Senior Lawyer with management responsibilities (Litigation) in Shefford

Location and Work Arrangement: Working on a hybrid-remote basis from any of our offices; Huntingdon, Northampton or Shefford.

Contract: Permanent, Full time

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and services to client organisations in a wide range of litigation matters comprising mainly of civil and criminal litigation, employment and education matters and other areas of legal practice where necessary to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
• Provide high quality, innovative, well researched and comprehensive specialist legal advice to clients (including elected members and senior officers), managing a complex caseload and delivering advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Act as a source of legal advice and support to any of the client Councils’ Committees and Directorates as directed.
• Attend courts and tribunals undertaking advocacy where required and to represent clients in negotiations and discussions with third parties in matters regarding the areas of legal practice relevant to the post.
• Instruct and manage suppliers of external legal services such as solicitors and barristers in accordance with the requirements of each client.
• Lead, direct, develop and improve the service to client organisations, predominately in the area of litigation, to ensure the provision of an excellent standard of client care and value for money.
• Act as a legal advisor to client organisations to ensure awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interest of the client organisations.
• Actively seek out new business development opportunities and to raise the profile of Pathfinder Legal Services with both our existing client base and potential new clients.
• Build highly effective working relationships with clients to ensure that Pathfinder Legal Services delivers a seamless and client focussed service to all its clients.
• Where required, provide training to clients in specialist areas of law.
• Ensure the effective identification and management of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
• Develop and provide legal input into training courses, briefing notes and legal clinic/surgeries for a range of professional clients including to reduce the directorates need for legal services and to increase their self-sufficiency.
• Manage the activities of the team to include performance, caseloads and productivity, motivation and development, recruitment and selection and appraisals.
• Supervise other members of the team in a line management capacity.
• Provide overall management of the teams complex and politically sensitive case load to ensure the provision of high quality, well researched and comprehensive legal advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Provide supervision and manage the work of the team to ensure that professional guidance is given, that expertise is employed and work is allocated appropriately within the team.
• Contribute to the development, training or mentoring of colleagues where required.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behaviour and their physical, social and welfare needs.
• Ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
• Provide cover and support, including in times of absence, to the Principal Lawyers based within the wider Adult Social Care & Litigation Service.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team by complying with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including time recording, billing, Lexcel and other accreditation schemes, and compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership team and other colleagues in contributing to the overall management of the team including staff performance, financial and practice management.
• Ensure the effective use of the ICT systems and working in accordance with the standards set out in the team’s Lexcel manual and policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• Carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• Act as an authorised signatory for an appropriate shareholder client.
• Buddy, train and support colleagues.

Benefits:

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.