Essex Legal Services (ELS) is part of Essex County Council (ECC) providing high quality, professional, legal advice across the Council and to external clients.

Job Purpose

Essex Legal Services (ELS) is part of Essex County Council (ECC) providing high quality, professional, legal advice across the Council and to external clients.

This role works as part of a specialist legal team providing advice and guidance to clients which underpins effective decision making, performance management and meets statutory requirements. The successful applicant will be part of a specialist legal team making a real difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services' business and the business of our clients

You will be a qualified solicitor or chartered legal executive and be a member of the appropriate professional body. You will have relevant experience working as a lawyer, commercial awareness to contribute to the development and maintenance of streams of business and the ability to build excellent working relationships that encourage collaboration and exert influence, to drive a continuous improvement culture

Accountabilities

* Responsible for providing timely and accurate legal advice across the Council and to external customers, including constructively challenging where appropriate to produce the best possible outcomes.
* Accountable for delivering outcomes against the business plan for legal services which supports and drives the Council's wider Organisation Strategy and vision.
* Act as a legal practitioner and advocate providing specialist advice, professional consultation and support to colleagues (where appropriate) within your team.
* Understand client needs and provide them with a service they value; driving the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement.
* Support the development of current and future business opportunities, to promote the Essex Legal Services' vision to the external market.
* Build strong working relationships across the Council and external clients to ensure a quality advice service is provided to the customer.
* Delegated functions as detailed in the Council's constitution (and as amended from time to time).
* Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Dimensions

Qualified solicitor or legal executive working within the following specialist areas of law: public and private law relating to children;
No direct budgetary responsibility but as a fee earner contributes to the Income target of £1.6million No management responsibility, instructs and guides unqualified colleagues.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

* Qualified solicitor/chartered legal executive registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority, or CILEX.
* Evidence of continuing professional development, and expert knowledge in relevant professional area.
* Experience of working within a legal setting in a, providing high-quality advice to a wide range of customers.
* Commercial awareness with sufficient professional credibility to maintain the existing client base.
* Proven track record of building strong working relationships across a large, complex organisation and with internal and external partners/stakeholders and clients.
* Ability to provide clear advice on complex matters to both to both the client base and junior colleagues.
* A strong focus on outcomes to achieve strategic objectives.

Benefits

Essex County Council is proud to offer an excellent benefits package to all its employees. More information can be found on the Working for Essex website.

Apply and next steps

In order to be considered please ensure you upload an up to date CV and supporting statement when prompted.


Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.