Governance Lawyer

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension plan

Job summary

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are seeking a Governance Lawyer to turn complex public law issues into practical advice. Reporting to the Director of Law and Governance, you will support sound governance and lawful decision-making across the Better Service Partnership.

You will advise officers and councillors on governance and constitutional matters, prepare reports, and attend committees to provide expert guidance.

Qualifications

• Admitted solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with a current practising certificate and at least five years' post‑admission experience.
• Thorough, practical understanding of public law principles and local government law.
• Experience advising on governance and decision-making in public sector contexts.
• Excellent written and oral communication; able to present to committees.
• Ability to build relationships with senior officers and councillors.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist legal advice on local authority governance and public law, including risk and case management strategies.
• Advise officers and councillors, prepare legal comments on reports to committees and chief officers, and attend meetings to provide governance guidance.
• Support the Monitoring Officer in statutory functions and handling Code of Conduct and corporate complaints.
• Advise on the Council's constitution and associated protocols; support updates and officer training.
• Explain implications of new legislation and prepare briefings for officers and councillors.
• Develop working practices reflecting legislative requirements and wider public sector guidance.

Skills

Public law

Local government law

Data protection

Governance

Policy advice

Communication

Stakeholder management

Time management

Education

Solicitor/Barrister/CILEx Fellow

Job description

Other essential information: Reporting to the Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), with no line management responsibilities. Objective of role Are you a public law specialist who can turn complex legal issues into clear, practical advice? As Governance Lawyer, you will help Wandsworth Council to maintain sound governance and effective, lawful decision‑making. You will work closely with the Council's Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), advising officers and, where appropriate, elected members on complex governance and public law matters. Your advice will help maintain good governance principles and promote best practice. You will join Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership, the shared public service team supporting Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. You will contribute to a service that brings together expertise, creativity and adaptability to help deliver better services for residents. About the role Reporting to the Director of Law and Governance, you will provide specialist legal advice on local authority governance and public law, including legal risk and case management strategies. You will advise officers and councillors, prepare legal comments on reports to committees and chief officers, and attend meetings, task and finish groups and committees to provide governance and legal advice. You will support the Monitoring Officer in carrying out their statutory functions, including assistance with member Code of Conduct complaints and corporate complaints. You will advise on the Council's constitution and associated protocols, support updates to these arrangements, and provide training for officers and elected members. You will assess new legislation and legal developments, explain their implications for the Council's services and functions, and prepare briefings for officers and councillors. Drawing on practice across local government and the wider public sector, you will help develop ways of working that reflect legislative requirements and guidance.

• Professional qualification: You will be an admitted solicitor, barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with a current practising certificate and at least five years' relevant post‑admission experience, together with evidence of continuing professional development.
• Legal knowledge: You will have a thorough, practical understanding of public law principles and comprehensive knowledge of local government law, data protection, freedom of information, electoral law, governance and constitutional issues.
• Relevant experience: You will have public law experience, including policy advice in two or more of education, social care, highways and planning, contracts, employment, local authority governance or health; experience of data protection and information governance in a public law context; and significant experience of advising on good governance and effective decision‑making. Significant experience of undertaking and advising on complex cases or projects within a public law context is also essential.
• Analysis and communication: You will be able to analyse complex information and give credible, pragmatic advice that can be confidently acted on. You will communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and in person, including when presenting advice and reports to committees and client meetings.
• Relationships and political awareness: You will be able to build and sustain effective working relationships, negotiate with relevant contacts and engage confidently with senior officers, councillors and other stakeholders, recognising the political context in which the Councils operate.
• Organisation and adaptability: You will use initiative to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities, adapt to changing demands and get up to speed quickly in new areas of work. You will use information and communication technology effectively while managing confidentiality and data protection appropriately. We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

• 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils