Job Description
Location: Halton Borough Council
Contract: Initial 6-month contract (with potential extension)
Hours: 3 days per week (some weeks may require additional days), at least 1 day on-site
Halton Borough Council is seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Lead Solicitor to shape the future of our legal services.
Our legal team is currently facing several challenges, including:
* Difficulty recruiting for key roles.
* High volumes of incoming work from internal client departments.
* A significant budgetary overspend, driven by reliance on locum staff to meet demand.
This project aims to develop a sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective delivery model for the Council’s legal services.
The Role
As Project Lead Solicitor, you will:
* Lead the next phase of the project, including implementing an interim structure and modernising systems and working practices.
* Develop fully costed options for the future delivery of legal services.
* Explore innovative solutions, such as:
* Internal restructuring to enhance efficiency.
* Process reviews to drive improvements.
* Establishing a trading company for legal services.
* Leveraging partnerships with other local authority legal teams.
* Proposals for improved recruitment, hiring, and reward strategies.
We encourage a blue-sky thinking approach, and no preferred option has yet been determined. Your insights and leadership will be pivotal in delivering a modern, effective legal service within a sustainable budget.
About You
The ideal candidate will be a qualified Solicitor with:
* Extensive experience in both public and private sector legal services.
* A proven track record of leading organisational change and service transformation.
* Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including senior management and Elected Members.
* A creative and strategic mindset, capable of driving innovative solutions to complex challenges.
What We Offer
* Competitive daily rate. (£400 per day)
* Flexible part-time schedule with opportunities to work remotely.
* The opportunity to make a lasting impact on the delivery of legal services in a challenging but rewarding environment.