Trainee Legal Officer

Manchester City Council; Manchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Manchester City Council as a Trainee Legal Officer and embark on a promising legal career. You'll handle criminal matters and support a dynamic team, while pursuing the CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law. With generous benefits, a commitment to development, and a focus on creating a better community, this role is perfect for those passionate about law and public service.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance - up to 31 days after five years.

A comprehensive pension scheme.

Enhanced family leave options.

Access to learning and development opportunities.

Volunteering leave up to 3 days.

Diverse range of employee discounts.

Qualifications

• You must agree to study for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma.
• Some legal training or work experience is required.
• You should demonstrate effective decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct straightforward criminal matters related to environmental offences.
• Assess evidence, draft proceedings, and liaise with courts and solicitors.
• Support team members and assist as necessary.

Skills

Communication Skills

Planning and Organising

Problem Solving

Analytical Skills

Creative Skills

Financial Management

Education

Minimum of 4 GCSE Grades C or above

Job description

Join to apply for the Trainee Legal Officer role at Manchester City Council

Join to apply for the Trainee Legal Officer role at Manchester City Council

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• Agree to study and enrol for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma In Law and Practice
• Qualification - a minimum of 4 GCSE Grades C or above, including English Language or Literature; or qualifications at an equivalent level; or equivalent legal qualification.
  
  

Working hours: 35 hours per week

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: 11.59pm, 24 June 2025

Interview method: in person

Interview date: 15 July 2025

This Role Is Subject To

• Some legal training or work experience
• Agree to study and enrol for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma In Law and Practice
• Qualification - a minimum of 4 GCSE Grades C or above, including English Language or Literature; or qualifications at an equivalent level; or equivalent legal qualification.
  
  

Manchester City Council aims to be in the top-flight of world class cities , with a dynamic economy and highly skilled people , to be well connected, limiting climate change and helping us all to feel safe and live well in an attractive and welcoming city.

To keep on track we’ve reset our priorities up to 2035 refocusing on the challenges- putting equality, inclusion and sustainability centre stage, with focus on young people, our economy, health, housing, environment and infrastructure.

Legal Services plays an integral part in helping deliver these priorities and to support this we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a world class workforce.

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Regulatory and Enforcement Services Team (Legal) for a trainee legal officer. The successful candidate will have conduct of a large number of straightforward criminal matters mainly littering and some other environmental offences. The successful candidate will assess the evidence, advise clients, draft proceedings at Court and liaise with the Court and external solicitors. The successful candidate will also be required to support and assist other team members from time to time as required. Support and training will be given to enable the successful candidate to fulfil the role.

For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Barbara Gora, at [e-mail] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

We would love to hear from you if you have the desire to embark on a career in the law and have a strong interest in criminal law.

Essential Requirements For The Role Are Listed Below

• Be able to demonstrate some legal training or legal work experience
• Agree to study and enroll for the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice1 course (to embark on this course of study you should already hold a minimum of four GCSE grades C or above including English Language or Literature or qualifications at an equivalent level) or equivalent legal qualification).
• Communication Skills: Demonstrates an understanding of the views of others and communicates in a realistic and practical manner using appropriate language and medium, listens attentively to views and issues of others and responds to issues arising
• Planning and Organising: Demonstrate the ability to organize multiple tasks in the most effective way, and allocate time and energy according to task complexity and priority.
• Problem solving and decision making: Is able to make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary. Be logical in thinking and explain reasoning behind decisions or actions taken.
• Analytical Skills: Able and confident to resolve moderately complicated queries in their area of knowledge using logical thinking to explain reasoning behind decisions or actions taken.
• Creative skills: Ability to think creatively and provide innovative solutions to problems. Has ability to develop new approaches to finding solutions outside of existing parameters.
• Financial Management: Numeracy and accuracy skills to handle numbers confidently, collate information and keep accurate and reliable records to help with the monitoring and reviewing of financial resources.
  
  

This is likely to be a highly competitive role. You can find out more about how to make your application stand out here.

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City - a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
  
  

Benefits We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.
  
  

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
  
  

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Requirements

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
  
  

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.
  
  

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you’re successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement ofemployment.This is not arole we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

Required

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.
  
  

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other Relevant Information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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