Strategic Lead - Adult Social Care and Education Law
| Posting date: | 29 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £71,002 to £82,957 per year |
| Additional salary information: | including a £10,000 Market Supplement |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 June 2025 |
| Location: | Reading |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | RES0638 |
Summary
The Joint Legal Team is a leading shared legal service for Berkshire councils. Working collaboratively, to play a key role in supporting vulnerable adults, children, and young people. Joint Legal Team is a high performing team and has recently been shortlisted as Legal Team of the Year by Lawyers in Local Government (LLG).
Hosted by Reading Borough Council, our forward-thinking team operates from modern offices in Reading town centre, close to transport links and courts. We aim to be the best place to practice law in local government, delivering high-quality legal advice, embracing innovation, and expanding our services.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced senior solicitor, barrister, or FILEX to lead our Adults, Education, and Employment Team. This is a great opportunity for leadership development, managing a growing team that supports all Berkshire councils. You will oversee legal services delivery, ensure efficiency, and contribute to the Legal Services Management Team.
With a client-focused, collaborative approach, you’ll handle diverse legal matters, meet tight deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Our Legal Operations Team supports you in implementing efficient systems, with a pathway toward Lexcel accreditation.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
About you
We are looking for a dedicated legal professional with a valid practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and substantial post-qualification experience in legal practice.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership and management expertise, excelling under pressure while meeting tight deadlines with efficiency. Exceptional communication, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, along with a proactive and adaptable approach.
We seek someone eager to contribute to service improvement, embracing innovation to support the continued growth and success of the team.
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position, please contact recruitment@reading.gov.uk or for an informal chat about this role, please contact Michael Graham, the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services, michael.graham@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: 22nd June 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Hosted by Reading Borough Council, our forward-thinking team operates from modern offices in Reading town centre, close to transport links and courts. We aim to be the best place to practice law in local government, delivering high-quality legal advice, embracing innovation, and expanding our services.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced senior solicitor, barrister, or FILEX to lead our Adults, Education, and Employment Team. This is a great opportunity for leadership development, managing a growing team that supports all Berkshire councils. You will oversee legal services delivery, ensure efficiency, and contribute to the Legal Services Management Team.
With a client-focused, collaborative approach, you’ll handle diverse legal matters, meet tight deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Our Legal Operations Team supports you in implementing efficient systems, with a pathway toward Lexcel accreditation.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed
About you
We are looking for a dedicated legal professional with a valid practising certificate as a Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and substantial post-qualification experience in legal practice.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership and management expertise, excelling under pressure while meeting tight deadlines with efficiency. Exceptional communication, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement skills are essential, along with a proactive and adaptable approach.
We seek someone eager to contribute to service improvement, embracing innovation to support the continued growth and success of the team.
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position, please contact recruitment@reading.gov.uk or for an informal chat about this role, please contact Michael Graham, the Assistant Director for Legal and Democratic Services, michael.graham@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: 22nd June 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.