Senior Paralegal

South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local Government pension

Healthcare cash plan

Cashback website access

Volunteering days

Free parking

25 days annual leave

Job summary

South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council are seeking a Senior Paralegal to join our Legal team, delivering high-quality legal services across council functions. You’ll draft, interpret and advise on contracts, procurement, litigation, planning and data protection matters, with a flexible, collaborative approach in a busy local government environment.

Hybrid working from day one is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a legal department.
• Local government experience preferred but not essential; ability to deliver in a busy environment.
• Experience advising in contracts, procurement, civil and criminal litigation, planning, licensing/regulatory, data protection/FOI and debt recovery.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services across council functions.
• Manage a variety of cases for different council functions.
• Clerk Counsel in the courts.
• Draft and interpret legal documents including contracts.
• Undertake advocacy in courts and tribunals.
• Instruct external solicitors and Counsel as needed.
• Prepare responses to FOI requests and provide advice.

Skills

Oral communication

Interpersonal skills

Legal experience

Flexible/adaptable

Travel

Education

Law degree

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Paralegal to join our Legal team who is committed to the development of a positive, professional, and forward-looking service.

You should be enthusiastic and confident with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

What you’ll be getting up to

• To provide legal services across the range of council functions.
• Manage a variety of cases for different council functions.
• To clerk Counsel in the courts.
• To draft and interpret legal documents to include but not be limited to information, complaints, particulars of claim, Briefs to Counsel, Court Bundles, and contracts.
• To undertake advocacy in courts and tribunals.
• To instruct external solicitors and Counsel as necessary.
• To prepare responses to Freedom of Information requests and provide appropriate advice.

Who we’re looking for

• You will have experience of working within a legal department.

• Local government experience is preferred but not essential, but you should have a flexible approach and be able to deliver in a busy an challenging environment.

• We are looking for a candidate with experience of advising in relation to and undertaking work in one or more of the following areas: - Contracts -Public Procurement Law -Civil Litigation -Criminal Litigation -Planning Law -Licensing/Regulatory Law -Data Protection/Freedom of Information -Debt Recovery

• You will have excellent oral communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team to deliver excellent services.

• You will be educated to degree level.

Otherrequirements

• This role requires some travel around our boroughs. You should have a valid driving licence or the equivalent mobility.

Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (and Christmas shutdown)
• Hybrid/agile working from day one
• Local Government pension
• Healthcare Cash Plan for cash back on health treatments
• Cashback website access for savings on brands you love
• Volunteering days
• Free parking

About Us

At South Ribble Council, our mission is to provide a first-class service and improve the quality of life for our communities. Our staff are our greatest resource in helping us achieve this. They’re at the heart of everything we do and are crucial to the delivery of excellent services.

Working Together

We share a number of our services with Chorley Council. This allows for improved resilience across both councils and provides numerous benefits to our operations. Whilst some staff and back-end processes are shared between the Councils, both Councils still retain sovereignty and have separate strategies and corporate plans.

Additional information

Applicants are advised to apply early. We reserve the right to close a vacancy prior to the closing date.

Equal Opportunities

We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to the elimination of unfair and unlawful discrimination and prejudice in all our policies, procedures, and practices.

We’re committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes making adjustments for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions.

If you are disabled or your last employer was the armed forces, and you meet all the essential criteria of a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.