£62,522 - £71,895 per annum

Team East Devon – more than just a job
 
This is a critical role within the Council which will support the Assistant Director (Legal and Governance) in providing a high quality, efficient and effective Legal Service which protects the Council’s interests, enables modern delivery and reacts flexibly to provide a service tailored to client needs.
 
Leading our legal services team to deliver outstanding service and ensuring that performance and practice is at a high standard and that the team have opportunity for development in line with our People Strategy.
 
About you:
In this role, you will act as the Legal Service’s lead practitioner in designated areas of legal practice, currently focusing on litigation (including complex criminal and civil litigation), while keeping fully up to date with developments in your field. You and your team will provide high-quality legal advice and reporting to officers, the Strategic Leadership Team, Committees, Sub‑Committees and other Council meetings and partner groups, primarily within your specialist area and in wider administrative law as well as providing legal observations on the reports prepared by others. You will attend internal and external meetings, including Council Committees, ensuring that all committees have appropriate legal support to enable sound decision‑making, and you will undertake a wide range of legal tasks such as drafting, negotiating and completing legal documents and preparing instructions to Counsel.
 
You will manage our team to deliver the service’s casework, ensuring it is delivered competently, within deadlines, and with clear communication to clients, while also safeguarding and enhancing the Council’s reputation by preparing and presenting the Council’s case in courts, tribunals and inquiries where required.  You will be responsible for overseeing the security and control of deeds and documents and other important information.
 
As a senior leader, you will model excellence, inspire colleagues and promote a culture of continuous improvement aligned to the Council’s aims and values, providing strong leadership, performance management and support for staff in line with HR policies, including learning, development, attendance, discipline and grievance matters. You will foster a learning culture, oversee training and development across the Legal Services team, and manage budgets and resources in line with Financial Regulations, ensuring value for money in procurement and tendering. You will contribute to or lead multidisciplinary and corporate teams to drive service improvement, ensuring that the Legal Services team offers a customer focused approach grounded in systems thinking principles.
 
You will champion equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring services reflect and respond to the needs of our diverse community, including safeguarding responsibilities, while also taking personal responsibility for health and safety within the service. In addition, you will ensure full compliance with Council policies, the Code of Conduct and the Constitution, play an active role in identifying and managing risk, and support the Director of Governance with elections when required.
 
About us:
"Our recent Local Government Association Peer Challenge highlighted that “EDDC is a great place to work, with engaged staff and members”.
 
You’ll be joining an organisation that puts people at the heart of everything we do, working collaboratively with our communities to deliver high quality services and create an outstanding place to live, work, visit and enjoy. With a strong focus on wellbeing, a highly flexible and supportive hybrid Worksmart approach, and a commitment to continuous learning and development, you can be confident of joining a workforce culture where colleagues are empowered to be Happy, Healthy and Here.
 
For an informal discussion, please contact, James Docherty Assistant Director Legal & Governance by email james.docherty@eastdevon.gov.uk
 
Closing date: 12 June 2026
Interview date: 26 June 2026

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