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The Council needs to recruit a Solicitor for their in-house legal team. The in-house legal team provides a wide range of legal services across the Council in accordance with the Council’s values, objectives, priorities and statutory obligations. The range of services specified in the job profile are examples of the types of legal advice provided from the whole Team. Applicants are not expected to have experience of every area listed in the job profile, may have skills that are transferable to local government and should be willing to undertake to develop new areas of knowledge and legal skills.
The Solicitor is responsible for providing a wide range of legal services, as part of the Governance and Law section, to the Council and its directorates.
The range of services may include the following:
* To provide advice and assistance to maintain high standards of decision-making and good governance within the Council, including attending at meetings of the Council and its committees.
* To develop areas of specialist expertise, in specific local authority functions as directed by the manager, with the associated advisory and drafting work in these specialist areas;
* To represent the Council at Court, Arbitration, Tribunal, Enquiries and Hearings regarding e.g. actions for payment, reparation, interdicts, recovery of heritable property, actions relating to protection of children and vulnerable adults, staffing appeals and industrial tribunals. In this connection there would be a requirement to deal professionally with those who need to be treated sensitively;
* To carry out all legal work required in connection with the purchase, sale and lease of land/buildings, including advising directorates, concluding missives and recording title, and to be accountable for the incurring of expenditure on settlement of transactions;
* To carry out all legal work required in connection with the drawing up of contracts and agreements in relation to all Council functions;
* To provide legal advice on request to client directorates to ensure that proposals are within the powers of the Council; capable of being put into effect and unlikely to be successfully challenged by third parties, including External Auditors;
* To instruct external solicitors, Parliamentary Agents and Counsel as required on specific issues and to attend any necessary consultations;
* To provide advice and guidance to directorates on forthcoming and recently enacted legislation regarding all Council functions; to advise directorates on amending provisions in legislation and to draft comments as required on Government consultation documents; to lead on development and review of service procedures to account for changes in legislation and guidance;
* To demonstrate an awareness of public sector issues e.g. data protection;
* To undertake any other duties deemed appropriate for the effective performance of the role;
More detail is provided in the Job Profile, Person Specification and Conditions of Service Summary attached to the bottom of this advert.
Additional Information
* The grade of this post is K/L
* This post is career graded - your salary and career progression will depend on your experience and qualifications.
* Salary shown in the advert is inclusive of Distant Islands Allowance of £2,742 per annum
* Permanent Full Time post for 37.0 Hours per Week, 52.18 weeks per year
* Preferred candidates will be required to undertake a Standard Disclosure check prior to a formal offer of employment being made
* A relocation package does apply to this post
* We will pay interview expenses from within Shetland
* We are happy to talk flexible working
During the application process you are required to give the names of two persons not related to you, who we can contact to provide a reference to support your application.
This post is based at 8 North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland.
For further details relating to this post, please contact: Kristen Johnston, Team Leader - 01595 744097 - kristen.johnston@shetland.gov.uk
If you have a disability which prevents you from applying online, please call 01595 744032 .
Information about Shetland
Shetland is an archipelago in the north of the British Isles where you'll find freedom, wildlife and wild beauty, but also a rich culture and dynamic, forward-looking society. The Islands have a thriving and diverse economy full of opportunities and offer residents the ideal work/life balance. Shetland combines stunning coastal landscapes and wide open spaces with friendly, bustling island communities. Factor in Shetland's impressive modern amenities, highly regarded schools and the Islands offer a work life balance rarely found elsewhere.
Find out more about:
Living and working in Shetland: here
The Shetland Islands Council: here
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