Solicitor
Service: Legal Services
Grade Scale: Grade 3 Level 2 – 8
Reports to: Legal Manager
Purpose of the job
To provide a comprehensive legal advice and assistance service to members and officers of the council in accordance with corporate and service policies and priorities.
Key tasks and responsibilities
To carry out all legal work for the council in a cost effective manner and in accordance with approved procedures and standards in some, or all, of the following areas.
To represent the council in court, tribunals or other judicial / quasi judicial hearings, including the clerking of the licensing board.
To carry out conveyancing related work, including disposals, acquisitions (voluntary and compulsory), leases, servitudes, title reports, S75 agreements and other planning related agreements.
To carry out contract related work, including advice and support on tendering, drafting, revising, interpretation, enforcing of council contracts (including development agreements) and resolution of contractual disputes.
To provide legal advice and support to ensure compliance with legislation relating to Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers legislation.
To provide legal advice and assistance on a pro-active basis on all council matters to members and officers of the council in accordance with corporate and service priorities and standards within agreed timescales.
To ensure that the council acts intra vires in all matters.
To act at all times in the best interests of the council and comply with the Code of Conduct.
To advise and prepare reports for and attend committees as required.
Person specification
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Criteria |
Essential |
Desirable |
|---|---|---|
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Education, qualification and training |
Enrolled solicitor Law Society of Scotland Practising Certificate |
General legal experience Experience/understanding of practical approach within a statutory framework |
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Skills, knowledge and experience |
Ability to assimilate information and develop an in depth understanding of particular areas of law Ability to work on own initiative but within established procedures Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to create clear documents, manage data, and communicate effectively. Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear legal advice, prepare reports and legal documentation, and present complex information confidently to a range of audiences. |
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Personal qualities |
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships and engage confidently, professionally and diplomatically with a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to organise, plan and prioritise workload to meet service demands, performance indicators and statutory timescales. Recognise, report and provide solutions to problems using procedures and initiative. Shows initiative and awareness of service priorities Professional and courteous manner when dealing with colleagues and customers Reliable and dependable with a positive and proactive approach to work and changing priorities |
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Other |
To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact Inclusive and supportive team player |
Driving licence |
Safer recruitment checks
As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks
- Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK
- Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from their present or most recent employer; Internal candidates require 1 reference from their current line manager.
- Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable
Behaviour framework
The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:
Efficient
- Use initiative and drive to improve and develop systems and processes to increase efficiency achieving better outcomes in service delivery.
- Suggests ways to improve how others organise their own work.
- As a manager or professional/expert you actively seek solutions to deliver improvements and involves others in the development of solutions and improvements.
- Agree SMART objectives for both team and individual employees reviewing progress to achieve successful outcomes.
- Manage budgets with no overspends and apply the council’s financial policies and procedures.
- Ensure sustainability and environmental awareness practices are being implemented and that they inform the development of new projects and initiatives.
Flexible
- Anticipate and respond flexibly to changing priorities and modifies practice to meet changing environment.
- Identify and implement new ways of working.
- Support individuals and team at times of both organisational and personal change making appropriate adjustments to accommodate individual needs where required.
- Express a positive approach to change and promote the benefits of change to team and colleagues.
- Actively listen to customer feedback and take action to improve customer experience.
Performing
- Use professional expertise and knowledge to ensure the council is leading best practice to improve outcomes.
- Ensure that the council is meeting it’s legislative and statutory requirements by keeping abreast of new initiatives and legislation.
- Evaluate and review the impact of service improvements from the customer’s perspective.
- Identify trends and create solutions.
- Ensure that health and safety practices, policies and procedures are applied keeping employees and customers safe and minimising workplace accidents and injuries.
- Implement the council’s maximising attendance policy and procedure ensuring action is taken and recorded on people connect.
- Consider risk in the context of service development and delivery.
Working with others
- Promote a positive team environment with good morale.
- Work with other teams and colleagues internally and externally, developing relationships and sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise to achieve outcomes.
- Provide objective and constructive advice and support if tensions arise.
- Share knowledge with internal and external colleagues to achieve common objectives.
- Give praise and recognition for good work.
- Use professional identity and expert knowledge to work across disciplines breaking down professional barriers to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
- Encourage colleagues to consider different perspectives in their work.
- Adapt communication to encourage desired behaviour.
Leading
- Understand what needs to be achieved and ensure that this is communicated to team members.
- Express positive expectations of others to support their development.
- Recognise individual and team achievements thanking and praising others.
- Maintain a positive approach and motivate team when things go wrong, or demands are high.
- You identify talent and provide opportunities for those individuals who wish to progress or learn new skills.
- Take responsibility for personal and team development needs taking account of learning styles and available learning/training methods of delivery.
- Use professional judgement and expert knowledge to make informed decisions.