Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Legal Officer - Regeneration
Strategic team/Directorate	Corporate Services
Service	Legal Services (Planning, Property and Environment Team)
Business unit	Legal Services
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Senior Lawyer/Team Leader (Planning, Property and Environment Team)
Accountable to (line manager)	Senior Lawyer/Team Leader (Planning, Property and Environment Team)
Salary grade	F
JE ref	LEG13(g)

1. Key purpose of job

To provide assistance to the Senior Regeneration Lawyer in the provision of legal advice to the development team and Director of Regeneration at Torbay Council in the specialist area of UK Regeneration Projects.
To provide assistance with other property related matters where required e.g., ACVs, DPAs, byelaws.
To assist in the day-to-day operation of the Planning, Property and Environment team within the Council’s legal department.
To provide efficient and effective legal advice and services to the Council.
To handle a case load primarily of property related matters centred upon the management / leasing and general acquisition and disposal of the Council property, with support (as necessary) from Senior Lawyers.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

The delivery of efficient and effective legal advice and services, in a way that furthers and promotes excellent customer care within Legal Services.
To ensure the efficient and effective provision in the handling of the Council’s property and conveyancing work.
To undertake all legal services work as required, with the appropriate supervision and professional support.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
To assist the Senior Regeneration Lawyer in all matters relating to UK Regeneration projects within the Bay.
To undertake case work and provide advice within the specialist areas of law.
To report, liaise and update the Senior Solicitor and Senior Regeneration Lawyer with regard to complex property and regeneration matters.
To provide legal advice and services in relation to other areas of local government law as required by the Senior Solicitor.
To assist the team in asset management matters, such as leases and licences.
Attend civil courts and tribunals commensurate to the grade and level of the post.
To have a developing knowledge of the law, practice and current issues within the specialist areas of law upon which the post holder advises on.
To undertake administrative duties as and when required by the Senior Solicitor.
To provide training within the specialist areas of law as required to client departments.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

None.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

The post holder is required to provide informal support and supervision to junior members of the Planning, Property and Environment team and its business support officers.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

The post holder operates in an environment governed by the need to meet deadlines, (including those externally imposed) in a context of changing priorities.
The post holder is required to be able to travel to site visits, court hearings and meetings and record data as required.

7. Physical demands of the post

The post holder operates in an environment governed by the need to meet deadlines, (including those externally imposed) in a context of changing priorities.
The post holder is required to be able to travel to site visits, court hearings and meetings and record data as required.

8. Specific resources used by the post

The post holder will have access to a laptop computer and other agile working equipment.
The post holder is required to ensure the security of confidential and sensitive information when transporting and using files and laptops when homeworking, travelling, and working away from the office.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Contact with service users, other local authorities, partners and external bodies, Government Departments, other professionals (legal and others), courts and tribunals.
Contact with members of the public.

Internal

Contact with officers at all levels within the Council. Frequent contacts with Senior Officers. Contact with Members on specific case matters, including giving advice on courses of action and their legal risks and ramifications.

Other

The post holder will represent the Council and be responsible for influencing and negotiating with others on contentious matters in circumstances where the relationships between contacts and the matters in question will usually be complex and may involve difficult situations requiring tact and sensitivity. The post holder will be responsible for advocating on behalf of the Council generally including, where appropriate, formal advocacy before Courts and Tribunals.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children's Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
This post is office based at Town Hall but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
The post is eligible for both hybrid working, however, a base outside of the UK (i.e overseas) is not permitted.
As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Legal Officer - Regeneration
Strategic team/Directorate	Corporate Services
Service	Legal Services (Planning, Property and Environment Team)
Business unit	Legal Services

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Effective communication and interpersonal skills in a professional way.
Ability to give and provide clear and accurate non jargon based legal advice.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Effective presentation skills.
Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
A willingness to learn and grow professionally.
Able to influence and persuade others in a sensitive and professional way at a high level both inside and outside of the Council.
Effective negotiating skills.
Effective time management and ability to cope with competing demands.
Able to work as an integral part of the wider Legal Services team and be supportive of colleagues and management.
Effective I.T. skills and experience with various software packages.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Ability to command respect and authority with those persons the post holder is required to work with, influence and support, advise.
Ability to adapt to new areas of work.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

A developing knowledge of the law and procedures within the specialist discipline.
A good level of knowledge of the legal system, conveyancing and landlord and tenant law.
A basic understanding of local government law in relation to property and disposals.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and regulations.
A general working knowledge of the law applicable to local government.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experience of working in a legal environment.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of working in an in-house local government legal service.
Experience of property work.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

5 x GCSE’s or equivalent. Including English and Maths at Grade C or above.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Educated to A Level standard or equivalent.
Student or Member or CILEX.
Relevant training in the specialist area.
Willingness to study in order to obtain a legal qualification.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e., manual handling).
Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.