Solicitor

Wrexham-County-Borough-Council; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme)

Flexible working

Generous annual leave (up to 32 days)

Employee well-being resources

Job summary

Wrexham County Borough Council seeks a qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive) to deliver high-quality legal advice across the Council’s People Directorate. You will manage a varied caseload and draft a wide range of legal documents while supporting committees and senior officers.

You will work with colleagues across Legal Services and may supervise junior staff, representing the Council in proceedings when required. A commitment to bilingual working is valued.

Qualifications

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of handling complex legal matters and litigation with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of local government law and the statutory framework.

Responsibilities

• Handle complex legal matters with a high degree of autonomy.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of legal documentation and agreements.
• Provide clear, practical and solution-focused legal advice to officers, managers and elected members.
• Support Council committees, working groups and decision-making processes.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and service improvements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Legal Services and the wider Council.
• Assist with the supervision and development of junior or unadmitted staff where required.
• Represent the Council in legal proceedings, tribunals, inquiries and other forums where appropriate.
• Contribute to the effective management and continuous improvement of Legal Services.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Negotiation

Decision making

Customer-focused approach

Education

Qualified lawyer (Solicitor/Barrister/CILEX)

Job description

Are you a qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX)) looking for a varied and rewarding legal role within local government?

Wrexham County Borough Council is seeking a motivated and capable Lawyer to join our highly regarded Legal Services Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work on a diverse range of matters that directly support the delivery of key Council services and priorities across the County Borough.

As part of the People Team, you will provide high-quality legal advice and representation on a wide variety of complex matters, working closely with officers, senior managers and elected members to help achieve positive outcomes for our communities.

About the Role

You will manage your own varied caseload and provide professional legal advice across a range of areas relevant to the Council's People Directorate.

You will:

• Handle complex legal matters with a high degree of autonomy.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of legal documentation and agreements.
• Provide clear, practical and solution-focused legal advice to officers, managers and elected members.
• Support Council committees, working groups and decision-making processes.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and service improvements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Legal Services and the wider Council.
• Assist with the supervision and development of junior or unadmitted staff where required.
• Represent the Council in legal proceedings, tribunals, inquiries and other forums where appropriate.
• Contribute to the effective management and continuous improvement of Legal Services.

About You

We are looking for a qualified legal professional who is committed to delivering excellent legal services and can build effective working relationships across the organisation.

You will have:

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX).
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of handling complex legal matters and litigation with minimal supervision.
• Experience of drafting legal documents and providing legal advice.
• Knowledge of local government law and the statutory framework within which local authorities operate.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to manage a demanding and varied caseload effectively.
• A proactive, adaptable and customer-focused approach.
• The ability to travel across the County Borough to carry out work (e.g. attend meetings / visit clients or work sites)
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and an understanding of the importance of the Welsh language and culture.

The following would be advantageous:

• Experience within a local government legal environment.
• Advocacy experience before courts, tribunals or inquiries.
• The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Why Wrexham?

This is an opportunity to join a supportive and forward-thinking legal team at a time of significant investment and development across the County Borough. We offer challenging and rewarding work, flexible working arrangements and opportunities to develop your career within a modern local authority legal service.

The Council is committed to developing its bilingual workforce and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.

Wrexham Council welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious belief or age.

Interested?

The Council welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious belief or age.

The Council is committed to developing its bilingual workforce and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

About Us

• Grymuso

The County Borough of Wrexham, located in North East Wales, is proud of its Welsh heritage and cultural identity. Over the years it has grown to reflect a population that is multi-religious and multi-ethnic and complements the diversity of our communities.

Centred on the city of Wrexham, which nestles between the Welsh mountains and the Cheshire plains, it’s a location that really can offer you the best of both worlds and we are proud of our city status (awarded in 2022 when we became the seventh city in Wales).

Wrexham County Borough Council is a unitary Council which delivers a wide range of services aimed at improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities. We are committed to providing services through collaboration with local and national partners. With a focus on sustainable development, community wellbeing, and improving the lives of Wrexham residents and surrounding communities, Wrexham is a fantastic place to work, live, and learn.

The council is an inclusive employer with a workforce of around 5,500, offering diverse roles, training and development and rewarding career opportunities. Wrexham County Borough Council values innovation, bilingualism in English and Welsh, and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, the council ensures accessible recruitment and support for disabled employees including offering a guaranteed interview (where essential person specification items are met). Additionally, veterans will receive guaranteed interviews under the Armed Forces Covenant if eligibility criteria are met (where essential person specification items are met).

Employee Benefits Include:

• Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Generous annual leave up to 32 days
• Family-friendly policies supporting caring and family commitments
• Work-life balance and flexi time (dependent on role)
• Access to Wrexham Reward Scheme with discounts off leading retailers nationally and locally
• Health & well-being resources, for example:
  • Healthy & Wellbeing Champions
  • Employee assistance programme with advice on staying healthy financially, mentally or physically:
    • Counselling (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • In-the-moment emotional support (available 24/7, 365 days a year)
    • Option to set health-boosting goals with small, sustainable lifestyle changes
    • Connect health apps to track physical health and meet progress goals
    • Blogs, videos, recipes and more resources providing inspiration and motivation
    • Identify risks of developing leading lifestyle-related diseases with mental health and financial scores
    • Legal, financial and consumer advice
  • Health and wellbeing events and campaigns throughout the year (e.g., November Health Day, Time to Talk Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, Sun Awareness Week, Menopause Week, Financial Health Week)
  • Menopause Café and guidance
  • Unpaid Carer Café and guidance

Our Council Plan (2023–28) sets out our priorities for this period and we deliver these by following the Nolan Values of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership) as well as our own Corporate Values: