Job Introduction
We are looking to recruit a Legal Officer to work within our Rights of Way legal team, primarily investigating and progressing Definitive Map Modification Order applications and Town or Village Green applications.
- Permanent opportunities to join our friendly and supportive legal services team with:
- Flexible working arrangements
- Great benefits
- Forward-thinking team with lots of experience to share
- Good reputation
You must be an Associate Member of CILEX (i.e. you must have completed the CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice), or be a graduate with a Qualifying Law Degree (as determined by CILEX)). There is no requirement for you to be either a Graduate Member or a Fellow of CILEX although this is desirable. The post holder must also have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a relevant legal environment.
Main Responsibility
You will undertake reasonably complex legal case work relevant to length of experience / job requirements and the workload must be clearly and consistently in excess of the general level of complexity dealt with at Lawyer 1. You will also be expected to assist other more senior lawyer grades with appropriate levels of work.
- Support Countryside and Rights of Way colleagues by:
- Investigating and progressing Definitive Map Modification Order Applications and Town and Village Green Applications
- Supporting Countryside and Rights of Way colleagues by undertaking various legal or case-related tasks
- Specific tasks may include but are not limited to:
- Applying and considering the law relating to Rights of Way, Highways and Town or Village Greens where appropriate
- Undertaking legal and historical research
- Providing advice to clients
- Taking and drafting witness statements
- Preparing reports for consultation
- Preparing instructions to Counsel where appropriate
- Presenting reports to a Panel of Councillors for a decision
- Drafting and publishing legal orders
- Preparation for and attendance at public inquiries/hearings as necessary
The Ideal Candidate
Applications are invited from an enthusiastic, innovative, suitably qualified individual for an opportunity that has arisen for a Legal Officer to join our busy, experienced and friendly Rights of Way legal Team.
The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and able to prioritise a varied workload. Self-motivated with excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail will also be important.
You will be expected to conduct and manage your own caseload with appropriate supervision. You must be able to communicate effectively with members, senior officers and clients.
For more information about this role please contact: Heather Morgan, Team Senior Legal Executive, on 01785 277234 or Clare Gledhill, Legal Executive, on 01785 854935.
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
