Head of Legal
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 13 Tachwedd 2025 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £68,189 i £73,851 bob blwyddyn |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 27 Tachwedd 2025 |
| Lleoliad: | Council Offices, Princes Road, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5DL |
| Gweithio o bell: | Hybrid - gweithio o bell hyd at 2 ddiwrnod yr wythnos |
| Cwmni: | Maldon District Council |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | MDC001898 |
Crynodeb
Head of Legal
Reporting to Director Legal and Governance
Team Purpose
To work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to support the Council’s governance, decision-making, and service delivery.
To manage a varied caseload of legal work and to deliver professional services with high standards of advice and support, resolving cases of varying complexity as they arise. Ensuring compliance with statutory regulations, legislation, professional codes of practice and adherence to Council policy.
Role Purpose
To lead and manage the legal team, providing timely and accurate legal advice to officers, elected members, and committees on a range of matters including (but not limited to) Contracts, Property, Planning, Housing, Enforcement and Regulatory services
To work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to support the Council’s governance, decision-making, and service delivery. As Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will support the Monitoring Officer in ensuring the Council operates within the law and maintains high standards of ethical governance.
Key Accountabilities
• Manage and be accountable for all matters relating to the activities under the control of this role in line with the Council’s policies & procedures
• Manage the Council’s legal services to provide timely and accurate legal advice to officers, elected members, and committees on a range of matters including (but not limited to:
- Planning law (development control, appeals, Section 106 agreements)
- Enforcement (planning breaches, environmental enforcement, injunctions)
- Contract law (procurement, service agreements, commercial arrangements)
- Land law (property transactions, leases, easements, land ownership)
- Data protection and information governance (GDPR compliance, FOI, subject access requests)
• Act as Deputy Monitoring Officer or support the Monitoring Officer ensuring good governance and compliance with the Council’s constitution and legal obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents including contracts, agreements, leases, and statutory notices.
• Represent the Council in legal proceedings, tribunals, and inquiries as required.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of training and briefings for officers and members.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and best practice.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of legal services, including systems, processes, and policies.
• Work collaboratively with external legal providers and partner organisations where appropriate.
• Be a role model for the service, demonstrating authenticity, integrity, resilience and compassion and focussing on communication, personal development and wellbeing
From time to time, the areas under the responsibility of this post may vary on a temporary or permanent basis. When this occurs, the relative job size will remain within the parameters of the grade for the role as evaluated under the Council’s job evaluation scheme
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills, Ability, Experience and Qualifications/Training
• Qualified Solicitor, barrister of legal executive with a current practicing certificate.
• In-depth knowledge of local government law and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities including Monitoring Officer duties.
• Knowledge of legal areas relevant to district councils: Planning Law, Enforcement, Contract Law, Land Law, Data Protection and Information Governance.
• Awareness of political sensitivities and the legal-political interface in local government.
• Understanding of corporate decision-making processes and the role of legal services in supporting them.
• Familiarity with risk management, audit, and performance improvement methodologies.
Experience
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality legal advice in a local government or public sector setting.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Demonstrable experience of acting as or supporting the Monitoring Officer.
• Experience of representing an organisation in legal proceedings, tribunals, or inquiries.
• Experience of drafting, negotiating, and reviewing complex legal documents.
• Evidence of working collaboratively with senior officers, elected members, and external stakeholders.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex legal information clearly to non-specialists.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure.
• High level of political awareness and ability to operate effectively in a political environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate integrity in all aspects of work.
• Ability to understand emerging legislation and provide guidance to members and officers accordingly
• Demonstrate excellent timekeeping and management of Outlook 365 emails and calendar appointments
• Sound organisational skills to ensure effective management of electronic and other information including diary management to ensure openness, setting an appropriate standard for the team
• Ability to identify risks and manage competing priorities
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive with a current practicing certificate and/or extensive work experience in specialist field relevant to the post
Emergency Planning / Business Continuity A requirement of this role will be to attend emergency planning training. The role holder may be required to participate on the emergency response rota and support the Council’s emergency planning response.
Reporting to Director Legal and Governance
Team Purpose
To work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to support the Council’s governance, decision-making, and service delivery.
To manage a varied caseload of legal work and to deliver professional services with high standards of advice and support, resolving cases of varying complexity as they arise. Ensuring compliance with statutory regulations, legislation, professional codes of practice and adherence to Council policy.
Role Purpose
To lead and manage the legal team, providing timely and accurate legal advice to officers, elected members, and committees on a range of matters including (but not limited to) Contracts, Property, Planning, Housing, Enforcement and Regulatory services
To work collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders to support the Council’s governance, decision-making, and service delivery. As Deputy Monitoring Officer, you will support the Monitoring Officer in ensuring the Council operates within the law and maintains high standards of ethical governance.
Key Accountabilities
• Manage and be accountable for all matters relating to the activities under the control of this role in line with the Council’s policies & procedures
• Manage the Council’s legal services to provide timely and accurate legal advice to officers, elected members, and committees on a range of matters including (but not limited to:
- Planning law (development control, appeals, Section 106 agreements)
- Enforcement (planning breaches, environmental enforcement, injunctions)
- Contract law (procurement, service agreements, commercial arrangements)
- Land law (property transactions, leases, easements, land ownership)
- Data protection and information governance (GDPR compliance, FOI, subject access requests)
• Act as Deputy Monitoring Officer or support the Monitoring Officer ensuring good governance and compliance with the Council’s constitution and legal obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents including contracts, agreements, leases, and statutory notices.
• Represent the Council in legal proceedings, tribunals, and inquiries as required.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of training and briefings for officers and members.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, case law, and best practice.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of legal services, including systems, processes, and policies.
• Work collaboratively with external legal providers and partner organisations where appropriate.
• Be a role model for the service, demonstrating authenticity, integrity, resilience and compassion and focussing on communication, personal development and wellbeing
From time to time, the areas under the responsibility of this post may vary on a temporary or permanent basis. When this occurs, the relative job size will remain within the parameters of the grade for the role as evaluated under the Council’s job evaluation scheme
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills, Ability, Experience and Qualifications/Training
• Qualified Solicitor, barrister of legal executive with a current practicing certificate.
• In-depth knowledge of local government law and governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of statutory responsibilities including Monitoring Officer duties.
• Knowledge of legal areas relevant to district councils: Planning Law, Enforcement, Contract Law, Land Law, Data Protection and Information Governance.
• Awareness of political sensitivities and the legal-political interface in local government.
• Understanding of corporate decision-making processes and the role of legal services in supporting them.
• Familiarity with risk management, audit, and performance improvement methodologies.
Experience
• Proven track record of delivering high-quality legal advice in a local government or public sector setting.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Demonstrable experience of acting as or supporting the Monitoring Officer.
• Experience of representing an organisation in legal proceedings, tribunals, or inquiries.
• Experience of drafting, negotiating, and reviewing complex legal documents.
• Evidence of working collaboratively with senior officers, elected members, and external stakeholders.
• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex legal information clearly to non-specialists.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure.
• High level of political awareness and ability to operate effectively in a political environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate integrity in all aspects of work.
• Ability to understand emerging legislation and provide guidance to members and officers accordingly
• Demonstrate excellent timekeeping and management of Outlook 365 emails and calendar appointments
• Sound organisational skills to ensure effective management of electronic and other information including diary management to ensure openness, setting an appropriate standard for the team
• Ability to identify risks and manage competing priorities
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive with a current practicing certificate and/or extensive work experience in specialist field relevant to the post
Emergency Planning / Business Continuity A requirement of this role will be to attend emergency planning training. The role holder may be required to participate on the emergency response rota and support the Council’s emergency planning response.
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