Interim Head of Legal (Hybrid)

Essential Employment; Northallerton; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A legal services provider is seeking an Interim Head of Legal in Northallerton. This hybrid position offers flexibility while requiring some in-office presence. Responsibilities include managing legal services, advising on governance, and overseeing a team. A qualified lawyer with experience in high-profile projects is essential. This temporary full-time role pays £30.19ph PAYE and requires a strategic approach to legal challenges while ensuring compliance with professional standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in handling politically sensitive projects and company law.
• Ability to work with various stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong understanding of local authority governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive legal services to the Client and external clients.
• Manage and supervise the Corporate Services Team.
• Prepare and present cases in courts, tribunals, and inquiries.

Skills

Legal expertise

Project management

Flexibility

Governance knowledge

Education

Qualified lawyer with a practising certificate

Job description

Interim Head of Legal (Hybrid) needed in Northallerton, £30.19ph PAYE - Reference: RQ1660024

Length: 3 to 6 months. Hours: 08:30 – 5pm Mon – Thu, 08:30-4:30 Fri. Full Time working is preferred; part time working will be considered. Location: Hybrid/Northallerton. Some requirement to attend the office in Northallerton, however hybrid working from other offices and including from home is available.

Overview

The core focus is to provide and ensure the provision of a comprehensive legal service to the Client, Directorates, Committees and Members including legal advice and representation:

• High profile, politically sensitive and high value capital projects (including construction and regeneration).
• Company law advice in relation to the Client owned companies and other corporate delivery models.
• Local authority governance including in relation to the Client status as harbour authority.
• Combined authority governance and projects.
• Under contract to the Legal and Democratic Services’ external clients.

The worker will be provided with support from the Assistant Director for Legal Services with some of the specialist and niche areas such as Harbours etc.

The Legal Service is part of Legal and Democratic Services (LDS) within the Chief Executive’s Group. The Client provides a range of services to the North Yorkshire area, and the role of the Legal Service is to support the provision by providing a comprehensive and efficient legal service to the Directorates, the Client's Executive, full Client, Committees and Members, and external clients.

Key elements of the role:

• The nature of the work requires a flexible and versatile approach as it will change from time to time in response to the changing needs of the Client, and its developing initiatives.
• The post is required to work with colleagues and Members at every level within the organisation, with external clients and partners, and to manage the performance of staff within its responsibility.
• The budget of the service is in part dependent on income from external sources and the post must play its part in ensuring successful income generation, and in ensuring compliance with Law Society Professional Standards, and the achievement of Lexcel accreditation.
• Qualified lawyers must have a practising certificate.
• This is a politically restricted post as defined by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The assigned worker will be responsible for:

• The provision of a comprehensive, efficient, and effective legal service to the Client, and external clients, and the management and supervision of the Corporate Services Team in providing that service.

A comprehensive legal service includes the following:

• The development of the legal service provided in the above areas to the Client and all clients in accordance with the requirements of the Service Plan.
• The preparation and presentation of cases in courts, tribunals, and inquiries.
• The instruction of Counsel and attendance with Counsel.
• The interviewing of witnesses and preparation of statements of evidence.
• Attendance and advice at meetings.
• Joining project teams for the delivery of significant Client projects.
• Undertaking research and providing written or verbal advice.
• Attending Officer and Member meetings, or meetings of external client organisations to give legal advice as necessary.
• Drafting and/or advising on Client, Committees and Executive reports and minutes.
• The preparation and presentation of appropriate training.
• Monitoring legislation and case law developments and advising the Client and Directorates and clients accordingly.

This is a Full time role on a temporary contract basis.

Application – If you are interested in the role please apply on our website with your CV. Alternatively you can email your CV to [e-mail] quoting the reference number.

Equal Opportunities – Essential Employment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

All our roles may be subject to pre-employment checks including references so please be prepared.

Due to high volumes of CVs received we are not able to respond to all unsuccessful applications. You will always however hear from us by phone if we are able to take your CV forward to the next stage.

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