Solicitor/Legal Executive

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Essex seeks a Solicitor/Legal Executive for a full-time role in their Adult Social Care legal team. This position offers an engaging environment to handle diverse legal matters while contributing to the council's operations. Candidates must be qualified solicitors or legal executives with expertise in adult social care law and the ability to build strong relationships across various sectors. There's an emphasis on professional development and teamwork within a collaborative atmosphere.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor/legal executive with a current Practising Certificate.
• Evidence of expert knowledge in Adult social care law.
• Experience in a politically sensitive legal environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely and accurate legal advice to the Council and external customers.
• Deliver outcomes that support the Council's Organisation Strategy.
• Build strong relationships across the Council and with stakeholders.

Skills

Evidence of continuing professional development

Ability to provide clear advice on complex matters

Building strong working relationships

Education

Qualified solicitor/legal executive with a current Practising Certificate

Job description

Solicitor/Legal Executive

Permanent, Full Time

£48,898 to £57,526 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 13th January 2026

The Role

A role as a lawyer in the Adult Social Care legal team at Essex County Council is unique due to the diverse legal work ensuring that professionals are constantly engaged with interesting and complex cases.

It is an opportunity to develop in-house expertise, providing solicitors and barristers with a rich and varied experience. This allows for a deeper understanding of the council's operations and the ability to provide tailored legal advice and influence practice.

New joiners often praise the supportive team environment. The council is dedicated to making a difference, and this is reflected in the collaborative and encouraging atmosphere among the legal team.

The legal team offers opportunities for professional growth and development. You will be encouraged to build strong working relationships across the council, schools, other local authorities, the Judiciary and the private sector.

The Opportunity

Essex Legal Services provide high quality, professional, legal advice across the council and to increasing numbers of external clients. Providing a client facing legal service which proactively embraces change and delights the customer.

Part of a specialist legal team providing high quality advice in the area of adult social care to underpin effective decision making, meaningful performance management and meet statutory requirements. Achieving good customer service and making a real and demonstrable difference to the delivery of Essex Legal Services' business and the business of our clients.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor or legal executive primarily with a strong interest in working in-house to contribute to the ongoing development of the business and with the ability to build excellent working relationships.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for providing timely and accurate legal advice across the Council and to external customers, including constructively challenging where appropriate to produce the best possible outcomes.
• Accountable for delivering outcomes against the business plan for legal services which supports and drives the Council's wider Organisation Strategy and vision.
• Act as a legal practitioner and advocate providing specialist advice, professional consultation and support to colleagues (where appropriate) within your team.
• To understand client needs and provide them with a service they value; driving the delivery of productivity and efficiency improvement.
• Build strong working relationships across the Council, external stakeholders and other local authorities to ensure a quality advice service is provided to the customer.
• Delegated functions as detailed in the council's constitution (and as amended from time to time).
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Qualified solicitor/legal executive with a current Practising Certificate.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in the area of Adult social care law.
• Experience of working within a legal setting in a politically sensitive environment, providing high-quality advice to a wide range of clients.
• Proven track record of building strong working relationships across a large, complex organisation and with internal and external partners/stakeholders and clients.
• Ability to provide clear advice on complex matters to both the client base and other colleagues.
• A strong focus on outcomes to achieve strategic objectives.