Solicitor/Legal Executive - Children and Education

About the role

Solicitor/Legal Executive - Children and Education

Fixed Term, 12 months

Full Time, 37 hours per week

£48,898 to £57,526 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 26th May 2025 (23:59)

Job Purpose

Essex Legal Services provide high quality, professional, legal advice across the council and to increasing numbers of external clients. Providing a client facing legal service which proactively embraces change and delights the customer.

Part of a specialist legal team providing high quality advice in the area of children and education with a focus on public law children proceedings to underpin effective decision making, meaningful performance management and meet statutory requirements. Achieving good customer service and making a real and demonstrable difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services’ business and the business of our clients.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor or legal executive primarily with a strong interest in working in-house to contribute to the ongoing development of the business and with the ability to build excellent working relationships.

Service/Functional 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.
To understand client needs and provide them with a service they value; driving the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement.
Build strong working relationships across the Council, external stakeholders and other local authorities 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.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Qualified solicitor/legal executive with a current Practising Certificate.
Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in the area of children law.
Experience of working within a legal setting in a politically sensitive environment, providing high-quality advice to a wide range of customers.
Particular knowledge and experience of public law and practice in relation to children including either willingness or experience to appear as an advocate in children matters
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 the client base and other colleagues.
A strong focus on outcomes to achieve strategic objectives.

To read more about us please visit: https://www.workingforessex.com/role/corporate-services

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

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.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here .

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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Solicitor/Legal Executive – Children and Education