Senior Contracts Lawyer (PO7)

Job Category: Admin & Clerical

Job location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, Greater London, SE6 4RU, United Kingdom

Hours per week: 35

Start date: Immediate start

Salary: £34.74 per hour

Main Purpose of the job: To handle more complex contract work arising and in particular deputise for the Principal Lawyer as appropriate in this major Council work area. This will include advice and assistance with legal documentation and negotiation with partners or preferred bidders in relation to joint commissioning initiatives with the Health Authority or other local authorities. Support the Principal Lawyer in advising and drafting contracts and protocols on a wide range of public private partnership arrangements. Provide advice on more complex procurement and tender documentation.

Summary of Responsibilities and Personal Duties:

• Ensure that legal advice and assistance is provided efficiently and expeditiously both personally and by other staff within the Team.
• Manage and co-ordinate the work of staff and provide advice, guidance and direction as necessary.
• Deputise for the Principal Lawyer as required.
• Manage a group of staff within the Team on a day to day basis, as required by the Principal Lawyer.
• Undertake as required (and in particular in any major work area allocated), a personal caseload of the more complex contract advice, and agreement preparation work.
• Deal with the preparation of complex or unique forms of contract, specialised agreements, advise on any matters of contract law and prepare other complex or unusual documentation as above.
• To work flexibly as part of the Contracts Team and be willing to offer support and assistance to other lawyers in the wider Legal team as required.
• Act as legal advisor to Members and Officers in connection with procedures or matters arising from the Committees attended and participate in the formulation of policy proposals for presentation to Committees.
• Deal with Ombudsman cases.
• Attend Committees, as directed, to give such legal and general advice as may be necessary.
• Draft reports to Committee, if required, both on general departmental matters, and on specific items connected with own work.
• Scrutinize reports drafted by other directorates and consider legal implications of their committee reports, contributing as appropriate.

Knowledge:

• Advanced and substantial knowledge of the particular area of law and knowledge of its application in a local authority context.
• Knowledge of progressive strategic and operational management practice.
• An advanced understanding of the issues facing local government and an ability to rise to them.
• Knowledge of practice and procedure in Courts, tribunals and Inquiries.

Aptitude:

• Ability to use initiative and experience to analyse problems, make decisions and exercise proper professional judgement without reference to others.
• Capability to work positively and imaginatively in conjunction with others at the most senior level in the authority and with partners to prepare and promote the Council's policies and generally to deal with issues progressively.
• Ability and willingness to carry out special tasks and/or projects contributing to or leading multi-disciplinary teams as necessary.
• Ability to work under substantial pressure.
• Robust but creative approach in the interpretation and application of the law.

Skills:

• Articulate and confident in oral and written presentation.
• Ability to present written information succinctly, accurately and clearly.
• Ability to give clear and concise advice on the telephone, at meetings and in correspondence.
• Ability to draft complex and unusual legal documentation and deal with complex matters.
• Ability to assess priorities and meet conflicting deadlines.
• Ability to supervise, advise, guide and train less experienced staff.

Experience:

• Substantial practical relevant experience of the appropriate area of work set out in the job description.
• Experience of undertaking an extensive and varied legal caseload proficiently at a senior level.
• Experience of managing staff and of ensuring performance of work programmes and objectives within strict legislative and other timescales.

General Education:

• Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives (or equivalent qualifications) or demonstration of equivalent competence.

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to work as part of and lead and motivate a team of staff.
• Ability to contribute proactively to the management of the service through the management team and otherwise.
• Dependable, self-reliant and self-motivating.
• Ability to anticipate problems and to develop appropriate solutions.
• Ability to liaise effectively with clients and to control clients’ work programme requirements.
• Commitment to service excellence.
• Complete flexibility of approach to service provision.