Up to £73,753 per annum

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.

This role works as part of a specialist legal team providing advice, information and interpretation to clients which underpins effective decision making, performance management and meets statutory requirements.  Working closely with senior leaders to make a real difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services’ business and the business of our clients, which may include managing or supervising staff.

A qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, with significant 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 that encourage collaboration and exert influence, to drive a continuous improvement culture.

Organisational Accountabilities
Roles at this level will be focused on delivering results in a specific functional area. They will hold expertise on the application of policy and improvement of service delivery. These roles have clear team budgets and targets set within the overall service requirements. The role is accountable for:

• Operational planning and performance review to maintain exceptional service delivery and ensure the political objectives and priorities of the council are met
• Working collaboratively within and across functions and thinking commercially to support the delivery of best possible outcomes for our customers on a financially sustainable basis.
• Maintaining and nurturing collaborative relationships with other teams in the function and external organisations that support the delivery of annual plans
• Implementing changes and continually evaluating the service to improve the area of work, while maintaining continual delivery of the highest possible levels of service quality.
• Managing complex issues and resources to meet the needs of customers and deliver the best possible outcomes.
• Effective utilisation of digital technologies and innovation across the function
• Celebrating Equality and Diversity and ensuring it is considered as part of all decisions taken.
• Using professional expertise to translate goals and plans into ways of working that comply with relevant legislation and statutory requirements and manages a level of appropriate risk.
• Delivering exemplar customer interactions to individuals and communities which support strong relationships and a reputation for achieving outcomes and resolving issues.

Service/Functional Accountabilities
Accountable for leading the provision of timely and accurate legal advice across the Council and to external customers to produce the best possible outcomes.

Responsible for delivering the strategic business plan for legal services which supports and drives the councils wider Organisation Strategy and vision.

Works collaboratively with function leadership teams to make recommendations which drive better informed decision-making across the Council.

Responsible for interpreting client needs and providing them with a service they value; driving the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement.

Responsible for assisting with development of staff in Essex Legal Services, through supervision and line management and delivery of training and informal learning.  Not all Associates will have line management responsibility at all times.

Works closely with the Head of Service and senior leaders of ELS to develop current and future business opportunities, to promote the Essex Legal Services vision to the external market.

Responsible for the delivery strategy for services, ensuring that performance is clearly defined in terms of benchmarked outcomes and short, medium and long term business targets.

Build strong working relationships across the Council and with schools and external clients to ensure a quality legal 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.