Civil Litigation Lawyer

The Methodist Church in Britain; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension with 19% total contribution (6

26 days annual leave + bank holidays

Option to buy additional annual leave

Employee assistance scheme

Store discounts

Flexi hours scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Hybrid and flexible working

Job summary

The Civil Litigation team of Sheffield City Council's legal department is seeking a solicitor, barrister or FCILEX with full practising and advocacy rights to manage a personal caseload across disrepair claims, debt recovery and wider commercial litigation.

You will provide authoritative advice to council officers and members to ensure decisions are lawful and represent the council at court and tribunals, attending in person when needed.

Qualifications

• Solicitor, barrister or FCILEX with full practising and advocacy rights.
• Experience in civil litigation.
• Court and tribunal advocacy experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload, including complex civil litigation matters.
• Provide authoritative advice to council officers and members, ensuring decisions are lawful.
• Defend disrepair claims and recover debts as part of civil litigation.
• Handle general commercial and other civil litigation.
• Represent the council at court and tribunal hearings, including in-person appearances.

Skills

Civil litigation

Advocacy (court & tribunal)

Legal advice & representation

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Qualified solicitor/barrister/FCILEX

Tools

Legal case management systems

Job description

This permanent post sits in the Civil Litigation team of Sheffield City Council's legal department, which acts for client departments including Housing. The work centres on managing a personal caseload of disrepair claims, debt recovery and wider commercial litigation, and advising council officers and members so their decisions are lawful. The role suits a lawyer with court and tribunal advocacy experience who can work to tight deadlines, with hybrid working and in-person hearings when needed. Fit depends on full practising and advocacy rights as a solicitor, barrister or FCILEX.

What the job involves

• Manage own caseload, including complex civil litigation matters
• Provide authoritative advice to council officers and members, ensuring decisions are lawful
• Defend disrepair claims
• Recover debts
• Handle general commercial and other civil litigation
• Represent the council at court and tribunal hearings, attending in person when needed

What’s required

Qualifications

• Solicitor, barrister or FCILEX with full practising and advocacy rights

Experience

• Experience in civil litigation
• Court and tribunal advocacy experience

Skills & knowledge

• Technical knowledge of legal advice and representation on disrepair claims, debt recovery, commercial and other civil litigation
• Understanding of legal case management systems and process
• Ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines

Checks & eligibility

• Safeguarding checks where relevant to the role

Other

• Initiative and ability to work as part of a team

What’s offered

• Pension with 19% total contribution (employee pays about 6.5%) and death in service cover of 3 times salary
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy additional annual leave
• Employee assistance scheme
• Store discounts
• Flexi hours scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid and flexible working, including reduced hours, part time or job share