Interim Solicitor x2 – Planning

Reference no: K&C 5222349

Pay rate: £50.00 per hour PAYE

Role Length:  This opening assignment is for 1-2 months

In person evening committee attendance on a rota basis

To provide high level, expert professional/technical advice and guidance in planning and associated legal matters and local government law to internal clients, colleagues, managers, other Local Authority clients and partner agencies. To support and contribute to the effective delivery of the council’s objectives and priorities and actively contribute to the Legal Services delivering its objective of continuous improvement and innovation and Lexcel accreditation. Specialist knowledge of planning law is required and speciality in TCPA 1990 and committee work. Specialist knowledge of local government law is desirable.

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure complete and proper digital records are maintained relating to all work undertaken including time records using the service’s case management and time recording system.
• Monitor and share changes in the law and practice as they affect the planning team and implement changes when necessary, informing client departments of changes in the law and practice when they occur. Comply with and support the development and implementation of local processes and procedures including Lexcel requirements particularly with regards to file management and client care.
• Provide appropriate, timely, client centric, legal advice to the Council and its various departments on all matters relating to town and country planning, including enforcement, tree preservation orders and associated highways advice. Specialist knowledge of planning law is required. Specialist knowledge of local government law is desirable.
• Deal with all (including the most complex) matters within the planning team in collaboration with the Principal Solicitor, Chief Solicitors and the Director of Law as necessary. The post holder’s caseload will include high profile, politically sensitive and financially weighted cases.
• Draft, prepare and collate legal documentation on behalf of the Council in relation to public inquiries, judicial review cases and hearings.
• Advise on law and evidence and to have general conduct of all matters which are the responsibility of the post holder ensuring that time limits applicable to the case are complied with. Deal with enforcement advice matters relating to planning law.
• In person evening committee attendance on a rota basis at Town Hall and in person attendance once a month at team meeting.
• Achieve the most advantageous terms with external parties when negotiating and concluding planning agreements and undertakings.
• Draft and advise on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees and attend such committees and other meetings as the Principal Solicitor may require. Ensure that all procedural and standing order requirements are complied with. To advise elected Members as necessary.
• Attend meetings with Government Departments, other Local Authorities, other departments of the Council, and where appropriate other persons outside the Council some of which may be outside normal working hours.
• Prepare the Council’s case in relation to public inquiries and judicial review. Record time daily and bill matters appropriately.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications:

• Admitted solicitor or barrister.

Experience & Knowledge:

• Specialist knowledge of planning law is required.
• Speciality in TCPA 1990 and committee work experience.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of relevant local government law, town and country planning and highways law.
• Specialist knowledge of local government law is desirable.
• Knowledge of court and planning inquiry procedures.

Skills:

• Ability to effectively and appropriately provide and communicate complex legal advice to Members, officers and other stakeholders generally and at committee meetings.
• Demonstrable ability to work constructively with Council Members and ability to undertake the role with a high degree of political sensitivity.
• Good negotiating and influencing skills.
• Ability to effectively manage competing demands and meet tight deadlines.
• Flexible, positive can-do approach to managing change and work demands.
• Able to work to tight deadlines in a pressurised and dynamic environment and the ability to prioritise competing tasks.
• Ability to learn new areas of law and practice desirable.
• Strong IT skills using Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF.

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.