We are currently working in partnership with a Local Government who are recruiting for a Principal Litigation Lawyer on a three-month temporary contract.

This is a London-based position on a full-time contract of 36 hours per week. This organisation is offering a heavily remote role that requires just one day a fortnight in-office, with a negotiable rate dependent on experience.

The primary purpose of the role is to oversee a specialist legal team, including Civil Litigation Lawyers, a Criminal Litigation Lawyer, an Employment Lawyer and Legal Assistants, while supervising other lawyers and junior staff. It also involves developing and executing strategies to effectively manage the legal work and the team responsible for it.

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Duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Acting as the Council’s principal source of expertise in respect of the law relating to all matters of civil and criminal litigation, employment, regulatory matters, housing law, corporate governance, including representation at courts or tribunals and to provide advice, guidance and practical assistance on local government law generally and the law relating to specialist areas and related projects

• Advising members and officers of the Council at high and strategic level on complex matters pertaining to civil/criminal litigation

• Overseeing of the conduct of the Council’s legal caseload in respect of general civil litigation/criminal litigation, employment and related project matters

• Conducting the Council’s most complex legal matters and advising at all levels of the Council together with drafting, negotiating and bringing the necessary documentation into effect

• Providing strategic and operational advice on the creation and maintenance of all relevant policies and documents required to be maintained by the Council

• Gathering, appraising and disseminating information on proposed and new legislation, case law and developments in respect of the whole range of the Team’s activities generally and specialist area and related project law in particular

• Training of Members and clients on relevant and latest development in law, the conduct of meetings and probity issues

• Preparing reports for and both attending and advising the Council’s cabinet and committees, particularly the Regulatory Committee and any relevant advisory and scrutiny Committees

• Representing the Legal Services at meetings with Councillors, inter-departmental meetings and meetings with outside bodies, including partners of the Council, government departments and inter-agency meetings and, where appropriate, recommending changes in Council policy and practice

• Tackling problems requiring extensive research and a wide working knowledge of the practice of law

• Instructing and working constructively with external solicitors and other consultants when appropriate

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Experience required:

• Solicitor, Barrister, FILEX, or similar legal qualification and authorised to conduct legal work

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Skills, knowledge and expertise required:

• Knowledge and experience of conducting civil/criminal litigation, housing and regulatory laws

• Advocacy experience in civil/criminal litigation, dealing with Planning, Property, Housing, Contracts, Regulatory matters

• Experience of advising in a local government or similar environment

• Knowledge of Local Government Governance or similar public sector body and governance

• Ability to work as part of a team and to offer supervision and support to other lawyers and junior personnel

• To deal with complex matters requiring extensive research and drafting

• Ability to lead and manage a team/workload effectively

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Working hours:

• Full time (36 hours a week)

• Monday to Friday

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Please note that you require recent experience to apply for this role.

James Andrews is acting as an employment agency and business in relation to this role.

At James Andrews Recruitment Solutions we try to respond to all applications personally, however, due to the high volume of applications this is not always possible. If you have not heard back from us within 72 hours, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Don’t forget our recommendation scheme: Recommend a friend or colleague to us and receive up to £250 each once they have completed 20 days in a role via James Andrews! Terms and conditions apply, contact us for details.