Legal Officer in Leeds

Salary: 36,032 per annum (pay award pending) - Grade 6

Location: Leeds

Hours: Hybrid Full time – 37 hours per week

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share. We currently have a vacancy for a highly motivated Legal Officer to join our Legal, Governance & Compliance Service Team.

This team are the liaison on all required legal support for the Bus Franchising and Mass Transit programmes. They work with both internal Combined Authority legal teams and external legal partners to ensure the provision of a complete legal offer to enable the successful delivery of the programmes.

The team can assist with the provision of advice and support relating (but not limited) to:

• The title investigation and acquisition of land and assets as relevant to the programme.
• Drafting data sharing agreements.
• Drafting of contracts, leases, partnerships and other agreements.
• Transport law, public procurement, construction, franchising, contracts, acquisition and leasing of properties, voluntary partnerships and ticketing schemes.
• The internal governance processes relevant to transport projects.

The legal team at West Yorkshire Combined Authority have a talent pathway, which offers an opportunity for internal Legal Officers to apply to the pathway and access funding to undertake an apprenticeship, CILEX Professional Qualification or SRA training to qualify as a Solicitor/ Fellow of CILEX. The talent pathway is run on an annual cycle after any probationary period has concluded and requires a separate application process.

This post is subject to vetting clearance.

Due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will be subject to relevant vetting checks at the appropriate level and any job offer will be conditional subject to successful vetting clearance. Applicants should be aware that it is not possible to make meaningful vetting enquiries in many jurisdictions outside the UK. Vetting clearance cannot therefore be granted if the applicant has not been resident in the UK for the relevant minimum period and comparable vetting enquiries cannot be made in jurisdictions where the individual has been residing.

The relevant periods are three years for NPPV 1&2 and five years for NPPV3.

Our Offer

• Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
• Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
• Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
• Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
• Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
• Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into Principal Lawyer your key responsibilities will include:

• Negotiate, draft and review a wide range of documentation and provide advice to a range of stakeholders in relation to the same, using initiative and judgement. This will require you to work independently on legal matters demonstrating a solid knowledge of policies, practices, and procedures, and ensure the effective management and maintenance of case files, in compliance with specific quality assurance requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the Legal team’s lawyers on more complex matters including drafting, research, and the provision of sound legal advice. Such as writing concise reports, responses to communications and presentations in relation to own casework or as required by a Lawyer within the Legal Service.
• Apply good communication, influencing skills and strong analytical skills to provide solution focussed advice which demonstrates a thorough understanding of the aims and objectives of the Combined Authority.

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:

• Paralegal / CILEX qualification (Level 3 Diploma); Degree with Law conversion qualification or law graduate as a minimum.
• Practical experience of successfully performing in a similar role.
• Experience of legal research, drafting and advice.
• Demonstrable good knowledge and experience within one of the key practice areas; property; projects; procurement & contracts; transport services.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.