Childcare Lawyer (PO3 - PO5)
London Borough of Lambeth
Role
Please Add JD To provide and support a range of high-quality legal services to ensure the delivery of best value services to the Council and its partners.
To ensure that all such work is carried out to the requirements of relevant clients and to appropriate professional standards.
Principal Accountabilities
- To provide high quality, solutions focused legal advice and competently manage a wide ranging and varied caseload in the areas dealt with by the childcare legal team,
2. To undertake all work necessary for the making and progressing of applications before the Court with a degree of autonomy as relevant to experience including, but limited to, the preparation and drafting of legal documents such as, applications, threshold, case summaries and orders, preparation for hearings, provision of advice and representation of the Council in all courts, Tribunals and Inquiries as required by the Senior Lawyer, to the appropriate professional standards.
- To proactively report to Children’s Services on the progress of that work and ensure agreed deadlines and timeframes are met.
4. To keep updated of and to ensure implementation and adherence to legislation, regulation, case law, codes of practice and policy relating to relevant areas of work and provide advice to the Council on changes in legislation and case law that may have an impact on the Council. 5. To liaise with professional bodies, research institutions, Counsel, the Council’s Chief Officers, elected members and other external organisations as required from time to time. 6. To undertake tasks and projects as allocated by the Senior Lawyer in accordance with instructions.
7. To maintain effective relationships with client departments.
-
To assist in the development of and to operate and be conversant with all information technology systems used for the work of the team.
-
To provide professional support for less experienced colleagues, and oversee effective completion of their work as delegated by you and as required
-
To use the case management system, templates and the processes and procedures put in place and as required by the Principal Lawyer including appropriate utilisation of support staff within the department
To ensure, as required, duty cover for urgent legal matters is provided to the client department.
11. To ensure that performance targets set by the Senior Lawyer are met.
-
To undertake any other duties that may be required to meet the exigencies of the service, and these may be varied from time to time to meet the needs of the service.
-
To carry out the duties of the post with regard to the Council's Equal Opportunities Policies and Anti-Racist Strategies. To undergo such training as may be required in respect of these policies.
-
To carry out all duties in accordance with the Council's Policies, Standing Orders, Codes of Practice, and Financial Regulations and undergo such training as may be required.
-
To provide legal advice to Committees, sub-committees and working parties and to write reports to such bodies or provide legal advice on such reports as required by the Senior Lawyer from time to time.
-
To participate as directed by the Senior/Principal Lawyer in the recruitment of staff.
17. To demonstrate substantial experience of legal work within the post holder’s area of responsibility and ability to demonstrate significant specialism or depth of knowledge in a particular area.
18. To make a professional evaluation of all legal aspects with minimal supervision and guidance.
19. To present complex arguments before courts, tribunals, committees or sub-committees effectively.
20. To liaise effectively with clients and instil confidence and trust in respect of service provision.
21. When required, to supervise Trainees and other staff who may be assigned to the team from time to time.
22. To represent Legal Services on Corporate projects and initiatives involving both legal and policy work at a senior level as required from time to time.