Interim Solicitor - Planning Reference no: Nuneaton 5256511 Pay Rate: £20.85 per hour PAYE 37 Monday – Friday, normal working hours This opening assignment is for 2-3 months City: NUNEATON Work within the Legal Services Team to ensure excellence in service to both internal and external customers. Provide a high quality and comprehensive legal service for the Council managing a wide ranging caseload. Key Responsibilities:
* Managing a broad caseload, providing advice and support on all areas primarily related to planning, including drafting section 106’s, certificates of lawful development, planning inquiries, planning enforcement and planning related queries and Planning Committees.
* The care and conduct of contentious legal business, including the instruction of Counsel where appropriate;
* Undertake advocacy for the Council in the preparation care and conduct of:
o Magistrates Court Proceedings;
o Civil actions in the County Court and the High Court
o Planning and other Inquiries;
o Proceedings before any Tribunal;
o Arbitration Proceedings.
* Providing Legal Advice and Services to :
o Other service units of the Council and drafting any relevant documents, notices or orders;
o Dealing with enquiries from members of the public;
o Advising Members on legal matters relevant to the Council.
o Officers and/or Public Complaints.
* Attendance at evening and other out of hours meetings as required, including committee meetings, pre-meets, including reviewing the draft reports and the oversight of work arising from such meetings.
* Providing advice and assistance as required on other areas including Contracts Commercial Property, Local Government, Waste Management, Licensing and the activities outlined in item 7 (below) for the Councils wholly owned subsidiary companies on the basis of the complexity and level of work is commensurate to the legal duties of the role (to be determined by the Solicitor to the Council).
* Provide support in advising and ensuring Directors of the Council’s wholly owned subsidiary company’s understand their legal obligations by dealing with legal administrative requirements for board meetings; securing of company’s legal documents.
* Provide advice and guidance on issues relating to Data Protection, Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations as appropriate.
* Act as the RIPA coordinator or deputise for the RIPA coordinator as appropriate.
* Where appropriate, negotiate contracts and agreements and advise on their interpretation and on problems arising out of their performance.
Qualifications:
* Qualified barrister or solicitor or FILEX (able to obtain or has a current practising certificate)
* Current driving licence with access to motorised transport and ability to travel as required.
Knowledge:
* Knowledge and experience of planning law.
* Working knowledge of the law and practice relating to planning, contracts, environmental health, commercial and finance.
* Sound working knowledge of local government law and practice.
Experience:
* Experience in practice as a qualified solicitor or barrister
* Experience of dealing with the public.
Skills & Abilities:
* Excellent computer skills, to include Microsoft office packages
* Good communication skills, both oral and written to include presentation of complex and contentious issues to a wide and varied audience
* Ability to research and analyse complex information
* Adaptable to changing priorities with the ability to manage a varied workload.
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