Solicitor

3 months contract with local authorities, The role is fully remote working Main purpose of role : To provide expert professional / technical legal advice and guidance to colleagues, managers, Officers and Members to contribute to the delivery of the Council's objectives and priorities and ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient legal service to and for the Council. Key Duties :

• To provide the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services in the Adult Social Care and Education Team in relation to the Council's statutory functions concerning Adult Social Services and Education including SEND.
• To give adequate and timely legal advice to the Council and its various
departments on all matters relating to Adult Social care law and Education law.
• To undertake complex and routine legal cases including (but not exclusively) Court of Protection proceedings, cases involving the High Court's inherent jurisdiction, DOLS, Mental Health Act applications and ordinary residence disputes.
• To undertake complex and routine legal cases advising on Education law matters including (but not exclusively) providing comprehensive legal advice on school admissions, exclusions, special educational needs, home to school transport, prescribed alterations and change of age range and the related Governance
• To manage time and responsibilities effectively without day to day supervision
• To conduct proceedings, public inquiries, appeals and Judicial reviews in the Courts and before Tribunals and to appear as advocate as appropriate;
• Where appropriate, and in accordance with the Service's protocol, to instruct
• Counsel and / or external solicitors;
• To advise maintained schools and academies in accordance with Service Level Agreements;
• To draft and advise on reports for the Cabinet, Cabinet Members, Council Committees and Sub-Committees and to attend such committees and other meetings as the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance may require;
• To ensure proper records are digitally maintained on the case management
• system relating to all work undertaken including accurate time recording of activities undertaken;
• To research legal questions arising from the work of the Council or its components or associated public bodies. To monitor changes in the law and practice as they effect the Team and implement changes when necessary.
• To inform the client departments of changes in the law and practice;
• To bring to the attention of the Principal Solicitor (or other managers within the Division as appropriate) any matters of which the Monitoring Officer should be aware;
• To assist in the training of trainee solicitors and to provide training to Officers and Members as required;
• To participate in the provision of a limited out of hours telephone service for urgent mental health queries.