Up to £57,526 per annum

Are you passionate about Employment Law, Adult Social Care , Criminal and Regulatory Law, or Public Sector Decision Making ?

Do you aspire to become an in-house Counsel? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

Why Essex County Council?

• Diverse and Impactful Work: We serve 1.5 million people, a £1.7 billion estate and tackle a wide range of interesting and complex legal challenges and projects.
• Supportive Team Environment: Join a brilliant team of lawyers who are dedicated to making a difference. New joiners rave about the interesting work and the support they receive.
• In-House Expertise: Most of our work is done in-house, providing you with a rich and varied experience.

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.

As part of a specialist legal team providing high quality advice, information, analysis and interpretation to clients to underpin effective decision making, meaningful performance management and meet statutory requirements. Achieving good
customer service and makes a real and demonstrable difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services’ business and the business of our clients.

A qualified solicitor or barrister, with 2 years post qualification experience and a member of the appropriate professional body. With significant commercial awareness to contribute to the development of new external streams of business and 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, iincluding 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 councils 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.

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, schools, other local authorities and the private sector 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.

Closing date: 18 May 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.