Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title: Legal Services Manager

Grade: SM1

Reports to: Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Service: Legal and Democratic Service

Location: Beech Hurst, Andover

Our Values

We expect all of our employees to live by and demonstrate the council’s key values of kindness, collaboration, accountability, equity diversity and inclusion, authenticity and pride

Main job purpose

This is a broad and exciting role with the opportunity to lead a fantastic team and to get involved with a wide range of corporate legal work, supporting and reporting to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer.

This is a interesting and challenging role in which you will be required:

to support the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in providing comprehensive, efficient and effective legal support to the council
to inspire, innovate, lead and shape the corporate legal team
to have primary responsibility for the management of the workload and service delivery of the corporate legal team and to provide effective leadership to the corporate legal team
to support and deputise for the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and to act as a Deputy Monitoring Officer (subject to appointment by Monitoring Officer)
to be responsible for the provision of legal advice by the corporate legal team, including representation, advocacy and assistance in all areas of law and all legal matters arising from the exercise of the council’s functions, including procurement, information, governance, property and corporate law.

Main responsibilities and duties / principal accountabilities

To ensure the provision of the highest standards advice to the council, officers and members on legal and procedural matters.
To support the Head of Legal Services and to assume the role of Deputy Monitoring Officer.
To undertake a wide range of contentious and non-contentious legal case work as required by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services including the drafting of any necessary documents and securing the representation of the council in courts and tribunals.
To attend such committees, panels, working parties etc. as may be required by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to provide legal advice and support to officers and members across the range of local authority functions.
To lead and manage the corporate legal team; developing the team individually and collectively, managing the allocation and throughput of corporate legal work.
To support and manage constant improvement in the provision of legal services and to recognise the need for creativity, change and adaptation and to act accordingly in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.
To keep up to date with developments in the relevant areas of law and be proactive in providing that information to relevant senior council officers and members of the Legal Service as necessary.
To draft reports, review, comment on and prepare legal advice and comment for reports to the Council, Cabinet, other committees and officer/member level meetings in consultation with other officers and Head of Legal and Democratic Services.
To develop, implement and monitor the Legal Service’s objectives.
To undertake such other tasks commensurate with the post holder’s experience and qualifications as may be allocated from time to time by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.
To ensure that service delivery complies with current regulations, accepted professional standards, the council's policies and procedures and appropriate legislation. This includes legislation on equalities, health and safety and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

Supervision and management

The role involves the leadership, development and line management of circa six members of staff.

Contacts and relationships

Forming positive and effective relationships with members of the Legal and Democratic Service, elected members, officers and management is fundamental to this role.

Significant collaboration, influencing and motivation of staff in the effective delivery of services is required.

Working environment

This is an office-based role with the ability to work flexibly in accordance with the council’s Agile Working Policy and other flexible working policies. This means that some of your time may be worked from home or from other council facilities, depending on business needs and service provision.

Person specification

Educational and professional qualifications

Educated to degree level or equivalent	Essential
Qualified solicitor, barrister or Legal Executive	Essential
Evidence of continuing development of management and professional skills	Essential
Leadership/Management qualification	Desirable

Knowledge

Knowledge and experience of dealing with legal and governance issues within local government	Essential
Experience of successfully leading, managing and developing a team or department	Desirable
Experience of the work of a district council with an understanding of current challenges facing local government	Essential
Experience of undertaking Monitoring Officer duties and a demonstrably sound understanding of local government governance	Essential
Regular exposure to a wide variety of audiences demonstrating higher ability as a communicator	Desirable
Experience of interpreting, advising on and drafting complex legal agreements and other legal documents	Essential
Significant post-qualification experience	Essential
Professional experience in one or a number of areas of local government law	Essential
Advising senior officers and members in committee and other forums on legal and procedural matters	Essential

Experience

Extensive knowledge and experience of dealing with legal and governance issues within local government.	Essential
Experience of successfully leading, managing and developing a team or department	Desirable
Wide experience of the work of a district council with an understanding of current challenges facing local government.	Desirable
Experience of undertaking Monitoring Officer duties and a demonstrably sound understanding of local government governance.	Desirable
Regular exposure to a wide variety of audiences demonstrating higher ability as a communicator	Desirable
Experience of interpreting, advising on and drafting complex legal agreements and other legal documents	Essential
Significant post-qualification experience	Essential
Experience of advising decision-making committees	Desirable

Key skills

The ability to lead and develop the corporate legal team.	Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal communication	Essential
Excellent written communication skills	Essential
Ability to successfully manage and monitor the workload of individuals within a team and to lead, motivate and develop individual employees at all levels	Essential
Ability to relate to and work with people at all levels and communicate effectively to a wide variety of audiences	Essential
Ability to innovate and manage change within an organisation	Essential
Ability to undertake legal case work and to provide legal advice arising from the exercise of the Council’s functions	Essential
A sound understanding of Local Government governance	Essential
Analytical, persuasive and decisive, giving clear argument and judgement	Essential
Ability to collaborate and work well with others to achieve results	Essential
Ability to deliver superb service to tight deadlines	Essential
IT skills enabling use of email, office and other systems	Essential

Personal qualities and behaviours

Commitment to demonstrating and developing your leadership skills	Essential
Problem solving and decisive	Essential
Focused on achieving high performance and best outcomes	Essential
Resilience	Essential
Committed to building successful relationships	Essential
Commercial acumen	Essential
Political sensitivity and discretion	Essential
Ability to relate to elected members	Essential
Commitment to customer service and satisfaction	Essential
Commitment to corporate working and collective responsibility	Essential
A commitment to demonstrating the Council’s values and behaviours.	Essential
Self-motivated with a positive, can-do attitude	Essential

Other factors

this is a politically restricted post

You must be able to travel to Hampshire wide locations and occasionally to further locations some of which may not be easily accessible by public transport

Corporate responsibilities

All employees are required to adhere to corporate policies, procedures and codes of conduct; full details can be found on the intranet or from your line manager. Particular aspects include:

Health and Safety - Every employee while at work has a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself/herself and of other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work - Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

All employees are required to adhere to the Council's corporate policy, procedures associated with their duties and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Safeguarding - This Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment, and to adhere to the Council's Safeguarding Policy.

Equalities – This Council is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We believe that employing people from different backgrounds with a range of perspectives and experiences helps us to deliver high quality services to all our residents. We employ people based on their abilities and potential, regardless of any protected characteristics.

Social Media - Employees are required to adhere to social media corporate policies and to undertake tasks/training in that context as required. Employees must not bring the Council into disrepute through their use of social media either personally or on behalf of the Council.

Financial – Employees are required to adhere to the Council’s financial regulations and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Risk Management - Employees are required to adhere to the Council's risk management strategy and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Data Protection and Data Security - We hold and process information about our customers and as such we are legally obliged to protect that information.

Data protection is important for the Council, and employees are required to understand and adhere to relevant policies and procedures.

Last Updated: 10 June 2024