• Advising on licensing policy.
• Conducting licensing appeals in the Magistrates' Court.

Most importantly, you will bring sound judgement, professionalism and a commitment to public service.

Why join us? Because this is more than a job. It is the opportunity to work on some of the most high profile licensing matters in the country, to influence decisions that matter, and to be part of a team that is proud of the impact it makes. At Westminster, everyone is valued, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute and make a difference.

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role. The Council is committed to achieving diverse shortlists to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. We especially encourage applications from a Global Majority (GM), people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities' background and, while the role is open to all applicants, we will utilise the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to appoint a candidate from a global majority background where there is a choice between two candidates of equal merit. If you are from a Global Majority background you can self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments.

At Westminster City Council, our work is full of extraordinary stories. Every day, our lawyers help shape a city known across the world, balancing vibrant night time economies, iconic events, complex developments and the needs of residents and businesses alike. This is work with real visibility, real consequence and real impact.

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, and over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in our borough. Westminster City Council is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city's future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diversity, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is Our Westminster Way.

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.