Overview

Thurrock Council is seeking an Employment Lawyer to join its Legal Services team to provide expert legal advice and representation on employment matters for the Council. This includes managing a varied caseload, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, and supporting governance processes to protect the Council's interests. This is an exciting opportunity with growth in abundance at Thurrock; it is the perfect time to develop and progress in this vibrant and dynamic team.

Responsibilities

1. Legal Advice and Case Management. Provide legal advice and support on a wide range of issues varying in complexity but not limited to:
   • Providing legal advice to internal clients and stakeholders in relation to all aspects of employment law.
   • Taking instructions and responding to employment claims.
   • Drafting legal responses.
   • Conducting case management/ preliminary hearings.
   • Instructing and liaising with counsel in relation to any tribunal proceedings where external legal counsel may be required.
   • Drafting settlement agreements.
   • Advising panel members in relation to disciplinary hearings as well as drafting outcome decisions.
   • Case management and advice of any legal challenges around the SEND process and TUPE process.
   • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, case law, and best practice.
2. Advocacy and Representation. You will be expected to:
   • Provide advice to councillors, stakeholders and senior officers and to liaise with external bodies and legal advisers.
   • Attend decision making meetings including Committee Meetings remotely or in person if required.
   • Undertake advocacy at the Employment Tribunal if necessary.
3. Contribute to the innovative improvement of the Legal Services Team including streamlining and case management workflow systems.
4. Support junior members of the team including the Legal Apprentice in legal practice and procedure contributing towards their professional development.
5. Contribute to governance processes, ensuring legal compliance and sound decision-making. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and best practice. To carry out research and provide legal advice to Client Departments on all related legal transactions.
6. Engage with senior officers and Members to offer high-quality legal services, with a focus on social justice. Collaborate closely with directorates to ensure efficient delivery of Council priorities. Become a trusted advisor, advocate and problem solver as you contribute to Thurrock's vision of client focused and innovative service delivery.
7. Personally manage a caseload and be able to work unsupervised. To prepare, negotiate, draft, agree and process legal documents. To record all key actions and ensure data is regularly updated. To collate and send or check supporting legal and financial documents. To seek to always protect the Councils' interests, while taking precautions against potential fraud and money laundering. To review and update as appropriate all templates and procedures.
8. To notify and advise on any instructions or events that would result in a breach by the Council or an individual of any legislation, common law, standing order or rule of propriety or would constitute a course of action amounting to maladministration.
9. To attend and participate in meetings with Officers of the Council and to provide legal advice when required.
10. To be willing and able to work in a flexible and agile way with regards to both hours and location of work, including remote and home working, as required, subject to service needs and requirements. Two days minimum attendance in the office.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who has:

1. Essential
2. Note: The following are essential qualifications and capabilities:
3. Excellent demonstrable knowledge of the ability to lead on complex and high-profile local government employment cases which may include conducting preliminary hearings, conducting Tribunal proceedings and instructing Counsel for trials, drafting settlement agreements, advising panel members in relation to disciplinary hearings as well as drafting outcome decisions and advising on TUPE and other employment related matters as becomes necessary.
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to explain complex legal issues clearly and confidently.
5. Ability to work collaboratively and build partnerships with experienced clients and colleagues. High emotional intelligence (EQ), with the ability to build positive working relationships and navigate sensitive issues professionally.
6. You will be an effective leader acting as an ambassador for legal services across the council, sharing good practice and encouraging innovation amongst colleagues, to include training/mentoring junior members of the team. Attend and advise in Committee Meetings.
7. Excellent organisational skills able to manage a complex and varied workload with a flexible and innovative approach to work, ensuring that deadlines and court/tribunal directed deadlines are adhered to.
8. Proactive and self-motivated, with a growth mindset and a willingness to learn. Ability to work on own initiative and with minimal supervision, to undertake research and be able to make accurate, considered judgements and decisions.
9. Ability to relate the Council's key policy objectives to the provision of the legal service. Ability to assist on the implementation of best value, quality initiatives and improvements to client care.
10. Experience of working towards achieving/monitoring quality initiatives.
11. Qualified Solicitor/Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
12. Advocacy skills.
13. Good general level of understanding of IT systems, especially case management/time recording packages.
14. Excellent numeracy and literacy skills.
15. Understanding of Local Government structures and legal frameworks.
16. Understanding of Law Society practice management standards.
17. To behave in accordance with our values.
18. Commitment to the principles of agile working including the ability to work flexibly with regards to both hours of work and location of work including remote and home working as required with 2 days in the office.
19. Understanding of and commitment to principles of equality and diversity and compliance with Thurrock Council policies.

Desirable

1. To be responsible for the delivery of the annual work plans, regularly monitor, identify potential non-delivery and provide practical solutions for performance issues.
2. Experience in a performance management culture and innovation in workflow systems.

Essential qualifications

Essential qualifications: Qualified Solicitor/Barrister or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to .

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates