Solicitor - DGA12263

Dumfries and Galloway Council is in the final phase of the expansion of our Legal and Licensing Service and looking to add a solicitor to its Court and Licensing Team. We would be delighted to hear from anyone with enthusiasm and specialist experience in Court work, with experience in Social Work (Children and Adult), including child protection, adults with incapacity, and permanence being highly desirable for the role.

The successful candidate will be expected to undertake Civil Court work and to provide advice to key clients on potentially contentious issues in a range of subject areas. Dumfries and Galloway Council has modernised its ways of working, through our Smarter Working Policy and legal case management system. Our flexible approach to work styles provides opportunities to manage your time in a more flexible manner and helps to achieve a better work/life balance.

The successful post holder must:

• Hold a degree in Scots Law (or equivalent) and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
• Be admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society of Scotland and hold a current unrestricted Practising Certificate.

Requirements:

• Have a good working knowledge of Scots Law.
• Have good knowledge of current and impending legislation in their practice areas of social work law, civil court procedure are crucial to this role. The successful applicant’s key client will be Social Work Services.
• Have an understanding or willingness to learn, of the impacts on the public sector.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage own varied and challenging workload.
• Effective time-management skills and prioritisation.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft packages – Outlook, Word, case/file management systems etc.
• Good organisational and file management skills.
• Ability to provide succinct and targeted advice.
• Drafting and negotiation skills.
• Legal Research skills/use of online research tools.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a Team.
• Self-confident and self-motivated.
• Fostering client relationships and good resolutions.
• Able to form productive working relations with fellow Council officers, elected members, and external solicitors.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs and demands of the service.
• Appreciation, acceptance of and a commitment to the importance of confidentiality.
• PVG Membership will be required for this role.

Some knowledge/experience of the following is desirable but not essential:

• Knowledge and experience of delivering legal advice in the Local Government/Public Sector.
• Experience of supporting clients/employer to develop policies/strategies.
• Experience of operating within a political regime.
• Understand local and national strategies and impacts on local government services.
• Experience of supporting committees, sub-committees and other Council led bodies/partnerships.

With an exciting benefits package, working for Dumfries and Galloway Council supports you to invest in your own health and wellbeing. Employees have access to our bespoke Vivup platform with over 800 discounts on everyday essentials from top UK retailers, restaurants, utility providers and more. Employees also get access to membership of The Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) exclusive discounts from local businesses, a Cycle-to-Work scheme, financial support from My Money Matters, and guidance from our trained Wellbeing Champions.

Here at Dumfries and Galloway Council we are committed to equality, diversity and equal opportunity with our values, which include treating everyone with dignity, fairness and respect, driving us to tackle inequality. We are looking for people that can bring different perspectives and experiences and especially welcome applications from those who are underrepresented in our organisation.

For further information please contact Jacqueline Holland, Governance & Assurance Manager, Mobile: 07920 071064.