Legal Officer

Isle of Wight Council; Newport; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days annual leave plus holidays

Discounted Solent ferry travel

Island bus network discount

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted island sports & leisure gym

National and local discounts & schemes

Relocation assistance up to £8,000

Travel allowance for mainland commutes

Job summary

Isle of Wight Council seeks a Legal Officer to join the Property and Contracts Legal Team. The role will primarily manage deferred payment agreement matters and advise on the Care Act 2014, while supporting the council’s property aims. The successful candidate will work independently with a strong eye for detail.

Flexibility is offered with some remote work; the council emphasises a supportive environment and opportunities across client areas with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Qualified paralegal or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Knowledge of property process and procedures an advantage.
• Excellent personal management skills and ability to keep clear records for high process compliance.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of deferred payment agreement matters and provide advice on the Care Act 2014.
• Contribute towards the council’s property aims.
• Work across different work types for a range of clients to provide greater agility.
• Some office-based and some remote working.

Skills

Attention to detail

Caseload management

Independent worker

Flexibility

Education

Qualified paralegal

Equivalent qualification or experience

Job description

Department Property and Contracts Legal Team

Salary Grade 9, £35,572 to £38,726 per annum

Reference 2026_2051

Location County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight

We are looking for a Legal Officer to join our friendly and supportive in-house legal team. The role will mainly consist of managing a caseload of deferred payment agreement matters including providing advice on the Care Act 2014.

The post will also contribute towards the council’s property aims. The successful candidate will have a good eye for detail and be able to handle a busy caseload independently

Ideally you will be a qualified paralegal or will offer an equivalent qualification or experience. Knowledge of the property process and associated procedures would be an advantage.

The successful candidate will possess excellent personal management skills and be able to keep clear and accurate records to demonstrate high process compliance.

Flexible working means that we can consider candidates from out of area in a way which was not always possible in the past. We are looking for candidates who have transferrable skills and are able to work across different work types for a range of clients to provide greater agility in adapting to changing demands. The role will consist of some office based and some remote working.

In return we can offer you a comprehensive benefits package including flexible working, a local government pension scheme, 32 days annual leave (plus bank holidays!), employee discount benefits, and access to a range of technologies to support modern ways of working.

The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.

We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees. We are an equal opportunities employer, proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community.

We are a Disability Confident employer . Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.

The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination, and this is supported by;

The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via [e-mail] if you would like to receive a copy.

The Isle of Wight Council reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than stated, if required. To ensure your application is considered, it is recommended to submit your application promptly.

Please note, appointment to a regulated role will require you to provide additional personal details, including full employment history, referee information, and consent for any required safeguarding checks, as part of the Council’s commitment to safer recruitment and compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)