Corporate and Property Lawyer

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local authority pension

Professional development

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a qualified Solicitor or Fellow of CILEX to join the Regulatory, Corporate and Property Team to undertake all aspects of corporate and property work. You will handle a diverse caseload including contracts, public procurement, governance, conveyancing, property disputes, leases and licences, and provide high-level legal advice to committees, tribunals and officers.

Hybrid and flexible working options are available, with a competitive benefits pension scheme

Qualifications

• Predominantly corporate law background
• Experience drafting a range of legal documents
• Ability to manage own caseload and meet deadlines

Responsibilities

• Support senior leaders to ensure legal services meet business needs and strategic objectives
• Deliver efficient legal support to Council, Committees and Departments
• Provide clear advice on complex legal matters and ensure compliance with procedures and the law
• Advise elected Members, officers and partners on Council functions

Skills

Corporate law

Legal drafting

Independent work

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Fellow of CILEX

Job description

Hours: 37 hours per week, part-time hours would be considered

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

We have an exciting opportunity for a qualified Solicitor or Fellow of CILEX to join our Regulatory, Corporate and Property Team to undertake all aspects of corporate and property work.

You will handle a diverse caseload covering corporate and property law, including:

Contracts, public procurement, partnerships, governance, information law, insolvency, grants and loans

Conveyancing, property disputes, high-value sales and purchases, leases, licences and community asset transfers

In this role you will manage complex cases, negotiate with solicitors and third parties, draft high-level legal documents and act as a trusted legal advisor at high-profile committees, tribunals, panels and working groups.

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Chris Parry [e-mail]

Key Responsibilities:

• Support senior leaders including the Principal Solicitor, Head of Service and Director to ensure our legal services meet the Council's business needs and customer requirements in line with strategic objectives.
• Deliver efficient and effective legal support to the Council, Committees and Departments.
• Stay ahead of legislation and local authority issues, providing clear advice and guidance to Members, officers and corporate bodies on complex legal matters, ensuring compliance with procedures and the law.
• Provide timely, practical legal advice to elected Members, officers and partners on the Council's functions.

About You:

• Have predominantly corporate law background
• A high level of understanding and awareness of the legal environment
• Experience in drafting a range of legal documentation relevant to the role
• Ability to work independently to management own caseload to meet deadlines

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitation to apply if they don't meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.