Legal Service Lead (Regulatory & Blue Lights)

West Yorkshire Combined Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Annual leave 28 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development

Job summary

West Yorkshire Combined Authority in Leeds is seeking a Service Lead - Regulatory & Blue Lights to provide a comprehensive, strategic legal service across governance, employment, information governance, insurance, debt and litigation. The role is based in Leeds with hybrid working, full-time hours, and a salary of £70,055 per annum.

Reporting to the Head of Legal, the post holder will deliver prudent, pragmatic advice to senior officers, the Mayor, and Members, while managing risk and ensuring

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Fellow with significant post-qualification experience.
• Experience in one or more Regulatory & Blue Lights practice areas and complex matters.
• Strong knowledge of local government law, governance and decision making, with stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal service as day-to-day lead for Regulatory & Blue Lights.
• Advise the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime on complex legal and governance matters; represent the team at boards and committees.
• Lead and develop the Regulatory & Blue Lights team; act as Training Principal for trainee solicitors.

Skills

Regulatory & Blue Lights

Local government law

Governance and decision making

Education

Qualified Solicitor/Barrister/CILEX Fellow

Job description

Service Lead - Regulatory & Blue Lights

£70,055 per annum - Grade 11

Leeds / Hybrid Full time / Permanent - 37 hours per week

Closing date – 1 November at 23:55

We currently have a vacancy for a Service Lead - Regulatory & Blue Lights to join our Legal, Governance & Compliance Service.

The in-house Legal, Governance & Compliance Service forms an important part in the process to enable the delivery of projects within a clear governance framework. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, the Service Lead is a senior role responsible for providing high quality legal advice to the Combined Authority on all corporate, regulatory and governance matters. In addition, the role will act as the lead legal advisor to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime in respect of the Mayor’s police and crime commissioner functions providing trusted, pragmatic advice to support lawful, transparent and effective decision making. The post holder will also act as the training principal for trainee solicitors supporting the development of legal capability within the service. Personally, and through dynamic leadership management of the Regulatory and Blue Lights team, the Service Lead will provide legal oversight and assurance across a broad and varied portfolio including employment, information governance, insurance, debt and claims, governance, Blue Lights and litigation.

Our Offer

• Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
• Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
• Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Investing in you –Take advantage of supported professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
• Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
• Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
• Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

• Provide a comprehensive, high-quality legal service to the Combined Authority, acting as the day-to-day lead for the Regulatory & Blue Lights legal service. Provide strategic, pragmatic and solution focused advice to the Strategic Leadership Team, senior officers, the Mayor, Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime and Members, identifying and managing legal, regulatory and governance risks and enabling the Authority to deliver its priorities lawfully, effectively and within appropriate governance and assurance frameworks.
• Act as the lead legal advisor to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing & Crime in relation to the Mayor’s Police and Crime Commissioner functions, providing strategic, pragmatic and authoritative legal advice on complex legal, governance and regulatory matters. Engage with key stakeholders and members of West Yorkshire Police as required; support the preparation for, and attend and advise at, relevant boards, meetings and committees and provide legal support in relation to relevant external bodies and partnership arrangements. Deputise for the Head of Legal – Regulatory & Blue Lights as required.
• Provide effective leadership and management of the Regulatory & Blue Lights Team, setting clear expectations, maintaining high professional standards and developing a collaborative, high-performing and resilient legal service whilst fostering equity, diversity and inclusion. Act as Training Principal for trainee solicitors, ensuring appropriate supervision, training and professional development, and promote continuous learning and capability development across Legal Services.

About You

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Fellow, with significant relevant post-qualification experience and the credibility to advise senior leaders, elected members and key stakeholders.
• Substantial experience across one or more Regulatory & Blue Lights practice areas, with the ability to manage complex and sensitive matters and lead and develop legal professionals.
• Strong knowledge and experience of local government law, governance and decision making, with the political awareness and confidence to advise at senior boards, meetings and committees.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, with excellent judgement, communication and stakeholder management skills and the ability to provide clear, pragmatic and solution-focused legal advice.

About Diversity & Inclusion

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people\'s age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met