Interim Contracts Lawyer – North Herts Council

Interim Contracts Lawyer - North Herts Council

North Herts Council

Temporary (3 months), Full Time

Up to £55 per hour

Location: Letchworth Garden City

Closing Date: 15th December 2024

The Opportunity

To provide a cost effective and high-quality Legal Service to the Council in all contract and procurement law and associated matters, to the service’s agreed professional standards. To provide a cost effective and high-quality legal service to the Council with a mixed caseload of contract and procurement law matters and one or more of the other areas of legal work undertaken by the District Council. To provide legal advice on the successful delivery of the Council’s procurement strategy and any other relevant corporate objectives and projects.

Key responsibilities

• To effectively conduct a full and varied case load of complex and sensitive contract and procurement matters and a mix of other matters in one or more of the other areas of legal work undertaken by the District Council and in the context of legislation relevant to Local Government and the public sector.

• To undertake research to provide advice to the Council in the areas of contract and procurement law specifically and local government law generally.

• Timely response to legal instructions to ensure these meet agreed performance targets.

• Being the Council’s lead negotiator on the legal aspects of contract and procurement transactions.

• Drafting contracts and agreements relating to all aspects of the Council’s business eg building and civil engineering contracts, service contracts, works contracts, procurement documentation, instructions to Counsel and reports, including complex and substantial documentation.

• To provide accurate advice and guidance to team members, client officers and Members in all contract and procurement law matters and other general matters.

• Preparation of and contributing to Committee reports and attendance at Council and Committees meetings from time to time as directed and required.

• To periodically review all relevant standard documents within the areas of responsibility to ensure that they are up to date and identify appropriate improvements in processes and procedures relevant to the section.

• To provide full, detailed, and effective management information, including case updates as directed on a regular basis.

• To continue the development of performance standards and achievement of external accreditation, where relevant.

• To compile, update and adhere to procedure notes and accredited practices.

• To attend client liaison meetings and corporate group meetings (eg Contract and Procurement Group) as required.

• To supervise and support, if requested, a trainee solicitor, ensuring compliance with the SRA Code of Conduct in terms of the Solicitors Accounts rules and Personal Competence Training and record keeping in accordance with the professional practice rules.

• Responsible for ensuring that the Council’s Officers and Members are appraised of changes in the law in the areas of responsibility.

• To undertake any other reasonable duty within the overall job objective as required commensurate with the grade. 

Political Restriction 

This post is subject to political restriction, which is divided into two categories and relates to the post holder duties, thus;

Specified posts, including ‘deputy chief officers’ - since the post holder would be required to deputise for the Legal Team Manager at relevant committee and subcommittee meetings to make formal reports, and provide additional policy advice, this constitutes a specified post within this criterion. 

‘Sensitive’ posts, which meet one of both of the following duties related criteria,

• Giving advice on a regular basis to the authority itself, to any committee or subcommittee of the authority of any joint committee on which the authority are represented, or where the authority are operating executive arrangements, to the executive of the authority; to any committee of that executive, or to any member of that executive who is a member of the authority.
• Speaking on behalf of the authority on a regular basis to journalists or broadcasters.

The post holder is therefore prevented from having any active political role either in or outside the workplace. The postholder is automatically disqualified from standing for or holding elected office e.g., as a Local Councillor or MP (excluding standing for or holding elected office as a Parish or Town Councillor, as Parish/Town Councils are Local Authorities, but not principal authorities, and are therefore not covered). The postholder is also restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or candidate or speaking to the public at large or publishing any written or artistic work that appears to support a political party. It does not debar political party membership, just active participation, and endorsement.

The postholder must therefore be aware that in accepting this post, they are required to confirm that they will conform with these political restrictions and that they will be included as conditions of their formal contract of employment with the authority.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Admitted qualified Solicitor or Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
• Degree in law (minimum 2.2) or equivalent and eligibility for a current practicing certificate.
• Experience of conducting a full varied caseload of complex and sensitive contract and procurement matters.
• Experience of conducting a complex and varied caseload of Contract and Procurement matters and one or more of the other areas of legal work undertaken by the District Council, including understanding of Contract Procedure Rules and challenges.
• Experience of drafting other complex and substantial documentation including reports, policies, and procedures.

• Experience of effectively conducting a complex case load without supervision.
• Experience researching into and advising on complex areas of law.
• Drafting experience relating to complex contract and procurement matters and either planning agreements, property matters, pleadings or other similar documents.
• Experience of instructing Counsel.
• Previous experience in local government.
• Awareness of a regulatory framework and how to apply it.
• Understanding of the role of legal advisor in public forum.
• Knowledge of local authority law and procedures.
• Experience of dealing directly with and advising Elected Members and /or senior officers.
• Experience of training Members or other Officers.
• Experience of advising in a public forum (i.e.: Committee).
• Experience of working and advising in a politically sensitive environment.
• Admitted qualified Solicitor or Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
• Degree in law (minimum 2.2) or equivalent and eligibility for a current practicing certificate.
• Law Society Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice.
• Excellent keyboard skills and use of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office suite of programmes.
• Experience in handling a caseload related to planning and regulatory matters.
• Proficiency in drafting legal documents and advising on complex legal matters.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and decision-making processes related to planning and regulatory law.
• Confident in conversing in fluent English which is sufficient to fulfil all aspects of the role.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to manage time effectively, work under pressure, and prioritise tasks.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team and influence others.
• Proficiency in IT, particularly in Microsoft Office and legal case management systems.
• Ability to work occasional unsociable hours and attend off-site meetings as needed.

If you want to know more about the responsibilities, benefits, or anything else about this great opportunity, or if you’d like to request a copy of the full job profile, please email thea.towers@Essex.gov.uk